Fuelling creativity and aiding concentration

This week has been filled with creativity. Children have explored hammer use. The Japanese art of Hapa Zome uses flowers carefully placed and hammered between fabric pieces. The snails were made with wood cookies and nails, using a hammer to split wood and hammer nails.

Hammering is an incredibly beneficial activity. The year 6 children have found the repetitive striking great for calming and regulating themselves after their SATs test papers. The snails were made by Year 1 and 2 after exploring living snails in our area.

Allowing children to use real hammers in their exploration is a fabulous way to build strength and muscle tone. They explore how to control the pressure of their hammering, making light and hard hits. They develop flexibility and strength in their wrists that help with writing and pencil control. They learn focus, aim and concentration: it takes quite a lot of concentration to avoid hitting their (or my!) fingers. They learn how to share tools and how to keep themselves safe.

I love the fact that there are so many skills learned outside that indirectly benefit children’s classroom learning, and all without them realising they are being ‘taught’! To them they are completed absorbed and focused on their chosen task. 🧡