25 Awesome, Easy Woodworking Projects for Kids of all Ages

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Introducing children to ​wood projects ​is a fantastic idea, no matter what age they are. Your kids will learn how to build and create while working with their hands, boosting confidence while simultaneously making something of use. Enjoy my top 25 easy wood projects for kids.

Mom and kid working on an easy project

List of Children Woodworking Projects

Dive into my favorite simple woodworking projects for kids of all ages:

1. Wooden Address Sign

You will only need to take a single piece of wood and cut it down to size​. For this task, the safest saw to use is the jigsaw for making the cuts. Jigsaws are pretty safe, as long as you are providing supervision during all the DIY wood projects for kids that involve using them.

Apply a stain and/or poly​crylic coat to the wood (polycrylic is much safer compared to polyurethane). It is one of the best carpentry projects for kids to show them how to stain.

Plans here: lovelyetc.com

2. Simple Wind Chimes

For the second position on my list of small woodworking projects for kids, you’ll need a piece of wood (one for each chime). It doesn’t need to be a fancy or expensive material. You will also need bells, hooks, and some string.

Wooden wind chimes

Add your finish first, whether paint, stain, or decorate with ribbons – it’s completely up to you. Since the chimes will sit outside, you need to add this finish so that the wood will last over the years.

Get these easy DIY projects for kids here: happyhooligans.ca

​3. Rustic Picture Frame

One of the very simple woodwork projects for kids, and yet most rewarding, is a picture frame. While picture frames can be quite complex, they can also be made quite simply.

You will need 4 wood sides for the frame, and you’ll have to make sure you account for the overlap.

Picture frame for woodworking project
Building picture frame design plans

Such woodworking for kids is not too time-consuming, and you’ll have a finished project your children can enjoy for years to come.

Get the frame outline here: hgtv.com

​4. Pallet Wood American Flag

The size of the flag is entirely up to you, although these plans recommend using pallet wood strips to cut down on the cost and amount of work.

This project will also involve painting the unfinished wood, as you’ll need to paint the flag colors onto the pallet wood.

The muted color palette is in style right now, or you can go with a more solid look.

Wooden american flag to build with kids

Get the full options for such child woodworking projects here: thecreatedhome.com

​5. Easy Wooden Coasters

While using a scroll saw is best for sophisticated designs, a simple coaster can be easy for your little ones  – they usually love such fun woodworking projects for kids.

To do this, draw the circle on the wood using some sort of guide – any even circle will do. One of the best scroll saws will probably be more accurate than a jigsaw, but these saws can be a little more challenging for children to use.

Woodworking project DIY coasters

A much more difficult coaster project utilizing a scroll saw.

​On the other hand, it is relatively easy to cut the circles with a jigsaw, although it won’t be as accurate or precise. 

More on such kids woodworking projects here: modpodgerocksblog.com

6. Crayon Holder Box

It is one of the best DIY woodwork projects for kids at preschool age, as children using crayons are not at the point where they should be handling power tools.

After the piece is completely assembled, you can opt to sand it down so it’s smooth, or you can also choose ​to spray a coat of paint on it.

Kid coloring with crayons on wood floor

This is also a great project to teach a little one about thegood organization of tools and the value of organizing and putting things away after use while getting to work on one of the simple wood projects for kids like this.

Grab the details here: jaimecostiglio.com

7. DIY Wooden Tops

Simple wooden projects for kids are great for teaching them hand-eye coordination, and spinning tops are a classic favorite toy for children that does the same. Quite simple to make at home with just a few materials, this can be finished in less than 15 minutes.

All you need are some dowels, a set of wooden toy wheels, some sandpaper, and a sharpener.

Such a toy is one of the simplest beginner woodworking projects for kids on our list, and yet is one of our child’s favorites of everything I’ve built together.

Easy DIY wooden top

More details on carpentry for children here: momof6.com

​8. Simple Storage Boxes

Boxes are other examples of easy wood projects for kids. This DIY wood box can be used for storing everything from toys through clothes to school supplies.

​Thejigsaw is a great saw for wood that isn’t too thick like for this project.

Woodworking project DIY wooden box

These boxes will work well with any stain, paint, or finish. Often, the craftwork in painting a variety of boxes is as fun for the children as performing the beginner woodworking project is.

Plans and steps on easy carpentry projects for children outlined here: thisoldhouse.com

​9. Wood Caddy

A caddy is very similar to the box that I just made, but it has some added features and design intricacies. Following the same outline as the box, you can make the caddy several different ways.

A child holding a wrench in hands to work on a DIY project.

I like this set of plans as a base, and I even recommend simplifying them so you can make them with your child. Grab the woodwork projects for children now: lollyjane.com

​10. Easy DIY Bird House

While it sounds a little more complex (as for carpentry for kids), a birdhouse is really nothing more than a collection of ​many of the various kids’ wood projects I’ve listed. Also, a birdhouse is a wonderful DIY backyard project that will provide years of entertainment, so it’s really worth choosing. 

You’ll need a four-sided box as the birdhouse itself.

You’ll need to add a roof to the top of the box so that the birds have some shelter. It’s best to add an angled roof using a miter saw or opt for a flat version.

Get this perfect weekend project: skiptomylou.org

A white painted birdhouse

11. Lego Coat Rack

Coat hangers are usually just a block of wood with hooks nailed side by side. A lego coat rack gives a playful spin to an ordinary item! It can also motivate a little one to hang up their jacket as they come in the door.

Legos

Easy to make, this will be a fun project for kids who are obsessed with legos. They get to satiate their obsession without having to leave loose pieces on the floor!

Lego project: honeysucklefootprints.com

12. Circular Wood Shelf

​Shelves can be beautiful pieces of furniture, and this circular shelf is a bit different and a twist on the normal.

This circular shelf is just a circle frame with three panels of wood attached parallel to the ground to provide the shelf space.

You may choose to paint your entire shelf if you wish, just don’t forget to apply a primer before totally painting it.

Wooden shelf DIY
Source: greenconshy.org

It should be ready to hang nicely on the wall. However, this DIY wood shelf is thin and easy to knock down, ​so you might want to hang it higher than your kid can reach​.

A simple project for little ones, you can put little crafts or awards on display on the shelf. Details here: decoist.com

13. Small Wooden Playhouse

For your bigger kids who can handle some pallet wood, screws, and nails, these DIY projects for kids will unleash their creativity from making it to playing in it.

Girls holding hands while playing in their play house

It can be inexpensive with wooden pallets, which can come free from your local hardware store if you ask. Just make sure to have your essential tools to complete the job.

Here’s a favorite set of plans: homedit.com

14. Wooden Soccer Goal

You can start your kids off early with soccer by practicing dribbling and passing, or you can advance their training by practicing kicks and goals on a homemade soccer goal.

Opt for a miniature version, not a full-sized goal. This has been one of my most used DIY projects for kids. If you’re really ambitious, this could be a woodworking project that you sell.

Soccer goal post made of wood

Sports like soccer have many advantages and benefits beyond physical health and strength. Make a goal with them: 3dwarehouse.sketchup.com

15. Wood Building Blocks

There’s a reason legos are a favorite among kids and parents alike. Except when they’re accidentally stepped on, legos or building blocks in general have several advantages that contribute to fast development in early childhood, including hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and spatial awareness.

Wooden blocks

You can use paint to put numbers or drawings on the blocks instead of using tools. It’s more playful and child-friendly this way.

Build here: frugalfun4boys.com

16. Simple Bottle Vase Holder

​If your kids aren’t as excited about building things in the yard, bringing in little bits of nature to your house changes up the vibe indoors by a lot.

This project is the ultimate for making use of free items that typically get thrown away. You will need three or four empty glass bottles. You can reuse old soda bottles as you’ll throw them out anyway.

DIY flower vase tray
Source: cranmorehome.com

Follow along here: thisoldhouse.com

17. Wooden Stamps

Wooden stamps are great projects for kids, and you have a usable item at the end of it. Just be careful because these projects for kids pose​ some risks for hands and fingers. ​

The wood that you’ll need can be taken from a fairly thick tree branch. Cut them up into 4 – 5 inch slices using a small hand saw. Using sandpaper, smooth both sides of the freshly cut branch and their edges.

DIY wooden stamps
Source: mothernatured.com

Grab the project here: babbledabbledo.com

18. Outdoor Play Tent

This tent is by no means like the one you use for outdoor camping in the wild. But, it’s good for other outdoor activities like picnics and family hangouts by the beach.

As DIY projects go, it only takes a few minutes to create and doesn’t require that many materials.

DIY play tent

Here are all the details: creativegreenliving.com

19. Wooden Ruler and Folder Holder

This basket-looking holder will have a solid base and sides, while the front and back will be where the rulers are going to be attached in a striped pattern.

DIY kids play tent

This simple caddy is easy to make. After you’re done, place it on your kid’s study table or shelf for organizing their folders and notebooks to help keep your house clean overall.

Grab the outline here: karascreativeplace.blogspot.com

​20. Simple X-shaped Coasters

These X-shaped coasters look extremely on-brand with the industrial interior trend nowadays.

​This coaster project is a perfect woodcraft task for kids, as it’s super simple and​ doesn’t take much time or effort at all.​​

X shaped coasters diy

Balsa wood is a type of wood that is softer than others, so there’s no need for a high powered jigsaw. It makes this project super safe for little ones and doesn’t risk too much with very sharp tools.

Everything here: francoisetmoi.com

​21. Easy Nail String Art

This project is, for the most part, about looping yarn over and over around nails in different directions. What you’ll end up with is a 3-dimensional graphic of a symbol or letters and words.

DIY nail string art

Project details here: babbledabbledo.com

​22. Basic Popsicle Stick Paper Lantern

This popsicle stick lantern is very easy to make and is made up of crayons, wax paper, popsicles, and tea candles, which you probably already have a supply of in the house.

Paper lantern

Making this lantern isn’t risky at all. The most dangerous it can probably get is forgetting and leaving the candles to melt. The whole process of creating this will be great fun for the kids.

All the steps: crafty.house

​23. Cool Popsicle Stick Basket

This basket can be functional in the household. It could be used to put fruits in and will be fun for the kids to make. Using just glue and popsicle sticks, you can make it however big or small you want it.

Just know that because this project is solely put together by glue, expect to wait around a full hour before this dries completely.

Mother and child making a DIY project

Grab this simple project: artistshelpingchildren.org

​24. Wood Icosahedron Lamp

There’s plenty to learn in making this icosahedron lamp, mostly about shapes and even those complicated mathematical terms, if you will.

​This tutorial walks you through it step by step, with a little bit of playing around in between. As you move along into the project, you’ll discover many more shapes and patterns you can create from that basic building block.

DIY iscahedron lamp

This is a great woodworking project for kids who love science and geometry

​25. Wooden Popsicle Stick Ship

This tutorial makes use of popsicle sticks to recreate popular nautical memorabilia. Keep in mind that a ship, even if you’re only trying to make it look like so on the outside, can require a lot of things as there are as many parts.

DIY wooden stick ship

As DIY projects for kids go, this is a complicated one, but such a popsicle stick ship is made to impress. It can be used as a realistic model for the kind of ships that were around during expeditions in the olden days.

Plans here: craftprojectideas.com

How To Use a Jigsaw For Your DIY Home Improvement Projects

​Conclusion

In a day and age where so much time by children is spent behind a screen, these DIY​​​​ projects for kids are fantastic. They are a wonderful opportunity for you to spend valuable one-on-one time with your children while also fostering their creative spirit, motor skills, and hand-eye coordination.

Raised with a fix-it and improvement mindset, my wife and I completely restored our Craftsman-style home. Learning how to DIY a variety of home improvement projects, I started SawsHub with my father. He's the fine woodworker, I'm the DIYer!

1 thought on “25 Awesome, Easy Woodworking Projects for Kids of all Ages”

  1. Very nice woodcraft. I like all your works especially the jelly bean dispenser. I would love to try those wood arts and crafts projects.

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