Whittling with Kids - How to Get Started

If you're wanting to give whittling a try with your own family or class/group, knowing what tools to use and how best to get started can feel a little daunting.
We've put together this guide containing some recommended tools, techniques and safety suggestions, from our years of experience in leading forest school training and sessions with groups. We hope this guide will help to give you the confidence needed to be able to offer these meaningful opportunities for hands on learning.

Why whittling is such a valuable activity for children

Whittling supports a wide range of developmental skills and emotional benefits, including:

Fine Motor Skills and Hand Strength
The controlled movements involved in peeling bark, shaving wood and shaping sticks strengthen the small muscles in the hands and fingers. Children also improve grip strength, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination through repeated careful movements. 

Focus and Concentration
Whittling naturally encourages children to slow down and focus. Because the activity requires care and control, children often become deeply absorbed in the process. This kind of sustained concentration can be especially valuable for children who usually struggle to focus or stay still.

Confidence and Risk Management
Learning to use real tools responsibly gives children a strong sense of capability. Rather than avoiding all risk, whittling teaches children how to assess and manage risk safely. Children learn that tools are useful when treated with respect and care.

Creativity and Imagination
A simple stick can become almost anything! Whittling encourages open-ended creativity and problem solving which improves over time as they develop their skills and ideas.

Connection With Nature
Working with natural materials outdoors encourages children to observe different types of trees and materials. It also engages their senses with different smells and textures! As well as all of the other hundreds (if not thousands!) of benefits they receive just from spending time outdoors.

Which techniques to use

One of the best ways to introduce children to whittling is by starting with a peeler.
Peelers allow children to practise the movements and skills needed for knife work whilst reducing the level of risk. 

Children can start by simply removing bark from green sticks, smoothing and shaping sticks (peeling a stick to toast your marshmallow is a great place to start!). Starting with peelers can also help to build confidence (both yours and theirs!) before progressing to more advanced tools such as knives.

When using either a knife or peeler children should avoid large sweeping movements or excessive pressure. Encourage them to:

1. Sit down while whittling
2. Work to one side of their body, away from their legs and towards the ground. They can rest their non working hand on their opposite leg (the image here shows this position).
3. Keep elbows tucked close to the body
4. Hold the wood securely
5. Make small shaving cuts, removing a little wood at a time rather than 'digging in' to the wood.
6. Always work away from themselves being mindful of their own (and other peoples!) hands, legs and bodies.

Many practitioners find it helpful to teach children to create a “bubble” or “safety circle” which is a space around themselves that nobody else enters whilst tools are being used. Usually we would recommend that this 'bubble' needs to be the distance of your arms length (but remember if you're whittling a particularly long stick you need to be mindful of the length of that too!).

Which wood to use:
Freshly cut green wood such as willow or hazel is ideal to use for whittling, they are also easy to grow and harvest. They grow relatively quickly - so planting a few trees will give you plenty of wood for your whittling projects year after year!

Suggested tools for getting started

Below we've listed our suggested tools for introducing whittling to children, including our whittling kits which contain everything you need at an affordable price point.

For individual children:

Children’s Whittling Kit (Available with or without book of ideas)

This starter kit includes:

• OLR wooden whittling peeler
• A Hultafor's safety sheath knife
• Cut-resistant gloves (choice of sizes available)
• Sharpening stones
• A Cotton storage bag
• Optional Forest Craft Book

Containing both a peeler and a round ended safety knife this kit is particularly suitable for children starting out on their whittling journey. 

For working with groups: 

Whittling with Groups Kit

This group kit includes:

• 5 OLR Wooden Whittling Peelers
• 5 Hultafor's Safety Sheath Knives
• 5 Pairs of Cut-resistant Gloves (choice of sizes available)
• 1 Diamond Folding Sharpener
• A Forest Craft Book - packed with ideas
• A Cotton Storage Bag

A range of tools for whittling with groups including a bag to keep it all safe in!

 

Suggested Tools available individually:

Wooden Handled Peeler

An ideal first tool for younger children. Suitable for skinning sticks and practising basic skills before introducing knives. Choose from our own OLR Whittling Peeler or the Opinel Peeler.

 

 

Hultafors Safety Sheath Knife

Designed with beginners in mind, this knife features a rounded tip and comfortable handle which is easy to hold. 

 

 

 

Cut Resistant Gloves

Available in a range of sizes, these cut resistant gloves provide the protection needed but without being too bulky that they effect dexterity. 

 

 

 

 

 

Forest Craft Book by Richard Irvine

This lovely book is packed full of ideas for your next whittling project, including lots of helpful information and easy to follow instructions.

We stock a wide range of products including sharpening stones, saws, toolboxes and bags! Check out our full range for whittling and forest craft here.

Important safety tips to remember

Whittling should always be an activity that is supervised by an adult. Reminding children of the dangers of tools, why it's important they remain focused and setting out clear expectations for their behaviour will help them to respect the tools whilst feeling confident and safe in the activity.

Remember a sharp tool is safer than a blunt one! Sharp blades require less force, giving children better control and reducing the chance of slipping. 

Key Safety Tips

• Always supervise children closely
• Start with peelers before introducing knives
• Use cut-resistant gloves, at least on the non working hand (holding the stick)
• Sit down whilst whittling
• Encourage children's awareness of their 'safety bubble'
• Work away from the body
• Use child-friendly knives with rounded tips
• Keep tools sharp and well maintained
• Store tools safely and securely when not in use
• Keep a first aid kit nearby

Simple Project Ideas

Projects don't need to be complicated to be enjoyable! Some simple activity ideas include:

• bark peeling
• marshmallow toasting sticks
• stick people (peeling sticks and decorating with pens, wool and other materials!)
• clave sticks
• tent pegs
  
• simple mushrooms
  

Don't feel you always need to suggest a specific activity or what to whittle, children will often very quickly develop their own project ideas that they want to explore!

Introducing children to whittling can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience for both children and adults alike. By following the correct techniques and using suitable tools we can help children to safely develop their skills, confidence and patience whilst enjoying spending time outdoors connecting with nature. 
If you're working with groups or wanting to develop your experience in leading sessions with tools, we would always recommend taking part in training with an experienced practitioner. Whether that's a forest school training qualification or skills based CPD days.

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