If we want our children to handle tools and construction materials safely and with increasing control, we have to give them tools fit for purpose and opportunities to practice without too much interference. As adults, our role should consist of supporting children in learning how to use tools properly, helping them to understand that equipment and tools can impart injury if used inappropriately and in supervising their use discretely and from a suitable distance.

Once these parameters are in place, children can start trying out a range of tools and techniques safely. We have searched high and low to bring you real, scaled-down versions of adult tools because we believe that you can only do a proper job if you have the proper tools...