Wooden tools

I suggest using water-based poly. It cleans up easily and is quite durable. This woodcarving was finished with it:

-- Phil Allin - There are woodworkers and people who collect woodworking tools. The woodworkers have a chair to sit on that they made.

Yeah i’d probably go Minwax wipe on poly. Cheap and easy to apply, holds up well, cleans up easy.

Fwiw, when my kids were that age, they used one of my wooden mallets to smash chalk on the driveway. They would then design/draw on the driveway with chalk powder or mix with water etc. They could literally do this for hours while I worked in the shop. Such great times.

Use a non film building finish. Oil based Wipe on poly or reg thinned 1:1. Apply like danish oil. Can do another coat after he scratches them up if you want. Can also add dye if desired. Food and kid safe after its cured – when you no longer smell anything.

I would use Shellac.

He’s going to eat the tools. I would use a mineral oil/ beeswax blend. I think my mix is 4:1.

-- Sawdust Maker

+1 Shellac
It is used to add shine to hard candy shells, and encapsulate medicine pills.
Perfect for edible tools. :-)
Easy to repair too.

BTW – Great job starting the kid early!

-- If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all, - Albert King - Born Under a Bad Sign released 1967