Kids love crafting and creating, so why not stop in your local Woodcraft store for some educational gift ideas this season? From 3-D model sets to bird and bat houses, music box kits and books galore, you’ll find something for every young person on your list that will spark their creativity and provide hours of learning and engagement!
3-D MODELS
UGears and Robotime 3-D Model kits are available in a number of difficulty levels, ranging from an estimated 10-minute assembly time to larger kits that require several hours.
UGears mechanical models are perfect STEM activities with a ton of options for ALL ages, and no tools are required. The U-Fidgets Gearsmas Ornaments pictured below all come in one set, which includes a snowflake, moon, snowman and bell. The moveable parts are great for fidgeters, or they can be hung from the tree – either painted or left as is. The manufacturer estimates about 10 minutes to complete each one.
More difficult kits include the Motorcycle (2-4 hours), Stagecoach (4-5 hours), Heavy Boy Truck (8-9 hours), Dream Cabriolet (13 hours) and Tanker Truck (14-16 hours). Build them as a group or family for a creative team-building activity.
Robotime building kits provide unique construction experiences with whimsical, laser-cut designs. The colorful Moving Flavor Ice Cream Truck Music Box kit includes a working music box that plays “Auld Lang Syne” and has an estimated assembly time of 2-3 hours.
There are more cool music boxes, dinosaurs, bi-plane, space rover, the Eiffel Tower and many more options to choose from. Try the Marble Explorer Kit for a fun study in engineering and physics. The completed model includes a crank operated crane lifter and a flip-flop switch to drive marbles two ways.
SOAP CARVING IS GOOD, CLEAN FUN
Soap carving is a terrific introduction into carving that is less intimidating and safer for young carvers. A great gift suggestion, the Complete Guide to Soap Carving provides tutorials on 26 adorable projects for anyone wishing to take a dip into the world of carving. The book gives instructions on homemade tools, but extra small and extra-extra small carving gloves are available if your young one is ready to use a knife – with supervision, of course.
BUILDING BLOCKS
For the younger crowd, building blocks are a terrific way to stimulate imaginative play and construction, without electronics. Woodcraft’s Log Cabin Playset is made of real wood – Eastern White Pine – sustainably sourced from Maine. The set includes 70 pieces in a reusable canvas bag for easy cleanup and storage. Kids can build a classic log cabin or create their own structure.
BOOKS TO ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY
Woodcraft carries a lot of books catered towards the young woodworker and crafter, focusing on scroll sawing, wire art, sewing, needlecraft and a lot more!
Sew Your Own Pet Pillows shows how to make 12 cute and cuddly animal pillows with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions that seamstresses of all ages will enjoy. In Wire Art for Kids, the creator will learn how to twist and twirl soft wire to make colorful jewelry and fun critters.
Felt From the Heart features instructions for hand-stitching more than 24 cuddly felt “stuffies” and their habitats. Natural Wooden Toys is a nice intro into toy making with the scroll saw. This book provides patterns and instructions for making 75+ charming wooden toy designs with themes like fairytale, farm and ocean.
Felt From the Heart
Natural Wooden Toys
STIMULATE THE MIND
Whatever their interests, encourage those young minds to be creative with their hands and to be “makers” of whatever they choose. Let Woodcraft help get them started the right way with suggestions for proper tools, supplies and personal safety equipment.
TOGETHER, WE CAN CREATE ANYTHING®
Special thanks to our Woodcraft helpers for building birdhouses: Brian and Alexander Schmidt, Andrew and Lindsey Bondi, Brennan Taylor, Craig Deem, Harley Powell and Paisley McDonald.
