The Benefits of Woodworking Classes for Kids

What Happens in SRV’s Woodshop?

Here at SRV, our woodworking curriculum emphasizes building character as much as it does skill with tools. Our students learn woodworking techniques and how to use different tools, but they also gain essential life skills.

Our woodshop is designed to help children:

• Build Self-Esteem: We encourage students to change their mindset from “I can’t do that” to “I can’t do that yet.”
• Develop Resilience: Working on projects teaches mental resilience and helps kids learn to embrace mistakes as learning opportunities.
• Take Responsibility: Kids learn to take ownership of their projects and to consider the safety and well-being of everyone around them.
• Find Fulfillment: There’s a deep satisfaction in completing a project you set out to achieve, and our woodshop gives students that sense of accomplishment.

Inside the Woodshop

Our woodshop is equipped with full-sized tools because they allow for real, tangible work. Full-sized tools also help children develop their muscles, strength, and stamina, fostering a deep respect for tools and materials. For our older students who have demonstrated the necessary focus and ability, we even have power tools, with the lathe being a favorite. With it, students create impressive lamps and bowls, and it’s a joy to watch them proudly display their finished projects.

One unique aspect of our woodshop is the “tinker table.” This is where students can take apart old electronics and household appliances to see how they work—or even figure out how to fix them. This table is always bustling with curiosity, and I love watching students incorporate disassembled parts into their woodworking projects. It’s a wonderful introduction to basic electronics and a great way to fuel their creativity.

Students are encouraged to bring their ideas to life with one important rule: they need to finish what they start before moving on to a new project. This teaches commitment and perseverance, especially when the going gets tough or the project feels tedious.

As their skills grow, so do their ambitions. Over the years, we’ve had students create everything from go-carts to desks, chairs, and even chicken coops! By the time they leave SRV, our students have developed a level of comfort and confidence with woodworking that they can carry with them into future projects, whether at school or beyond.