Creating constructions with wood and using tools builds on children's knowledge and encompasses all areas of learning.
Woodwork is one of Froebel's Occupations - creative activities and experiences for young children.
"Through the Occupations, children can:
- represent, be inventive and engage creatively and imaginatively
- build their physical competencies
- make links to everyday life, nature, knowledge and understanding
- be empowered to move from the here and now to the abstract (so laying the foundations of literacy and mathematical understanding)
- develop dispositions and attitudes that will benefit them in the adult world of work."
Prof. Tina Bruce and Jane Dyke, Learning from Froebel (2017)

"Woodwork captures children's curiosity and it has been particularly successful in engaging children who can be less confident and have more difficulty focusing. Giving a high level of trust and repsonsibility is empowering and woodwork can be key to unlocking children's motivation to learn..."
Pete Moorhouse, The wonder of woodwork (2021)
A collection of woodwork related resources and guides for educators:
Creativity in early education
Creativity is about children representing their own ideas in their own way, supported by a nurturing environment and people.
Find out more about Froebelian principles
Woodwork workshop for educators
Presented & recorded by Froebel trained educators at Guildford Nursery School & Family Centre. Packed with practical advice for educators in early years settings. April 2024

Download a free pamphlet
This Froebel Trust publication (interactive PDF) provides educators with advice on how to introduce & include woodwork in their early years settings and schools. March 2021

Watch a recorded webinar
Author and woodwork expert Pete Moorhouse shares his advice for educators interested in introducing woodwork to young children. A Froebel Trust webinar recorded in May 2021.

Download a free Occupations poster
First produced by Nursery World magazine, in association with Community Playthings, in 2017. This poster introduces the Froebelian Occupations. Free to download and display.

Tooled up!
An article first published by Nursery World in April 2018. Pete Moorhouse writes about the surge of interest in woodworking in early years education.

The Occupations in an early years setting
An article observing how Froebel's Occupations (incl. woodwork) can support every child's learning. A case study from Guildford Nursery School & Family Centre. April 2024
Woodwork allows children to develop an experimental mind-set and a 'can do' attitude. Educators can help children to assess risk for themselves and teach them safe ways of working with tools. Risk and challenge are important aspects of young children's learning.
Perseverance leads to deep joy in achievement and a powerful sense of agency...
