Islington News: Kate Greenaway Children’s Centre | Copenhagen Street | Monkey Bars | Climbing Frame | Carpenter

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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 20 March 2009

Gill Parrot and her three year-old son Jim Parfitt splitting wood

‘Now children: measure twice, and cut once’

Tiny tots get experience of carpentry and chip in to build a new climbing frame

TINY tots have turned carpenter to build a set of monkey bars for a new climbing frame.
The children, aged as young as three, learned how to use real tools in a series of half-hour sessions under the supervision of their parents at Kate Greenaway Children’s Centre in Copenhagen Street, off Caledonian Road.
Youngsters and parents at the centre set to work with traditional woodcraft tools such as de-barking irons, mallets for hammering, froes for splitting the wood and shaving horses to whittle the wood down into slimmer pieces.
They used green chestnut to craft the monkey bars that will be fitted into a timber climbing frame in a few weeks’ time.
Islington Council children’s chief Councillor Paula Belford said: “This is a great idea. The children get a chance to be really hands-on and see the results of their hard work in the finished product of the new climbing frame, which they’ll be able to use for years to come.
“It’s also a great way for children and their parents and carers to spend time together outside being active and having fun.”
The sessions were run by Touch Wood Enterprises, who specialise in running workshops for children, using natural materials.
Head of Kate Greenaway Children’s Centre Julian Grenier said: “This was a fun day. Children and their parents were really enthusiastic about getting involved.
“The children learnt lots about the safe use of tools, and about the properties of wood. We think that young children are often much more capable than people think, and today was an example of our philosophy in action.”
Gill Parrot, mother of three year-old Jim Parfitt said: “I think this is fantastic. It’s lovely that the children can get involved and see how things are made and it’s an exciting opportunity for them.”
From April, Kate Greenaway will open every Saturday, offering a range of activities for families including Bike Start sessions, the Here We Grow growing project and Stay and Play sessions. For more information visit www.kategreenaway.ik.org or call 0207 527 4850.

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