Carpentry play gives children the opportunity to learn to design and build things while developing a wide range of physical and thinking skills. The learning taking place often relates to maths, science, technology and sculptural art.
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The learning taking place often relates to maths, science, technology and sculptural art.
There are so many valuable things to learn through carpentry play such as developing an understanding of measurement, size, balance and the use of force, as well as learning to solve problems as they consider design features.
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There are so many valuable things to learn through carpentry play such as developing an understanding of measurement, size, balance and the use of force, as well as learning to solve problems as they consider design features.
On the carpentry table you’ll see a range of tools, wood, different sized nails and many other materials like carpentry pencils, milk bottle tops, ice block sticks and scraps of material. As children become confident with the tools and materials and with guidance from teachers, they start to think about how to put their thoughtful designs together. Allowing children to explore at their own pace is key.
Children increase their strength and control of their bodies through learning how to hammer, saw, drill and drawing plans with a pencil. The practice here is both muscle control and hand-eye coordination. Teachers showing them how to use the tools correctly and look after them and are ready to help them if needed, e.g. to hold a drill.
Children gain practical skills in using mathematics concepts as they measure for length, size, angles and count how many pieces of wood, wheels, and other materials they may need.
Through their practice, children experience ideas linked to science like force and balance.
Learning to observe, predict and experiment with their designs are great skills they’ll continue to develop as they grow. Teachers support children to put their own ideas into practice without taking over.
Children express their creativity in designing and making sculptures in 3D. They develop their thinking skills as they problem solve.
Children get great satisfaction from the technology process of thinking up a design through the seeing it finished.
They practice sharing and cooperating with others when working on a project together or sharing the tools.
Children learn to assess and manage risks in a supervised environment.
Carpentry | Kāmura
Older infants and toddlers enjoy hammer toys that allow them to practice the skills of hitting an object with a hammer and making 3D sculptures with small boxes.
Carpentry needs to be supervised by adults at all times. For safety, children wear shoes and for some projects goggles to protect their eyes from saw dust. You’ll also need a sturdy table to work on.
Children often start by exploring how to use the tools – so an offcut of timber or a thick tree branch/stump where children can hammer nails into is a good start. This can bring about a sense of satisfaction as they become more competent.
When sawing, start with thin sticks and work up to thicker pieces of wood. When drilling, have some flat pieces of wood where children can practice drilling holes.
These experiences support older children to be confident to design and create their own constructions. At this point what is important is to have a large selection of resources for children to be able to choose and develop their designs such as:
- hammers that are light with a full-sized hitting surface
- small, sharp adult saw that are used when wood is placed in vices to grip wood
- nails in a range of sizes and types
- pliers or pegs to hold nails while the child hammers
- hand-drill and bit, and screws and screwdriver (short, stubby kind is the easiest to use)
- sandpaper glued onto a block of wood
- a clipboard with paper and a pencil for children to make and record plans
- ruler and builder’s pencil
- useful accessories include PVA glue, stapler and staples, tape, string, bottle tops, hooks, nuts and bolts, scissors, rubber-bands, lids, mild bottle tops make great wheels and paint.
Continuing the learning at home
