Kids Workbenches

Sooner or later if you are doing some woodworking with your young children, they will need a workbench.  Sometimes to do actual work, and sometimes just to pretend.  Here are some great ideas

Kid’s Workbench strong enough for Adults – This design is great because it is kid-sized, strong and can be used as a sawbench or work surface long after the child is grown.  This one is so simple to make that kids can help make it.

Kid's workbench to adult sawbench.

Classic Woodworking Bench in Kid Sizes – article and plans from American Woodworker.  This is a nice looking bench.  Wood look great in a shop or in the child’s bedroom.

Light Duty Kids Bench plans – this bench is pretty simple and includes a pegboard backer for hanging tools. Here is a similar bench with plans that can be purchased

Here is a set of workbench directions designed so kids can make the workbench, but the finished project is never shown, so it is hard to tell where the directions are leading you.

If you build your own, it is very important to have a clamp of some kind built in.  Kids can only be safe using tools if they are not using their hands to secure the work.  Unsecured wood leads to unsafe practices.  Unsafe practices lead to injuries and bad lifelong habits.  By all means, put at least one vice on it.

A simple clamp-on vise like the one on the left can be easy to put on and move around, or a more permanent one like the one on the right can make for a very solid vise without spending a lot of money.

Of course a workbench can always be purchased if you don’t have time to make one.  The wooden ones are preferred as they most resemble actual workbenches in form and function.  I avoid the plastic ones, no real work can ever take place on those.

• Sears Craftsman Kids Wooden Workbench
  
• Melissa & Doug Workbench
  
• Wooden Workbench by HaPe
  
• OTHER children’s workbenches for sale on Amazon.