New children’s book highlights the core values and potential hazards of the demolition business.
We are proud to announce the publication of a new children’s book dedicated to the demolition industry.
My Dad Does Demolition is the brainchild of former Institute of Demolition Engineers’ president and industry training leader John Woodward and was written by Mark Anthony, founder of DemolitionNews.com and editor of the Demolition magazine.
Ideally suited to children from five to eight years old, the book has been developed to encourage children to consider a career in demolition from an early age.
“John’s brief was very clear,” Mark Anthony says. “He wanted a book that showed children what demolition was all about, how safety is vitally important, and how materials could be recycled and re-used. Perhaps the biggest challenge was making demolition sound as interesting as possible without making it sound so intriguing that children viewed demolition sites as potential playgrounds.”
This is a view that is echoed by John Woodward. “Many children today are intent on becoming footballers or pop stars. We wanted to show them that there was an alternative within the demolition industry,” he explains. “Understandably, we try to keep children at arm’s length because of the potential hazards on demolition sites but this makes it difficult to engage with children that might consider working within the sector. Hopefully, this book will go some way to helping children understand what goes on behind the site hoardings and encourage them to consider a career in our industry.”
The book, which is available for sale priced £4.99 + postage and packing, has also been designed to allow parents, grandparents, carers and teachers to read it with children, to look more deeply at the subjects covered, and to encourage children to ask questions. “The book ticks all the key industry boxes,” Mark Anthony says. “Obviously, we wanted to explain just what demolition is, but we also touch upon materials recycling and the role of demolition in making progress possible. And, of course, there is an over-riding safety-first message.”
