Easy Wood Projects for Kids

Kids today are tuned to their iPods, or the television, or the computer. How do you get them away from all these mundane, unproductive activities to get down to doing something productive? How about introducing them to the art of woodworking and coming up with simple but unique and amazing kids' crafts? All you need to do is get them started. Creating your own crafts is so satisfying and fulfilling, they will look forward to doing more. Here are some easy wood projects for kids that they can start off with, to create their own masterpieces.

Simple Wood Projects for Kids

The easiest wood projects for kids are those made of popsicle sticks. Start saving some and make some of the best crafts with these kids. The best part about using these woodworking ideas is that you don't have to use a saw or a drill bit or any other device that would be dangerous around kids. They can create almost anything they like simply by using a strong glue. Here are some great and easy wooden craft ideas for kids with popsicle sticks.

Popsicle Stick Animals: For this project, you will require a few clean popsicle sticks, some interesting animal face stickers, and some paints and brushes. First paint the sticks in a color and design of your choice. For instance, if you are making a bunny, paint the stick white or gray. Allow it to dry. If you have bunny face stickers, well and good, otherwise you can make a small face on a chart and cut it out. Also make the small bunny feet. Stick the face on one edge of the popsicle stick, and the feet on the other. Use double-sided tape to hang up the different animals you have created, on the walls of your room.

Popsicle Stick Wind Chime: This wind chime will not actually chime, but it looks like a beautiful piece of art that you can hang from a corner of your room ceiling. You need about 50 popsicle sticks, some glitter/bead/sequins, strong glue, and a strong thread to make the wind chime. You will also need a flat, circular piece of wood (8" diameter) that has been sandpapered and finished. Such ready-made pieces are also available. Tiny hooks have to be fixed at equal measures in this circular piece, which should be done by an adult. These hooks will hold the wind chime. Take ten popsicle sticks to make a star. Draw a star on a piece of paper, and start placing the sticks on the edges of the star. Glue the tips together, where the sticks meet, till you have used up all 10 popsicle sticks. Follow the same technique to make the rest of the stars. You should have five stars at the end of it. Decorate the stars with glitter, beads, sequins or other such materials. Take the thread and run it separately through each star. Use varying lengths of thread so that each star hangs at a different height, and put the thread across each hook on the circular wooden disc. Another hook will have to be fixed at the top of the circular disc, to allow it to hang. If you want this craft piece to chime, you can attach tiny bells at one edge of each star. Your beautiful stick wind chime is ready.

Popsicle Stick Lantern: You will require several popsicle sticks, some wax paper, glue, and felt pens and stickers for decoration. Stick together 4 popsicle sticks at the tips to make a square. Make 4 such squares. Cut the wax paper according to the size of the squares, with a margin of about ½ an inch on all sides. Glue the paper to the square frame, and fold in the extra edges (leaving one edge on each frame) and glue. Once all 4 frames are ready with the wax paper, start decorating 4 of them in different designs as you like. You could also cut out various shapes from the wax paper. Cars, flowers, butterflies, baseballs, etc. can all be made on the paper. Make a base for the lantern, by gluing together popsicle sticks at the edges. The base should be as big as the four frames arranged to make a square lantern. Start placing the decorated frames on the base, and glue the excess wax paper that you had left on one edge to the base, to hold the frames in place. Once this has been done will all the frames, place a votive candle in this piece, and watch your beautiful lantern light up. You can also make hanging lanterns of various shapes and sizes using this idea.

Some More Simple Woodworking Projects for Kids

There are many more items that can be made from wood by kids. Here are some more:

• Birdhouse: A birdhouse is one of the best ways to get kids started on working with wood. To make this convenient, several such craft kits are available to get them started. Get one of these and get yourself started on the art of woodworking.
• Baseball Cap Rack: Want to learn some cool things to make out of wood? Try a baseball cap rack with the use of wooden spools. While maintaining the base of one spool is necessary, the bases of the remaining can be removed (from both sides). They can then be stacked up over each other. Have an adult fix hooks at different positions and heights, so you can place this rack in a corner of your room, and use it to hold all your baseball caps. The rack can be painted to a color of your choice, and you may use additional decorative items to enhance its look.
• Wooden Door Sign: Among the different wood project plans for kids is a door sign. What you need is a small piece of sandpapered wood, with jagged but not rough edges for a rustic look. Either a hook can be fixed on the back of wooden piece, or two punch holes can be made to hang the piece of wood with string. Decorate the piece as you like it. Put up a message, a funny quote, or simply your name on the board. Use different writing styles such as graffiti to decorate it, and put it up on your door!

Other projects that can be made by kids with wood include wooden toys, dollhouses, wooden coasters, pen stands, treasure chests, etc. Remember, all of these projects, when made by kids, should be supervised by adults. Do not leave your kids alone while they are working on their arts and crafts. Have them create these wonderful masterpieces and show them off to their friends. These can also be used as great gifts for upcoming festive occasions. Have fun!