I know I’m regurgitating, but I didn’t see a good explanation in other threads. It seems like the only task they’ll do is shelter stocking.
I noticed this in my current town, too. It’s annoying when you have able-bodied adults who need tools, but the kids rush in and grab them first.
Specially when tool production drains your amount of iron ingots so fast.
At 1K population I have 2 deep iron mines full of workers and two Smelteries at capacity and I am not producting enough iron to maintain the tool supply. The only item I am producing at the moment that consumes iron besides tools is barrels I can’t keep up.