It’s nothing new for children to engage in imagination-based play with faux versions of real-world items. Kitchen appliances. Shopping carts and groceries. Miniature cafes. Doctor’s tools. They’re all conducive to entertainment and creativity—but not to teaching children how to actually use these things, or to build early confidence in their abilities.
The team at Handy Famm is working to change that, continuing a mission started in 2019 by Florida-based founder Josh White.
One year prior, White had gone to Home Depot in search of a small, child-friendly hammer for his 12-year-old daughter. He’s always believed in engaging kids in real-world play—something that lets them learn by doing, while still spending quality time with their loved ones. It’s why he was teaching his daughter how to replace their wooden deck panels.
No matter how hard he looked, however, he couldn’t find an appropriately sized tool. But with a background in design at companies including Cabbage Patch Kids, the equipment to create his own 3D models, and preexisting relationships with overseas manufacturers, White wasn’t deterred. He sketched out some ideas (starting with a bird-shaped tape measure) and ordered some prototypes, before finally listing his first product on Amazon.
In the years since, the company has grown steadily, and so has its array of offerings. From a lone measuring tape, Handy Famm’s menagerie of tools has expanded to include six animals in various colorways, each with its own unique name. Parents can choose to buy these tools individually or in sets of 2 to 6, depending on the projects they’re looking to engage their child in.
My personal favorite of the bunch is the 4-piece Blue Crew Set, which includes:
Toto
Designed to look like a bird’s head, Toto boasts not just a measuring tape, but also a level and angle finder (tasks completed with the help of its rotating eye).
BamBam
The giraffe-shaped hammer allows children to both place nails (the teeth double as a metal hammer head) and to remove them (using the giraffe’s ossicones). This piece also features a small hidden compartment, accessed by pressing on and removing one of the giraffe’s eyes.
Bolt
This hippo-shaped tool only has one purpose, but it’s good at it. Cranking back one of his ears tightens the wrench (his mouth), while pressing on his eye releases it.
Eye protection
A pair of child-sized blue safety glasses, an important part of many DIY projects.
In short, the set offers everything a child needs to engage in DIY repairs, renovations, and creative projects—from hanging a picture to putting together a piece of furniture to building an outdoor fort.
The younger a child is, the more this might seem like too much, too early. But with tools like these, parents have the opportunity to take the fear out of learning something new. To help their child feel independent and capable. To allow children to contribute, rather than just observe. And to give them the opportunity to understand concepts such as cause-and-effect, project planning and precision, and the mechanics of crafting and repair.
It’s still play. It’s just also a meaningful learning opportunity.
Plus, Handy Famm’s products are as cute as they are usable, putting them a step above both your average toolkit and your average kid’s toy.
Ready to start collecting your own little zoo and inviting your kids to imagine, build, and learn together? Visit Handy Famm’s website HERE.
