Let's Talk About Learning and Playing Did you know that just a few days ago, on January 24th, we celebrated the International Day of Education? It's a pretty cool day that reminds us how important learning is, especially for our little ones. And guess what? Sometimes the best learning happens when kids are just playing around with their toys! Playtime is Learning Time Think about when kids play with wooden blocks. They stack them up, count them, and maybe even knock them down (and that’s okay!). It might look like simple play, but it's actually super helpful for their learning. They're gettin ..read more

Winter is finally over, Days are getting longer, and warmer, beautiful flowers are starting to bloom, and everything is getting green again. Spring is undoubtedly one of the best seasons to be outside with nature all around you. What could be better than getting the little ones excited about nature all while developing important early childhood skills?  Here is a list of DIY activities you can get going in the great outdoors that are not only extremely fun but also teach your little ones valuable and important information about the nature around them. Collect Things! To children, the out ..read more

Everyone is slowly becoming more aware of the impact we all have on the environment and on a good note. A lot of people are starting to take action by reducing their negative impact on the environment, be it by avoiding single-use plastics, recycling, or even driving less, whether the recent spike in fuel prices is to thank for that or not. While it may seem that doing things to benefit the environment either consists of a lot of work or spending a lot of money there are ways that you can do it from the comfort of your own home. As Environment Month comes to an end, here are 5 easy ways to h ..read more

April is mathematics awareness month and here at Stumped we are passionate about early childhood learning! South Africa, along with many other countries, is currently facing a problem in the development of mathematical thinking in late childhood education, this is believed to stem from early childhood development and the lack of math children get exposed to while they are in their early development years.   In 2019 the TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) found that, in South Africa, only just over one third (37%) of Grade 4 learners demonstrated that they h ..read more

“... on almost every survey, people who had spent at least two years in Montessori, had higher well-being than  people who never went to Montessori. “ Angeline Lillard, study author. The Montessori philosophy and approach to teaching children, has proven to be successful at nurturing long-term psychological health and wellness. The focus is on developing essential skills for life, building positive character traits and stimulating emotional intelligence. The Montessori ethos, adaptable to any lifestyle or cultural influence around the world, is all about how you choose to communicate and ..read more

What is "Small World Play"? Encouraging self-expression, confidence and exploration, Small World Play is another wonderful tool using figures and resources to play and tell stories in miniature form. The benefits of Small World Play are many and every parent should think about including a safe area somewhere in the home or outdoors that allows their child to engage in learning and imitating the world around them and to work out confusing or new things. Great for toddlers, they will normally become engrossed in their own world, acting out real-life or imaginary events with a constant narrative ..read more

In 2022, parents are challenged by the new normal, the era of exciting technological opportunities for play and learning and many trends calling for a following. Bringing up a child is as exhilarating and daunting as ever and although parents are finally able to breathe easier with the return of in-person learning, everyone is ready to welcome a better and safer way forward. A new survival attitude of resilience and coping with change is emerging as well as bringing a sense of calm to playtime to counter the sensory overload of an ultra stimulated society. We at Stumped have trawled the curre ..read more

After the Second World War, in a region of Italy called Reggio Emilia, a psychologist called Loris Malaguzzi developed a new approach to learning for primary and preschool learners. Malaguzzi believed that children would benefit from a new way of learning which was less teacher-intrusive and more self-directed and experiential. Regarding children as willing and curious with a natural urge to understand and relate to their world, he thought they would be capable of building their own learning skills and following their own paths of inquiry and discovery, by using their environment as a catalyst ..read more

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Let’s make it the most sustainable yet – a new green tradition. At a time when shopping can induce near hysteria  and over-consumption is high, there are many ways we can help to reduce potential waste without diminishing the spirit of the season. Here are 7 tips for making this year a more eco-friendly Christmas: Find a tree that’s all real, no plastic! From unique miniature trees to authentic fir trees, choose one that can be replanted after Christmas, or recycled into chippings for your garden path, or chopped and stacked in your garden as a ..read more

“To the extent that we value a diverse food supply with minimized trauma to the environments where it is produced, we will place a high value indeed on honey bees and other pollinators.” Keith S. Delaplane, Professor of Entomology, University of Georgia. Entomologists, gardeners, nature enthusiasts and anyone who has a passion for insects, knows about the many benefits of encouraging natural habitats and biodiversity in our gardens. Heavy landscaping is slowly making way for less manicured sanctuaries which welcome beneficial insects who pollinate plant life and prey on pests, helping to yield ..read more