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Woodworking projects for kids?

9K views 10 replies 11 participants last post by  Cosmicsniper 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I've got a 5 year old son, and a 7 year old daughter who are both very interested in making projects of their own in my workshop.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on plans, projects, etc that I can prepare ahead of time and then have them work on to stay busy, while I am working myself?
The really just love being with me in the shop, and aside from cleaning up the wood chips, I want them to learn something, and have a project to take away?
My daughter also wants a birthday party with 4 of her friends to work on a project themselves, so probably 1.5 hours worth of their time is all I can expect.

I'm thinking glue, sanding, paint, screws, etc at this stage, I figure I'll keep them away from the sharp tools for a while.

Any suggestions from parents would be appreciated.
 
#3 ·
did a birdhous with my son. Don't remember where I got the plans from on the internet, but it took one 8' pine 1×8 I think. Hand tools and nails. We also did the prefab bat house from woodcraft, but it was a little pricey if I remember correctly. Alot of the time I just give him a couple of cut offs and a hammer and some nails.
 
#4 ·
My daughter is now 10, and has spent many hours in the shop with me over the years. Just tonight she wanted something to do while I was working, so I gave her a board, and some nails, told her to draw a shape (she choose a heart) then I had her hammer in the nails evenly spaced (as even as she could). I then strung orange thread across the nails creating a nice pattern of color within the heart shape. She loved it and gave it to Mom! I remembered doing this type of project in middle school woodshop.
 
#9 · (Edited by Moderator)
They can make a cat by taking a block, nailing on a couple of smaller narrower blocks on both sides for the tracks. Use a small board nailed off center on the front for a blade. swivel it one way to be down to grade and up to travel. build all kinds of machines to tow with it and put a bent nail in the back for a hitch.

They coould build a whole train using blocks along the line of thinking. Good luck ;-))
 
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