Woodcarving Workshop for children with Jan Merhaut
Bring your kids to a Family Afternoon with Lesbotoč, where they’ll get a chance to explore the magical world of woodcarving! At the start, children can choose from a variety of wooden shapes—ranging from familiar animals like horses, hens, or cats to wild creatures like foxes, wolves, or bears. Under the gentle guidance of woodcarver Jan Merhaut, they’ll use simple chisels, files, and paints to transform their chosen shape into a unique creation, shaped by their imagination and skills.
Each child will take home not only a hand-crafted toy, but also a sense of pride and joy from creating something with their own hands. Working with wood encourages focus, fine motor skills, patience, and creativity. And because wood is a warm, living material, children naturally develop a relationship with it—learning respect for natural resources and the value of human craftsmanship. The workshop is suitable for children from around age three (with help from a parent) to older school-aged kids.
The whole experience takes place in a safe and welcoming environment, where the focus isn’t on performance, but on the joy of making. As a parent, you’re welcome to join in—help your child, or even try carving your own creature and share a quiet, mindful moment in the middle of a busy day.
🎨 Material contribution: based on toy size, typically around 100 CZK
🔧 Duration: ongoing throughout the afternoon, no prior registration needed
🪵 Suitable for all age groups (parental accompaniment for small children)
Come create, explore the texture of wood, and reconnect with the roots of childhood joy—found in the simple magic of handmade things.
English-speaking participants are welcome to join the event if they bring their own interpreter.
You’ll find the exact location on the program map upon arrival at Pride Village.
Host
Jan Merhaut – the carver
Entrance fee – around 100 CZK (material contribution based on toy size)
Accessibility – suitable for children and teenagers, accessible with a dog, barrier-free
Vibe check – small event (approx. 30 people), outdoors
Organized by – Jan Merhaut
Jan Merhaut has been crafting wooden toys since 2010, when a Waldorf kindergarten in Prague’s Petřiny district invited him to create toy blanks and lead a woodcarving workshop. The event was a success and blossomed into a long-term collaboration. Today, Jan supplies his hand-carved animals to a range of schools and kindergartens inspired by Waldorf education, as well as to other organizations and institutions. Most importantly, he provides toys—both finished and in blank form—to parents who are looking for high-quality wooden toys for their children. Whether ready-made or crafted together with the little ones, each toy carries the warmth of natural material and the joy of shared creativity.
