< 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

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Play Box Series This is where the magic begins! We’re supporting teachers to explore creative, hands-on ways of using their Play Boxes, introducing activities they can facilitate with children to strengthen foundational skills through play. Teachers adapt these ideas to suit their unique contexts, the needs of their children, and their weekly themes. Go through the 6 videos below to start preparing yourself on how to use your Play Box. Play Box - Starter Pack Play Video Play Video 03:17 01 - Intro to Play Box Play Video Play Video 02:40 02 - Copy Cat Activity Play Video Play Video 02:58 03 - Tower Build Activity Play Video Play Video 02:33 04 - Looky & Feely Bags Activity Play Video Play Video 03:12 05 - Copy & Memory Build Activity Play Video Play Video 01:01 06 - Play Box Tips Listen to teachers in South African primary schools sharing their experience using Six Bricks as a playful tool in their lessons. Foundation Phase Initiative Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Now Playing Foundation Phase Initiative - Free State & Eastern Cape (School Visit) 02:45 Play Video Now Playing Foundation Phase Initiative - Gauteng (School Visit) 04:05 Play Video Now Playing Foundation Phase Initiative - Teacher Training 04:07 Play Video

< Back The Care for Education Story (Extract from LEGO Foundation Play Box Study: A Retrospective Assessment of Practices [South Africa Case Study Brief]) Jessica Winter 22 Jul 2022 The research explores the aims, contributions, distribution and training logistics, partnerships, physical setting, and value of Care for Education. The findings are presented thematically and interwoven with meaningful personal communications. Read the full report by Gareth Rossiter and more about the partners, space, and systems at Care for Education. Care for Education Story .pdf Download PDF • 192KB Previous Next

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Discover how to incorporate learning through play into your teaching practice and how to fuel children’s natural desire for creativity & learning by using a playful approach in your lessons. 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 Resources 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! Get certified to lead fun, hands-on workshops on the magic of play with manipulatives. 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 Join us for a fun workshop and 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 Start Six Bricks Resources The following resources are recommended when conducting Six Bricks Activities: SUDUKO MIDLINE BOOKS INFORMATION TEMPLATES VIDEOS Download the Six Bricks App here Foundation Phase Initiative - Support Activities Try these fun weekly activities suited for Grade R to Grade 3. • Aligned with CAPS & DBE Workbooks (blue books) • Term & week specific Term 1 Activities Term 2 Activities Play Box Resources The following resources are recommended when conducting Play Box Activities: ACTIVITIES 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.

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< Back Thanda Community Centre in Mtwalume (Extract from LEGO Foundation Play Box Study: A Retrospective Assessment of Practices [South Africa Case Study Brief]) Jessica Winter 11 Jul 2022 The study thematically presents findings from Thanda Community Centre in Kwa-Zulu Natal. The report describes the rural setting of Thanda Community Centre, the commitment and passion of the staff towards harnessing children’s full potential using Play Box, as well as the innovative curricula development and neighbourhood learning groups established by Thanda Community Centre. Read the full extract by Gareth Rossiter and more about the newly established neighbourhood learning groups and the extension of Thanda Community Centre in the Eastern Cape. Thanda Community Centre in Mtwalume (Kwa-Zulu Natal) .pdf Download PDF • 335KB Previous Next

< Back LEGO Foundation Play Box Study: A Retrospective Assessment of Practices (Synthesis Report) 01 Aug 2022 The case study identifies and shares good Play Box practices across South Africa, Ukraine, Cambodia, Mexico, and the MENA region. The report examines practitioners’ experiences and perceptions, various models, partnerships, and strategies, as well as the implementation and use of Play Box across different contexts. The report synthesises the findings identified across the case studies. Read the full report by Gareth Rossiter, Ignacio Torrano, Danielle Freed submitted by Itad. Play Box Synthesis Report - August .pdf Download PDF • 1.43MB Previous Next

< 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

Kelly Hutcheson: The Global Play Rebellion Rooted in Six Bricks At Care for Education, we’ve always believed in the profound power of play. Few embody this belief with more fierce dedication and transformative insight than Kelly Hutcheson. Her journey with us, particularly alongside her father, Brent Hutcheson, in the development and global dissemination of the Six Bricks methodology, was the forging of a revolutionary new approach in education and parenting. Today, Kelly Hutcheson continues to champion a radical rethinking of childhood, education, and parenting, and her foundations were solidified here, amidst the colorful potential of six simple bricks. From "Problem Child" to Play-Driven Pioneer Kelly’s mission is deeply personal. Growing up navigating the challenges of dyslexia within traditional education systems, she was often labeled the "problem child." It was a label that could have defined her, confined her. But in her home, a different story was being written… one where play-based learning became the key that unlocked a world of understanding and unique capability. Her perceived "disruptions" were recognized as creative breakthroughs, her "struggles" as the forging of unique problem-solving pathways. This personal transformation became a shared vision. Witnessing the profound impact of this approach, her father, Brent Hutcheson, a foundational innovator at Care for Education, developed Six Bricks . What began as an intuitive response to one child’s needs blossomed, with the support of entities like the LEGO Foundation, into a global movement. Kelly was at the heart of this, translating personal experience into actionable, international training, playing a pivotal role in bringing Six Bricks to educators and children in diverse countries like Ireland, China, Germany, Egypt, the US, and Ukraine. Challenging the Death of Genius Kelly Hutcheson’s work with Six Bricks and Care for Education laid the groundwork for a broader, more urgent calling: to challenge the very foundations of systems that, in her words, often contribute to The Death of Genius . She argues that our current educational and parenting paradigms, obsessed with conformity and control, are systematically stifling the innate brilliance within every child . She believes children don’t need more instruction, just more freedom. Less top-down control, more intrinsic curiosity. Less relentless scheduling, more space for the kind of productive struggle that builds true confidence. For Kelly Hutcheson, The Secret to Smarter Kids isn't found in accelerated academics or a pile of educational toys, but in nurturing their natural ability to learn through play, to question fearlessly, and to trust their own minds. Her philosophy is a direct challenge: "You say you want independence but you interrupt every attempt at it. You say you value empathy but model emotional reactivity and call it “protection.”... We are raising children to be obedient machines in a system that is emotionally bankrupt and then we wonder why they don’t know how to care. Empathy is dying. Because our children have never seen it lived." This is about questioning the deep-seated fears and societal pressures that lead to over-parenting and restrictive educational environments. From Denmark's Innovation to Diverse Curricula Kelly Hutcheson’s commitment to this vision is backed by extensive, hands-on international experience. Her journey has taken her from facilitating Six Bricks training globally with Care for Education to: Greengates International School, Mexico Nova Pioneer, South Africa Sandton Junior Colleges, South Africa International School of Billund (ISB), Denmark This diverse exposure, coupled with degrees in Early Childhood Development and Learning Support from the University of Pretoria, and research on international reading programs at Harvard University (focusing on the Tools of the Mind Curriculum), has given her a unique understanding of how children learn best across various cultural and systemic contexts. Her expertise also extends to Special Needs education, ensuring her approach is inclusive and adaptable. She has also served as a World LEGO Robotics Competition Judge, underscoring her connection to playful innovation. The Play Alchemist & Free the Child The fire ignited during her time with Care for Education and the global Six Bricks movement now burns brighter with The Play Alchemist . Through this platform, Kelly offers parents and educators a new paradigm, tools, and the fierce conviction needed to transform homes and classrooms into laboratories of creativity, critical thinking, and authentic self-discovery. This philosophy, this urgent call to action, has culminated in her provocative book, Free the Child . It’s a direct, often uncomfortable, but ultimately liberating guide for parents ready to dismantle fear-based habits, step back from over-intervention, and cultivate true resilience and independence in their children. Free the Child is a manifesto for a new generation of parenting. Kelly Hutcheson is a catalyst for change, deeply connected to the Care for Education family and the legacy of Six Bricks, now taking those foundational principles to challenge and inspire a global audience. Her message is clear: if you're ready to question everything, to embrace discomfort for the sake of profound growth, and to truly free your child, Kelly Hutcheson is leading the charge.