This Adorable Tool Set Is Building Confidence for my 7-Year-Old Daughter

Before I had kids, I was skeptical of kid-specific products. Why would kids need a special bowl or spoon when adults already have small versions of those things, I wondered. Why would kids need plastic, character-driven versions of a household item, like a broom — couldn’t we just teach them to use the normal kind? But then, of course, I had kids and I understood. By creating kid-friendly versions of household items, we reach kids on their level. We appeal to their senses of creativity and adventure by using bright colors and relatable characters, and typically, those items are also perfectly-sized, easier to grip, and just so much more fun to actually use. 

So, when I saw a kid-appropriate, fully-functioning tool set from a brand called Handy Famm, I was all in.

In my experience as a mom of two and a helper at a preschool, one constant that I’ve seen is that kids want to help. By providing them with the means to do so with tools they can use safely, we allow them to explore the world on their terms. It was important to me that my kids, 13 and 7, learn some basic home improvement skills — things like hanging a nail and using a screwdriver. I wanted them to have a role in assembling and fixing their own tools and small furniture so that they could develop a sense of ownership, pride, and responsibility for those items.

While most tools are built for bigger hands, the Handy Famm tools were designed specifically for little kids (ages 3–5 and up). They’re smaller, and they’re adorable. Here’s what the lineup looks like:

Toto the Bird 3-in-1 Kids Tape Measure: This bird-shaped tape measure comes in a cool blue with a slightly bemused-looking bird named Toto who would definitely be friends with Mo Willems’ pigeon. The sleepy-looking eye is actually a built-in level. The tape measure, which is designed for ages 3 and up, includes a carabiner-style clasp, so you can secure it to a belt loop. This is a great tool for little helpers because it’s extremely safe and easy to use; plus, it’s fun to play with, and it teaches kids about numbers and how to properly measure something — an invaluable life skill. My 7-year-old runs to get her tape measure whenever we need to measure something in her room, and she loves 

Stretch the Yellow Giraffe Kids Hammer: The giraffe-shaped hammer has an ergonomic grippy handle that’s easy for small hands to grasp (because no one wants a flyaway hammer) and a real metal head that’s protected by a ring, made of the same softer material as the handle, that acts like a finger guard, so your little one is less likely to smash their thumb. The hammer feels heavy, compared to plastic toy hammers, so kids know this is a real-deal tool, not just a plaything, giving them a sense of purpose and independence.

Chomp the Green Hippo Kids Wrench: The wrench, aka Chomp the hippo, works just like an adult wrench, but it’s way cuter (and a little safer to use). Kids can learn how to align and tighten the wrench (which is the hippo’s mouth), and then release the grip by pressing the hippo’s eye. 

Ollie the Octopus Flat-Head Kids Screwdriver: Ollie the Octopus, a flat-head screwdriver, is one of my favorite Handy Famm designs. The tentacles work as a stabilizer, so kids can line up the screw and screwdriver more easily, making it a great tool for motor skill development. My 7-year-old successfully used this screwdriver to help assemble her Our Generation dollhouse.

I can honestly say, the Handy Famm tool set is a great choice for kids who want to help and/or learn to do things for themselves. If you’ve got a budding builder, this intuitive, well-designed tool set will help them get where they’re going safely and effectively. While we haven’t had much cause to use the wrench or hammer yet, my 7-year-old loves having the full set so that she’s prepared for whatever project comes her way, and I like knowing that the set will be there for her as she grows and starts taking on more solo projects.

At about $100 for the full tool set, the Handy Famm set is more expensive than other kid tool sets. There’s a 10-piece Stanley Jr. set that retails for about half the price, for example. But where Handy Famm sets itself apart is in the clever design and the use of what they call ‘non-verbal learning buddies,’ i.e., Toto and Chomp, the characters that draw kids in and get them excited. The bright colors and friendly characters let the youngest helpers know that these tools are safe and fun, inviting them to keep on playing with them long after the project is complete.