The People Behind Triclimb

History of the Pikler Triangle

Emmi Pikler was an inspirational woman, originally from Vienna. She invested much of her working life to understanding the natural and organic development needs of children, including her own. She devoted most of her adult life to the Lóczy orphanage which she founded in 1946, focussing on a comforting atmosphere that provided the conditions needed for healthy play. Pikler mapped out the natural way in which children motor skills develop. She believed in supporting children’s development though kindness and respect, often now referred to as ‘attachment’.  A major observation around ‘accident statistics’ found that children who have freedom to run, climb, jump and roam were more physically capable and alert. They were able to fall without hurting themselves, in comparison to ‘over-protected’ children who lacked understanding of their capability and limitations, and were more likely to sustain injury.

The Pikler triangle was developed to encourage curiosity, confidence and independence in children as young as nine months.

Peter, Jolene and Triclimb

We’d long known about the concept of a Pikler triangle and we really wanted to bring one to Babipur. Angharad, One of our customers and also a friend who lives around the corner, Llinos Babipur’s sister in fact, had asked us on numerous occasions to start stocking play triangles. About 18 months ago after searching high and low for a suitable Pikler style triangle to stock at Babipur, we decided enough was enough and we were going to start our own brand.

We wanted it to be strong and made from sustainable wood. We wanted it to complement the toys that we are already so passionate about. We hadn’t seen any Pikler triangles available in the UK, so we approached some makers overseas In Germany,  that we were already in contact with, but Jolene kept saying “wouldn’t it be great if we could make one here in Britain”. This is when we contacted Christine and Steve who not only make toys in Britain but in Wales which was a huge bonus!

We already had a working relationship with Christine and Steve, we knew the quality Christine’s wood work was outstanding through her creation of the Rainbow Box. Working with these guys on Tri Climb has been amazing, they listened to our ideas, came up with creative design solutions and kept us informed on testing and safety changes.  Angles, screws, colours, everything was discussed and refined down to the smallest of details.  Now we’re here with a finished product it’s just amazing!  Jolene and I wanted to create a brand that would do the product justice, after some brain storming Christine suggested the name ‘Tri Climb’, and everything fell into place. Tri Climb encapsulates so many aspects of the triangle, a play on words, Tri (tr-ee) is Welsh for three, and also sounds like a tree and we all love climbing trees! We hope to create accessories for Tri Climb and we have lots of ideas for the future. We’re just taking the first steps on this journey.

Images courtesy of Siobhàn Danielle Draper Etherington and Capture The Rainbow Photography

Christine and Triclimb

Hello, I’m Christine! I live with my husband and three young children in South Wales and I’m the designer and manufacturer of the Triclimb.

Ever since I can remember I’ve had a passion for designing and crafting beautiful and clever products. Training as a furniture designer and cabinet maker and working in the furniture industry for a number of years has allowed me to express that passion and hone my skills. I’ve more recently been working as a secondary school teacher which has been brilliant, but designing and building is what I love to do, and when our little people started making an appearance it seemed like the right time to start my own business – so Rainbow Box was born.

Our vision at Rainbow Box is simple – to make beautiful, practical, sustainable products for children that promote creative play and reading, and that are kind to the environment. We hate waste, we hate throwing things away, and we handcraft our products using the best materials so that they last a lifetime.

I was a Babipur customer long before I ever even thought of Rainbow Box; I love what they stand for, the way they operate and the products they sell. From the beginning of our small business we knew they were the perfect retailer to help us, and we were delighted in 2016 when they agreed to work with us to sell the Rainbow Box Original and Rainbow Box Shelfie. After a successful year and building a great relationship, we were even more delighted when they approached us with the idea of working together on a pikler-style climbing frame. We loved the idea and immediately saw the immense value it would bring in helping children learn and develop.

What followed was six months of design, redesign, prototyping and testing (both by testing houses and our own ‘in house’ test subjects who have LOVED it!) After all the hard work, we’re immensely proud of the end result, and delighted to be working in partnership with Babipur to bring it into homes where it will be loved and used. I really can’t think of anything more brilliant for a designer/maker than that!

An Inspiration…

We were incredibly excited to launch Triclimb at Babipur and are very pleased with the amazing response we have had so far. It has been wonderful working with Christine on this project and we look forward to building on our design relationship going forward. Nothing stands still at Babipur!

We believe it is also important to acknowledge how thrilled we are that Christine is not only local to us in Wales, but also representing the amazing women who are highly skilled in their craft. Carpentry is a male dominated profession, but Christine has shown us what it is to be a true craftsperson, inspiring young women to challenge work stereotypes and enter this very rewarding career. We think she is a real credit to her profession and an inspiration to all of us.

FAQ’s

What age is Triclimb suitable for?

From 9 months to five years (although this will depend on the weight of your child)

Is there an weight limit?

The suggested weight limit is 50kg

What is Triclimb made from?

Triclimb is handmade in the UK, here in Wales from the highest standard from FSC/PEFC sustainable wood

Can Triclimb be folded away?

Yes. There are screws that can be removed to open or close the Triclimb when not in use.

Can Triclimb be used outdoors?

Triclimb has been tested and certified for indoor use only

Can I buy accessories?

Not yet…but we’re working on it 😉