An “eggbeater” style hand drill is a relatively safe tool for kids to use.  They can often be found at garage sales or even on ebay.  Some are collectible and have more value, but most sell for under $15.  Older eggbeater drills made by Millers Falls or Stanley can still perform very well.  If you want to go the new route, there are a couple of good options:

Fiskars 8511 is a modern version with the gear enclosed so you don’t have to worry about fingers getting pinched on exposed gears (they rarely do).  The Fiskars 8516 is a colored version.

If you prefer the exposed  gear “old school” variety but want to buy new, this Schroeder hand drill is styled off some of the old Stanley models.

Neither these new hand drills or their older counterparts can hold or manage a drill bit larger than 1/4″ in diameter so stock up on a set of bits with 1/4″ and smaller drill bits.

A miter box is a great way to get kids started with sawing.  It guides the saw for them and generally keeps the sharp cutting teeth out of their way.  As with any woodworking, securing the wood being worked on is a crucial step in helping kids avoid injuries.

I like this Stanley Miter Box for several reasons.

• It can be easily screwed down to a bench so it doesn’t move while in use and create a dangerous situation (most miter boxes meet this requirement)
• It has a series of holes with special pegs that allow even a child to wedge a piece of wood in place within the box.  This means little hands don’t have to be in harm’s way.
• The height of the miter box is designed to keep the included saw from cutting into the miter box itself.  Essentially the back brace on the saw acts as a depth stop and prevents it from cutting past the wood.

The included saw works pretty well.  As a child progresses or learns to use a pull saw, that could be used with this box as well.  The only shortcoming would be that the saw would not be prevented from cutting into the bottom of the box.

The Stanley Miter Box can be purchased either with the saw (Model 20-600) or without the saw ( Model 20-112).  For the little bit extra (~$5), I got the one with the saw, for the depth stop feature.

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.