Getting Started Whittling for Kids & Teens
It can sometimes be tough to find activities teen & pre-teen kids are interested in that don’t involve screens (especially boys). Whittling is such a great activity that involves working with your hands.
Not only are there lots of fun things you can whittle out of wood, but there’s a whole array of practical things you can make as well – spoons, bowls, and more!
(And whittling kits and materials can make a fantastic gift.)
It might be intimidating to let you child or teen get started whittling, especially if you don’t have experience yourself.
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What about Safety?
This is a pretty common concern parents have when it comes to their kids starting to whittle. (I know it was one of the things I was most worried about.)
But teaching your child or teen how to handle knives safely is a skill that will help them for life. Walk them through important safety guidelines. Use safety gloves and safety tape (just note that this doesn’t guarantee safety).
What Tools Do Teens Need for Whittling?
The good news is whittling is a pretty inexpensive hobby to get into! There’s just a few tools and materials you need.
Knife
The whittling knife is obviously the most important tool. While you can whittle with nearly any small knife, to prevent injuries and ensure a good experience, it’s best to go with a high quality knife.
High quality doesn’t have to mean expensive, though. Beaver has fantastic knives, and you can even get whole whittling starter kits for a reasonable price (more on that in a minute).
Wood
Using the right wood for whittling is important! If you’re buying a starting kit, it will often come with the wood you need. But if you need more, you may want to buy a set of more wood.
Safety Gear
While not required, it’s definitely recommended to have some simple safety gear.
When we bought our kit, we also grabbed some cut-resistant tape to make finger guards. They are super simple, but help prevent accidental cuts. (The tape doesn’t stick to your skin – it’s self-adhesive, and holds it’s shape nicely once you make the finger guards.)
You can also get cut-resistant gloves for a bit more peace of mind!
Sharpening Accessories
If you buy a starter whittling kit, it may come with what you need. If not, you’ll want to get a leather strop to sharpen your whittling blade.
Starter Kits
If you want to get your kids going with whittling, consider starting with a kit. We love the ones from BeaverCraft. They are exceptionally good quality, have exactly what you need to get started, and tutorial videos to take you through projects step-by-step.
Here’s a few popular kits:
- Kit with starter knives and a guidebook with 3 projects
- Wizard kit
- Comfort Bird kit
- Love Spoon carving kit
Resources & Tutorials
Whittling Beginner’s Guide Video – We used this video to help us get started whittling. He’s got a bunch of great tutorials on his channel
If you’re looking for a book to teach help teach your kids whittling, 20 Minute Whittling Projects is a great place to start. I’d also recommend checking your local library for books at your local library in the crafting section.
BeaverCraft not only has a great selection of high-quality tools and materials for whittling, but they have a series of tutorials on their YouTube channel as well.
