Pikler Triangle
Introduction: Pikler Triangle
I made this Pikler Triangle for my son who recently started to learn how to get up and move around. It was designed by <PERSON> in the first half of the 20th century and has been in use for decades in Montessori programs. The triangle was designed for kids to use from 6months up until 5 years old and is aimed to help kids understand and develop their motor skills. This climbing triangle acts as a tool to help them learn on their own, build confidence, problem solve, and understand where their body is in relation to space.
It's a pretty easy project that you can do on a weekend with limited tools. Don't be afraid if you don't have the tools that I used in this video. Here are some substitutions:
Table Saw ---> Use a circular saw with a straight edge
Drill Press ---> Use a power drill with a forstner bit
Band Saw ---> Use a jigsaw
Belt Sander ---> Use a random orbital sander or simple hand sand
Download the plans here!
https://www.designcraftworkshop.com/collections/digital-plans/products/pikler-triangle
Supplies
Paint and Oil Finish : https://amzn.to/3gBokmZ
Knobs : https://amzn.to/3b3wq6P
Threaded Inserts : https://amzn.to/3gyT3kN
Connecting Bolt and Cap : https://amzn.to/3gyT3kN
Screws : https://amzn.to/3gyT3kN
Plywood : You will probably need a full sheet depending on the size of your Pikler Triangle
Rods : The amount will vary depending on how high your triangle will be and your spacing between each rod. I used 1-1/8" diameter rods.
Step 1: Breaking Down the Plywood Sheet
First, break down the 3/4" plywood sheetings into roughly the size you want for your rails. In my build, my rails were 5" wide, though I think 4" is a sweet spot. I used a crosscut sled to cut the rails down to the right lengths. Once the lengths were cut to the right size, I went ahead and trim down the excess width to exactly 5".
To cut the parts for the triangle, I roughly cut a square that was 18"x18". Later, I'll trim this down to the right size.
Step 2: Making the Hole Template
The hole template is made to ensure that the holes for the rods will be drilled in the exact location on each of the rails. The spacing of my holes were 6" on center. 493
This can vary based on your preference. I don't recommend anything greater than 6" as it might be harder for kids to reach and climb up the triangle.
I cut a sheet of 1/4" plywood into the same size as my longest rail. From there, I marked the center of the template and then marked a line every 6". Once I finished all my layout lines, I went to the drill press and used a forstner bit that matched the diameter of my rods; in this case 1-1/8". I'll drill out a hole using the drill press at every 6" center mark.
If you don't have access to a drill press, you can use a power drill with a forstner bit.
Step 3: Making the Holes on the Rails
One the template has been complete, I taped the template onto the longest rail first. With the template secured onto my rail, I went back to the drill press and aligned the hole on my template with the forstner bit. Once the bit was aligned and I was able to confirm that the bit was centered on the template hole, I drilled down into the plywood rail going halfway into the wood. I continued this for all the holes and for all the rails.
Keep in mine with the shorter rail, the template will stick out longer than needed. You can ignore any holes that stick pass the shorter rail.
Step 4: Creating the Round Ends
With all the holes drilled on the rails, I added a rounded end to each of the rails. To do this, I used a round object that had a diameter that was equal to the width of my rails. In this case, it was 5" so I used a 5" hole saw to create a template where I could trace the arc at the ends. I didn't have a compass on hand, but if you do that would be way easier.
Once the arcs were marked, I used my bandsaw to trim away the material and then sanded it down on my belt sander. 599