The magic of the internet is truly a powerful way to connect like-minded folks from around the world. Imagine my excitement when I heard from Pete Moorhouse, an early years creative consultant and artist educator all the way from Bristol, England! I immediately checked out Pete's website at https://irresistible-learning.co.com and we are indeed like-minded in our passion for promoting creative thinking through provocations and long-term projects inspired by the educators of Reggio Emilia and through what we have learned about the creative process as artists. I spent some time admiring the beauty and skill of Pete's sculptures on his website at www.petemoorhouse.co.uk, but I came away with a realization that his experience as a sculptor is what genuinely grounds him in a deep developmental understanding of the importance of creating in 3D with young children.
In Pete's book, Learning Through Woodwork: Introducing Creative Woodwork in the Early Years, he shares practical tips and inspiring visual examples from his work with young children. I especially loved what he had to say about the process of "making."
"Currently, there is a surge of interest in making in general--often referred to as the Maker Movement, and encouraged through community initiatives such as 'hack spaces' that promote interdisciplinary making and through a proliferation of online video tutorials covering all sorts of making projects. This is enthusing and engaging young people all over the world. The value of hands-on making is once again being appreciated, countering the current consumerist culture with curiosity-driven experiential learning. In today's society, there is an emphasis on continuously buying new products and disposing of them when broken. Woodwork provides children with a basic insight into the skills needed to make and repair rather than consume and dispose." I would add that the same is true for blocks and other recycled materials and loose parts, that can be used over and over again in creative ways.
Pete finds that woodworking is a holistic way to embrace so many areas of learning and development. We both agree that working in 3D is not only a key building block of mathematical thinking but that it offers children of all abilities and backgrounds an engaging, meaningful way to learn.
I am always pleased to share new resources with you and hope you will check out Pete Moorhouse's book and website!
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