I came across Moulin Roty tool sets, which are marketed as tool sets for the young woodworker, and beautifully crafted high-quality tool kits with child-sized tools, and they’re pretty affordable too, with prices starting at $35+ via Amazon. However, Moulin Roty is a French toymaker, and not a toolmaker.
Some of the reviews are positive, others complain about dull tools and so-so quality.
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This brings me to ask – are there any great hand tools or brands that you would recommend for children?
Back when I was a kid, my uncle ran the woodworking arts & crafts workshop at our daycamp. We used proper woodworking benches, proper vises, smaller claw hammers, and were supervised when holding projects against the power sander.
I don’t remember if we used hand saws, but if we did, they were probably one of the many types of smaller saws currently on the market. I do remember having to do a lot of sanding with small sheets of sandpaper. That, and we also used plenty of elmer’s glue and shellac.
As an aside, my knock-hockey boards (wherever they may be) are still in great condition, and my two mini step stools can support my adult weight.
I think I would be an advocate of smaller versions of real tools, rather than child-specific tools. Things like 4-1/2″ mini pliers, small claw hammers, smaller screwdrivers, and things like that. There are plenty of tools in my toolbox that are small enough in size that smaller hands could grip them just fine.
But I have zero experience in this field, although I will probably have a full tool kit ready for my son before he’s even ready to talk.
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So… for those of you who put tools in your kid’s (or kids’) small hands, which would you recommend? Did you put the kit together piece by piece, or did you start off by buying them a kit?
jeff_williams
My first tools were a hammer and a handsaw with multiple blades (crosscut and keyhole). The issue was that I didn’t have a project to use them on. I naturally took the saw to the hammer grip and gave it some scars. It wasn’t until my first project, a toolbox, that I started using the tools for their intended purpose. I must have been 5 or 6 at the time. As a son of a commercial GC I never used any small/kid tools (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
Stuart
Now that you mention it, I’m remembering my own first tool set. The hammer was tiny and very impractical, but the saw was a small coping saw and worked with real blades. If I knew where it was, I could probably find uses for that coping saw today.
fred
I recall that mine (c 1950) had a really bad cast-iron head hammer, a couple of poor screwdrivers, something that resembled a chisel, and a decent “junior hacksaw” that I still have.
Searching on “Kid’s real tool kit” and “Children’s tool sets” on Amazon – shows a couple of choices from Black & Decker and one from GRIP
Josh
As a child, I had a toolset that looked… Fairly similar to the one pictured above, but with blue paint on half of the tool handle. Can’t really speak to the quality of the tools but the picture did give me some glorious nostalgia
Caleb
I had the same one. Sadly, much of it fell apart, but a few pieces survived for a while.
Thankfully my dad and both grandpas started giving me real tools for Christmas when I was about 7 or 8. Some were new and some were used that they did not need anymore (one grandpa was a mechanic and the other a carpenter – got a lot from the carpenter). By the time I was driving I had a decent kit in the car. I have upgraded and expanded since I now have a garage with space, but many of those tools still get a lot of use.
Joshua
I had one like that too, it was bigger though. I think it’s still at my parents. I did break the hammer handle even though it was a stubby. Probably too many overstrikes.
Mike47
I’m an advocate of giving children age-appropriate, simple, high-quality adult tools to learn with. Things like a basic hammer, blade and Phillips screwdrivers, metal pliers, and so on. Teach a child to appreciate tool quality at an early age, along with teaching safety, self-confidence and pride in accomplishment. Though most of my early tools have been stolen over the years, I still cherish a couple items my uncle sent me when I was very young.
Dave Wittmann
When our kids were young, my older brother and I had the same question. After a little discussion, we decided to do what our Dad did with us.
We put together a tool set with real tools appropriate for their age. We would have them help us with safe projects around the house using screw drivers, pliers and wrenches. We taught them proper use of the tools how to store them and care for them properly.
My nephew entered college this year and has a part time job repairing and maintaining outboard motors. He uses some of the tools he was given as a child in his new job.
dreamcatchereDB
At first I had a kids toolset (similar to above but with the blue paint) that someone gave me. The problem was that those tools were complete garbage; even I could barely get them to work. Then I realized, why limit the kids to a box of junky tools? Now I just let the kids use my tools. Need a hammer? I got a wall of them. Saw? Choose one from the rack. I mean, that’s what I do too; make an educated choice of the right tool for the job at hand. Why shouldn’t I teach my kids to make the same decisions? Of course, I help them to decide and point out the attributes of each tool but by not limiting them to a little box of low quality tools has really seemed to have make an impact in their skill set. Now my workshop is an open, family friendly part of the home.
Henry
We purchased a 9pc tool kit from GRIP. They’re all adult quality tools, in kid’s sizes. Don’t know if you can find them in box stores. We found ours at Amazon. Look for “Grip Children’s Tool Kit”. Looks like you can now get it in pink, in addition to the original blue.
The tools have held up well, and I’ll admit, I’ve borrowed his tools a few times, when I needed a smaller version of a tool I had. They feel nice and sturdy, but definitely need to be used with parents. The tools are real, so they’re hard, heavy, sharp, etc. Our son (he just turned 5) gets them out when he’s doing “big boy” work with Daddy…not for play.
Caleb
I will likely be ordering one in each color so when the kids get big enough they will have them.
Thanks!
Caleb
After looking at it more it looks as though they are adult sized tools, so probably just put a kit together myself.
Henry
They are definitely not toddler sized, but they’re not quite adult sized. My 5yo has been using them for a little over a year. He’s pretty good with the hammer.
Here’s a picture of them, with my 16oz hammer for comparison.
Caleb
Thanks. Looks like it was just idiots posting online reviews. 🙂
Steven K
When I was a child, my father just bought me extra tools because I kept on losing his. I had my own space in his tool cabinet. I was 8 or 9 at the time. Now with my son I am educating him on what each tool does and best way to use it.
Mac
Agree with dreamcatchereDB, and will raise… I let them choose and use whatever they want. Any hammer is ok, the chainsaw/sawzall/etc. not yet. But with supervision, they’re free to learn on their own with pretty much whatever they want. The learning is often slower, but it’s deeper, it sticks far better, and is way way more rewarding for them (and me too really).
Grady
I began by using my dads tools when I was about 5 or 6. I wasn’t untill I hammered a drill bit (I think a 1/4″) into a 2×4 that required a trip to the E.R. For my dad, when he tried to remove it, that he began to teach me how to use tools properly.
Working alongside of him afterwards made me love and respect him more. Working together hand in hand, My dad & I were told “we had a partnership or were a team unlike any farther and son ever seen before. It’s not the size of the tool or if they are passed on to generations, the quality lessons that will last. Teach your children.
joe
My dad never bought me any tools, he is not even the crafty DIY type. But I remember that when I was about 6-7 yrs old I was building stuff from things I would find (why I’m creative with a lot of things).
Having said that, I would give my kid/s (don’t have any yet) proper tools for adults just in the small size version. From what I have noticed, every hand held tool, always has a small version, you just have to keep an eye open for them.
I don’t remember where I bought this puny hammer (I think it came as a set with interchangeable tips), but as an adult, I have used it a couple of times. Like a month ago I used it to repair an air valve to remove some retaining pins (a big hammer would be over kill and risk of damaging the valve)…I’m sure this hammer is suitable for an 8 year old. Would not be afraid if even a 5-6 year old plays with it…My brothers’ kid is 6 yrs old and he plays with adult gulf clubs to hit adult gulf balls. I believe not to dumb them down motto with tools that for kids.
At any rate, here’s the picture of my little hammer….lol
http://i.imgur.com/i5VaijM.png
Regarding the tool set above, I would buy it and use it myself…lol…the ruler is just a standard ruler….the hammer – I keep a small one in my tool box similar size when, for example, when I need to remove door hinge pins or when driving tiny nails on picture frames. The screw drivers would hold too their own weight too in my tool box…I’m sure the saw can cut wood in little spaces that big saws cant. Don’t see anything wrong giving it as a starter kit for kids. (not toys per se). From what I see, part of the price goes to the box itself. Which I guess could be a way of teaching to kid how to repair it when he/she breaks it too since it’s wood and not molded plastic.
Andy from Workshopshed
Got my 5 year old daughter started with a tenon saw and a smaller hammer. She’s also used the Jr Hacksaw a few times and various screw drivers. The T-Bar and Mini electric driver helped as she does not have the arm strength.