Staff at playgroup have observed the children’s significant and sustained interest in tools. Over the last year we have been building on this interest and providing increasing opportunities to use real tools. Children enjoyed hammering golf tees into a pumpkin last Hallowe’en, they’ve helped dismantle the rotten sandpit in the garden using an electric screwdriver. They’ve become very proficient at assembling Ikea wooden boxes and even helped with the finishing touches to our garden water play feature.

Their interest and enjoyment in these projects has been the primary inspiration for building (!) on the use of real tools in the playgroup setting. Pete Moorhouse’s book has been the secondary inspiration. His enthusiasm and guidance has led to us now having our own workbench complete with vise, saw, screwdrivers, pliers and hammers.

Pete’s book is full of useful information highlighting the way that working with real tools encourages children’s independence and fosters creative learning. We have already witnessed deep learning at the woodwork bench. The children’s concentration and focus is substantial and can only benefit their abilities to be creative, to persevere and problem solve let alone provide significant exposure to opportunities to develop coordination, physical skills, language and communication.

Pete’s book is not just for children! It inspired me to get out my tools and create the workbench.

I’ve rebuilt my garden deck over the summer and I’m learning to carve spoons.

It’s given me a “can do” attitude. When I went through secondary school (and it wasn’t that long ago!) girls all did Home Economics and learned to cook and sew. Admittedly I loved this and still enjoy these activities. I regret now though that I was never given the opportunity to do woodwork, that was reserved for the boys. It’s an activity I’m now getting a lot of enjoyment from. It highlights for me again the learning that is in learning and why I love working in Early Years.  I’m learning just as much as the children are.

I have Pete’s book, if you’d like to read it please let me know, I’m happy to lend it out for short periods. He has an on-line booklet  too though, for anyone who is interested. Both the book and booklet are probably more aimed at professionals working with children but are still worth a read to get a flavour of the massive range of benefits woodworking provides.

Jane