Care for Education is a Non Profit Organisation and a partner of the LEGO Foundation. We distribute charity resources and training to children, schools and organisations in need. We aim to impact early childhood development and the Foundation Phase. Welcome to the home of Playful Learning For easy access, click any button below to tour our site. ABOUT US WORKSHOPS RESOURCES SIX BRICKS PLAY BOX Our Mission is to inspire life-long learning through the engagement of concrete manipulatives which challenge and empower educators and children to make positive changes in their development. Our Philosophy as Care for Education stems from our belief that learning should take place through construction rather than instruction, and that many more concrete, tactile tools or manipulatives should be used, not only to stimulate and encourage the learners, but to greatly accelerate the conceptualisation process and to allow children to become more inventive, curious and creative. Care for Education's Golden Circle To improve the lives of those in marginalized or vulnerable communities, particularly children, by working with partners, providing training and resources to foster skills development and well-being, through play-based approaches that promote exploration and empathy, encourage collaboration and innovation, inspiring the builders of tomorrow to dream big. Listen to 15 years of CFE podcast to learn more about our journey. 15 Years of CFE CFE 00:00 / 06:26 created with NotebookLM Six Bricks International Facilitators Around the World Workshops The invention of Six Bricks A team from Hands on Technologies started working on an idea, that Brent Hutcheson had imagined, around using only Six DUPLO bricks. What is Six Bricks CFE 00:00 / 06:26 created with NotebookLM Interview about Six Bricks - a Beyond the Brick video RESOURCES VIDEOS This basic set of six different coloured DUPLO 2x4-stud bricks is used to encourage children to construct and (more importantly) to deconstruct ideas and concepts whilst working on and developing their perceptual skills. Six Bricks activities help to develop core learning skills – self-regulation; curiosity; creativity & playfulness – the foundation for all later learning, as children solve problems, understand themselves, others and the world around them. The idea of using Six Bricks is based on a belief that children need to be exposed to perceptual (obtaining information from senses)-motor (learning to move with control and efficiency) experiences, which require them to use their brain and body together. This is important for most classroom activities - as in writing, for example, where the child must know the alphabet and how words are formed by combining letters. The child must then transform this knowledge into action – gripping, stabilizing and moving the pencil. The child’s perceptual skill of sight will be used to adjust the movements to create the required pattern or shape. This example illustrates how the mind and body must work together. Performing physical activities also build neural pathways and the more neural pathways the brain has, the easier it is to learn. Perceptual-motor skills are necessary and important in preparing the child’s brain for learning – they build that strong base to support future academic learning. Care for Education's impact extends globally, with collaborations spanning various regions. Partnering with organisations like IRC (Play Matters) , SOS Children Villages and UNICEF , we've conducted training sessions on learning through play using Six Bricks in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey. We have also supported LEGO Foundation teams with training and workshops in Denmark, Mexico, US, New Zealand, India, Italy, Ukraine and Poland. We currently have more than 58 active Six Bricks facilitators located outside South Africa, operating globally in diverse settings such as schools, remedial centres, hospitals, and even old-age homes. Several of these facilitators participated in a week-long Six Bricks seminar hosted at the heart of Six Bricks in South Africa in 2023. Six Bricks Workshop: Join us for a fun workshop and discover playful ways of teaching and learning using Six Bricks. Six Bricks FPI Online Course: This course introduces you to play-based learning & how to integrate it in foundation phase. Suitable for teachers FPI Find a Certified Six Bricks Facilitator Near You! Explore our directory of qualified facilitators from around the world and connect with experts who can bring the Six Bricks learning approach to life. Whether you're looking for workshops, training, or hands-on guidance, our facilitators are ready to support you. View Our Global Facilitator List Now! Open DUPLO Play Box Videos The LEGO Foundation utilizes two types of Play Boxes for global humanitarian efforts. These boxes are filled with DUPLO bricks by retired LEGO group employees, using pieces from damaged and returned boxes. This initiative operates under the name LEGO Charity. Care for Education is deeply involved with Play Boxes in Southern Africa. The DUPLO Play Box contains a variety of DUPLO elements which are valuable as teaching / learning tools in any Early Childhood curriculum as they facilitate development and learning through play. Teacher-guided activities with the DUPLO help children to develop both physically and cognitively. Children are curious about their environment and for learning to take place, they need to be stimulated through their sense of taste, touch, sight, hearing, smell, and they need to move. Children need to be encouraged to explore, create, play and interact with others and their surroundings. The manipulation of concrete material is essential to the young child’s concept development and the large elements in the DUPLO Play Box are the perfect size for young children to handle confidently. They are able to quickly build outside of their field of vision, thereby developing abstract thinking. The child can use his/her own imagination to build creative solutions to problems when playing with the contents of this box. This active learning stimulates the emotional, social, cognitive and physical developmental areas of the child - skills in these areas are needed for critical thinking and learning to take place. Browse our video library showing some excellent L earning through Play practice and meet some inspiring Play Box practitioners across different Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres around South Africa. All Videos Care For Education Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Now Playing Practitioners' Tales Little Folks Nursery School 01:37 Play Video Now Playing Practitioners' Tales Ep.1 Siyamthemba 03:32 Play Video Now Playing Practitioners' Tales Ep. 2 Mamshoba ECD Centre 02:20 Play Video Now Playing Practitioners' Tales Ep 3 Bambinos Early Learning 01:03 Play Video During ECD visits, the researchers at Care for Education support practitioners as they show some of their best playful learning activities. What's Trending? BLOG Big Ideas, Bright Hearts & DUPLO Play Boxes – March Training Magic! 135 0 comments 0 9 likes. Post not marked as liked 9 Partnering with Communities to Improve Early Childhood Education 127 0 comments 0 3 likes. Post not marked as liked 3 Bricks of Wisdom: Teachers Share How Learning through Play with Six Bricks Transforms Learning 95 0 comments 0 3 likes. Post not marked as liked 3 About us PB SB

Through our innovative approach to play-based learning, we have compiled a lot of resources for you to use in your lessons. Resources Six Bricks Padlet Six Bricks World Ideas Six Bricks Resources The following resources are recommended when conducting Six Bricks Activities: CAPS Activities VIDEOS BOOKS SUDUKO MIDLINE TEMPLATES INFORMATION FIND ME FAST Find a Certified Six Bricks Facilitator Near You! Explore our directory of qualified facilitators from around the world and connect with experts who can bring the Six Bricks learning approach to life. Whether you're looking for workshops, training, or hands-on guidance, our facilitators are ready to support you. View Our Global Facilitator List Now! Open Play Box Resources The following resources are recommended when conducting Play Box Activities: ACTIVITIES Care For Education has developed over 250 activities for Six Bricks which cover various aspects of child development (± 3 - 12 years). These activities are contained in an easy-to-use teacher guide and are only available from Hands on Technologies . The global Six Bricks community is growing and thriving with many Six Brickers creating inspirational activities all based on the characteristics of PLAY. Because we love sharing and don’t want to lose any interesting and fun ideas, we promote and share Six Bricks resources developed by our Six Bricks Community from all over the world. Subscribe and become a member of the Six Bricks Community Facebook page and start sharing your ideas with the benefit of interacting with people that value learning through play . Below is some of the content developed by our international play champions! Grobby Six Bricks - Farmyard Adventure Grobby Six Bricks is a Superhero / Superheroine. Unlike the caped superheroes, Grobby uses Six bricks, brain power and problem solving skills to devise a solution to a pressing problem. This is a story to be shared and enjoyed by the children. The story will act as a springboard for the children to write their own Grobby Six Bricks stories. Author: Martin Pender Read all about GROBBY or order the book here Six Bricks Interactive Whiteboard Software This is an amazing software support to all Six Bricks Enthusiasts & Practitioners + it’s FREE! The Software is full of great ways to use Six Bricks in curriculum. Tip: when you access the software and the 35+ tools, be sure to check out the ‘Teacher Notes’ above each toolbar to get an idea of how to operate and apply the software in curriculum. Link to: Six Bricks Software Author: Martin Pender Watch a video of a 'reading' of the book below. Different on the outside but the same on the inside! Each idea has a broad focus which could be Loving Language , Number Fun or Moving and Learning , so they may look a little different on the outside, but each idea includes all the richness that comes with Learning through Play. Use the activities below to make learning fun! Moving & Learning Human Brick Conveyor Belt Wonky Towers Sleight of Hand 3D Hide and Think What is the secret letter? Number Fun Towers with a Twist How many studs can you see? How many are left? Tower Take Down! Estimate and Check Loving Language Building with Language Bringing Storybooks to Life Bricks & Bat, Balloons & Balls Build your Ice Cream Tops and Tails

< Back Play Box Postings (Extract from LEGO Foundation Play Box Study: A Retrospective Assessment of Practices [South Africa Case Study Brief] Jessica Winter 02 Jun 2022 The brief report presents the distribution of Play Box across community-based early childhood development sites in under-resourced areas. The report also thematically highlights the cascading model used for Play Box Training in South Africa, as well as the long-standing partnerships between Care for Education and other non-profit organisations. Previous Next

< Back Living Kids in Mamelodi and Eersterus (Extract from LEGO Foundation Play Box Study: A Retrospective Assessment of Practices [South Africa Case Study Brief] Jessica Winter 15 Jul 2022 The research report details the integration of Play Box with a sports programme offered by Living Kids in Mamelodi and Eersterus. The themes are presented thematically and cover the playful developmental approach, the effects of lockdown on schooling, and the positive impact of Play Box training on teachers. Read the full extract by Gareth Rossiter and more about the creativity of teachers during the lockdown period. Living Kids in Mamelodi and Eersterus .pdf Download PDF • 149KB Previous Next

< Back Quality Teaching and Learning in the Foundation Phase: A Sample of Schools in the Xhariep District Jessica Winter 20 Jun 2023 This case study is based on observations and discussions in a small sample of primary schools in the Xhariep district of the Free State. The district was trained in LtP using Six Bricks in 2021 and was specifically chosen to ensure that the research included rural settings. Read the full report about the Foundation Phase Initiative in Xhariep, Free State. Quality Teaching and Learning in a Sample of Schools in Xhariep - Edits_20 June 2023 .pdf Download PDF • 1.87MB Previous Next

< Back LEGO Foundation Play Box Study: A Retrospective Assessment of Practices (South Africa Case Study Brief) 25 Jul 2022 The case study outlines the Play Box history, context, and model using interviews, discussions, and observations. The study presents Play Box contexts, partnership networks, perceptions of Play Box, training, and the impact of Play Box on teaching and learning. The findings are presented as a narrative describing different Play Box sites and models in South Africa. Read the full report by Gareth Rossiter submitted by Itad. Itad Play Box Case Study - July .pdf Download PDF • 3.11MB Previous Next

Crossing the midline means that you are able to cross one side of your body over this imaginary line to work on the other side of the body. Crossing the B - line Crossing the B-Line XBL Mats Crossing the B-Line (A2 - Best option) Crossing the B-Line (A3 - Acceptable option) Crossing the B-Line (A4 - LEGO brick Option) Powerpoint (Using XBL) Move Templates Move Mats Colours & Numbers Concept Mat Shapes, Colours & Numbers Mat Move & Learn Mat Editable Excel Mats XBL Templates Basic Mathematics (H & V) Basic Movements (H & V) Basic Movements Partners Advanced Mathematics (H & V) Spatial & Working Memory (H & V) Variations & Advanced Options XB- Line Index XBL Daily Record Print Bricks (Print if you don't have) XBL Daily Record Basic Mathematics (H & V) Basic Movements (H & V) Basic Movements Partners Advanced Mathematics (H & V) Spatial & Working Memory (H & V) XB- Line Index Moving Around New Mats

Click/Tap here to Register

< Back The Play Box Story (Extract from LEGO Foundation Play Box Study: A Retrospective Assessment of Practices [South Africa Case Study Brief]) Jessica Winter 13 Jul 2022 The report details the story of how the Play Box initiative started in South Africa. The report presents the journey from the initial project in Atteridgeville all the way through to the formation of Care for Education. The report also presents the major partners and roles of Care for Education as well as the distribution and training of Play Box. Read the full report by Gareth Rossiter about The Play Box Model in South Africa. The Play Box Model in South Africa .pdf Download PDF • 164KB Previous Next

Get know more about our team We’re a passionate group of thinkers, creators, and doers; committed to making a difference. With diverse backgrounds and shared values, we collaborate to drive innovation, deliver results, and build meaningful connections. Get to know the people behind the work. Kelly Hutcheson Renegade educator, play evangelist, and champion of the neurodivergent. Read More Evah Nkosi Learning through Play Trainer at Care for Education Read More Brent Hutcheson Director at Care for Education and inventor of Six Bricks. Read More

Overview How to Play

Unlock the power of playful learning with our workshops and courses, designed to revolutionize your teaching approach! Our expert-led workshops offer practical tools and strategies to help you foster curiosity, spark imagination, and promote a love for learning in children of all ages. Workshops View our workshops below and click the button of the workshop you are interested in to start transforming your teaching into an exciting, playful adventure! Learning through Play ECD ECD Join our hands-on workshop to discover creative ways to bring Learning Through Play into your program, with fun activities and laughter, all aligned with the National Curriculum Framework! LSEN Workshop: LSEN Bring learning to life! This hands-on workshop explores playful interventions and practical strategies to support learners with special needs through Learning Through Play. Specialised Workshop: Special Custom-crafted workshops with a playful twist! Perfect for teams, big organisations, and focused projects. Got a fun idea? Let’s bring it to life together! Facilitator Course: Facilitator Dive into a 4-day Learning Through Play adventure in the heart of South Africa! This workshop is for people involved in the facilitation space. Therapist Workshop: Therapist A 2-day HPCSA-accredited workshop for therapists and healthcare pros! Add a playful touch to your practice with hands-on skills you can use right away. Six Bricks Workshop: Six Bricks This workshop is for teachers and practitioners who have access to the Six Bricks tool and want to discover playful ways of teaching and learning using Six Bricks. FPI Online Course: This course introduces you to play-based learning & how to integrate it in foundation phase. Suitable for teachers FPI Whether you're a teacher, educator, or caregiver, our courses will empower you to create engaging, fun-filled environments that fuel creativity and enhance educational outcomes. HOME