Builder Boards, a short history
Years ago when I was working at a Montessori school I designed a set of notched boards kids use to build their own playhouse, and even better, (as children taught me), to build from their imagination. There was quite a bit of interest so I wrote up a set of plans and called them Builder Boards.
I’ve built quite a few sets but for a long time had in the back of my mind to build a big set, with hundreds and hundreds of pieces, big enough so a whole classroom of kids could build all at the same time. Because so much good wood is wasted and leftover from other jobs, I wanted to build this giant set from recycled and leftover wood.
After I retired, I started collecting plywood. I looked around my shop and found a surprising amount of 3/4” plywood for the smaller 2 and 4 notch pieces. I combed garage sales, Craig’s list, looked in the Reuse and Habitat Stores and pestered my woodworker friends. One of the biggest sources turned out to be leftover wood from a shop that made cabinets with CNC machines.
Free leftover ½” and ¾” plywood from CNC projects at a local shop. A lot of it has a nice surface veneer, walnut, fir, cherry, or maple, and few voids, just right for Builder Boards.
I was amazed how much good used wood was floating around. No woodworker likes to see wood wasted, and often people would give me wood when they discovered how it was to be used. Sometimes wood appeared outside my shop and I had no idea where it came from. Eventually, I couldn’t get any more pieces in my van so I thought I should figure out how to use this giant set.
My first opportunity came by chance when three kids saw me working in my open front shop and came over to ask what I was doing. I showed them a few Builder Boards. Mom, who was right behind them, immediately understood and asked if I would bring Builder Boards to a summer camp for foster kids which I did. Later that summer, after I’d taken Builder Board to the park several times I knew I was on to something. The next summer I loaded up the van and went to the summer camp for foster kids again, farmers markets, a fundraiser for a children’s museum, a children’s art festival, and to the park for a big neighborhood party. While I knew kids liked builder boards, I didn’t realize how interesting, absorbing and entertaining a giant set could be for families. Building became contagious with moms, dads, young kids, high schools kids, and grandparents all putting boards together in all sorts of ways.
I’ve learned to arrange the pieces around on the grass and wait. It isn’t long before kids appear looking at pieces wondering what they are. I used tell kids they were like big Lincoln Logs, but these days many kids don’t know what Lincoln logs are, so I just ask if they would like to build something. Once one kid is building other kids start showing up. Soon all ages are building. Those not building, perhaps because they don’t have a child as an excuse, enjoy watching kids work and play.
The younger kids, (2-5) often just like to put boards together without much thought to an overall structure. Many learn right away putting notch to notch will create something.
I don’t know how he got these pieces to stay together.
This little guy built this structure without much help.
Younger children enjoy the repetition of putting boards together and creating a structure, any structure. Older kids naturally want to build big, and there is an attraction to building something they can get inside of. Houses of various forms and towers are popular. Problems arise: what about a door? A bedroom? A window? Skylights? What happens when you run out of long pieces? What happens when a wall is built up all by itself? How do you make a roof? Kids figure out some of this by themselves but sometimes I’ll offer help, saying, “would you like me to show you how to build a roof?(or whatever).”
Its an all ages event. I’ve seen an 8 month old (followed by mom) crawl from house to house watching bigger kids build. Two year olds are often busy with the two (and sometimes six) notch boards with (or without) help from their parents. I’ve seen 70+ year old grandparents building with their grandkids. Sometimes it seems moms, dads or grandparents are having more fun than the kids.
A shy little girl spent a lot of time creating her own small space where she could sit and hand notes out to her grandmother.
Older kids built a house with a bedroom.
Two high school girls sauntered in and went straight to building a tower with one of the girls inside. The girl inside stuck her painted fingernail out through one of the slots and a wandering little girl went over to check it out. There ensued a few minutes of the finger popping out different slots, with the little girl trying to anticipate where, mixed with laughing and peeking through different slots to see inside the tower.
Every time I take Builder Boards out into the world and let kids play I see some structure I hadn’t seen before. Early this summer it was a table with a solid top.
Before that It was a giant structure. You can tell kids there won’t be enough pieces to make a roof but it means so much more when they find out for themselves.
Or an airplane. This was built by the grandparent.
How about a short house with no door?
Or an arch?
I had seen one arch before made by an adult but this one was better. The kids worked by themselves for a long time but were having trouble so a dad who had been watching stepped up and helped with the last little bit. The kids were pretty excited.
Its great to watch people who don’t know each other laughing and playing together. When I first start out I arrange (sort of) the parts for different houses, or projects, in different areas. As the afternoon wears on pieces get mixed around and kids wander around looking a piece they need asking people they don’t know, “are you using this?” Its amazing it works so well. One day I got to use my very rusty 50 year old college Spanish when I realized a young man did not understand when I asked if he wanted help making a door. I got a big smile when I said “la puerta” and then “la ventana” when I showed how to make a door and then a window.
It made my day when a child with disabilities shouted, “Builder Boards are awesome!”
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Jack McKee has written two books, Woodshop for Kidsand Builder Boardsand has the world’s largest set of Builder Boards made from recycled wood. His website is: woodshop4kids.com