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The Importance of a Project Table
Perhaps most importantly, the project table teaches children that mistakes are not failures they are part of the creative journey. A painting can be changed, a model rebuilt and an idea developed. This freedom builds resilience, confidence and independent thinking, all qualities that are essential for lifelong learning.
Creative arts in early childhood are about far more than producing beautiful pictures. Through art and creative projects, children develop fine motor skills, language and communication, problem-solving abilities, concentration and emotional expression. They learn to make decisions, take risks and celebrate their individuality. Creativity helps children understand themselves and the world around them.
I often say that creativity is not something reserved for artists; it is a fundamental human need. We all need opportunities to think, dream, make, reflect and imagine. Children are naturally creative, and it is our responsibility as educators to nurture that spark rather than rush it.
In fact, I believe that adults need a project table just as much as children do. At home, having a dedicated space to write, sketch, sew, read, journal, plan, complete puzzles, or simply gather your thoughts can be incredibly valuable. Life is busy and full of responsibilities, and too often we lose the habit of creating simply for the pleasure of it. A project table offers a place to slow down, think deeply and reconnect with our own ideas and interests.
For adults, it becomes a space without deadlines or expectations a place where unfinished projects can remain waiting, where inspiration can return, and where creativity is welcomed rather than squeezed into the margins of life. It is somewhere to write notes, plan a garden, start a scrapbook, paint a watercolour, or simply sit quietly with a cup of tea and think. In many ways, it is a form of self-care and an acknowledgement that learning, creativity and curiosity do not stop when childhood ends.
Children also benefit enormously from seeing adults engaged in creative pursuits. When they observe parents, grandparents and carers making, drawing, writing and exploring ideas, they learn that creativity is not an activity that belongs only in school or nursery it is something that enriches our whole lives.
After more than three decades, I still believe that the project table is one of the most valuable features within our nursery. It is where friendships are formed, ideas come to life and children discover what they are capable of. Some of the most magical moments I have witnessed have happened around that table.
In a world that often moves too quickly, I believe every child and indeed every adult deserves a space where imagination is given room to breathe. For us at Lanterns, The Gallery and its much-loved project table continue to provide exactly that: a place where creativity is celebrated, thinking is encouraged and everyone is free to create something uniquely their own.
Do try creating your own project table at home, which is also excellent for mindfulness, quiet time, reflection over the day, journalling, reading and enjoy the feel of paper, pens, ink and craft.
Janet Viola
Director & Founder
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When I designed Lanterns Arts and Educational Nursery over 35 years ago, there was one thing I felt strongly about from the very beginning. I wanted our children to have a dedicated creative space a place where imagination could flourish, and ideas could be explored without pressure. That vision became what we lovingly call ‘The Gallery’, our art room, and at the heart of it sits a large project table which has remained the centrepiece ever since.
Some people may see a table as simply a piece of furniture, but to me, a project table represents something much more important. It is an invitation to create, to think, to experiment and to discover. It gives children permission to slow down and immerse themselves in their own ideas.
Throughout my years working in early childhood education, I have come to appreciate how important it is for every child to have a space where they can truly express themselves. In The Gallery, children gather around the project table to paint, draw, build, write, read, make plans and discuss their thoughts with others. It is often here that wonderful conversations begin, stories emerge, and masterpieces take shape.
Unlike desks, which many of us associate with work, homework and formal learning, a project table feels different. It encourages curiosity rather than instruction. It offers freedom rather than expectations. Children can sit quietly with their own thoughts, collaborate with friends, record their ideas, or simply enjoy the process of creating. There is no right or wrong way to use the space.