How to Build Little Kids' Tables

Purchase or repurpose two identical wood stools, about 20 to 22 inches tall. Unfinished wood simplifies the job, but any wooden stools can be adapted to serve as the legs of the table. Sand the stools lightly to remove any rough spots or to create a rough surface for new paint.

Measure the length of the available space for the table -- 3 to 4 feet is minimum for a usable play/work tabletop, but the top can be longer. The ideal is 18 to 20 inches deep, but the table can be slightly wider if the stools will support it. Have the local hardware store or lumber mill cut 3/4-inch birch plywood to your specifications. Ask the store clerk to slightly round the corners.

Sand any rough areas on the plywood, and coat one side with chalkboard paint. Follow the manufacturer's directions for the optimum number of coats to ensure a good drawing surface. Let the paint dry completely.

Paint a game board on the unpainted side of the plywood. Create a train track and surrounding landscape in hobby paint for a train buff, or just leave the second side plain. Protect the second side of the tabletop with clear lacquer.

Paint the stools to match the table, or cover them in a coat of clear lacquer.

Measure the places to drill through the tabletop and the stools, so you can fasten them together with nuts and bolts. Drill the holes where marked, and insert bolts through the plywood and the seats of the stools, securing the bolts on the underside of the stools with nuts.

Set the new table in place, tucking plastic storage keepers for toys and books under the stools. Provide a basket of colored chalk and an eraser, or a container with game pieces or toy trains for the kids to use on the table.