Father’s Day: Bonding over with wooden toys at DIY workshop in Coimbatore

Spend time with your dad as you build wooden toys at an upcoming DIY with Dad workshop in Coimbatore

The joy of building a paper boat with dad. The excitement of holding the same pair of scissors, the small shared silences while making something together. In a world of screen time and busy schedules, it is rare for fathers and children to sit down and make something together.

This Father’s Day, bonding with Dad can be done in a new form. At DIY with Dad, a hands-on workshop by artist Ashik Jaffer- Ali, in collaboration with The Little Furnette, a kid’s furniture brand, fathers and children can spend quality time together as they build wooden toys.

“There are plenty of ‘Mom and Me’ programmes, but this one is just for dads. Even an hour hour spent doing something together can create a lasting impact,” says Ashik.

Ashik is no stranger to workshops. Over the years, she has conducted numerous summer art camps and creative sessions for children across age groups. One of her main artistic interests is watercolour painting, a medium she often returns to for its fluidity and softness.

Her series Secrets in the Folds, which explored the lives of underrepresented women, received widespread attention in recent years for its quiet yet powerful storytelling. “I love to paint beautiful and pretty things,” she says. People, spaces, and emotions, that I see around motivates me to paint.”

Through her workshops, Ashik focuses on making children do something with their hands rather than just playing video games. Most of her workshops are about art and different ways of expressing and creative thinking. “My approach is to make kids think out of the box,” explains Ashik.

Her workshops are thoughtfully curated according to age groups and are limited to 15 participants, ensuring that each child receives individual attention. “Children are naturally creative and thrive when given the right tools and guidance to explore their abilities,” she says. “But it’s important to challenge them appropriately, based on their age and stage of development, so they can discover new ways of thinking without feeling overwhelmed.”