Innovating Block Play: Explore More, Build More, Play More
Keeping Caroline Pratt's main goals of totally open-ended, child-directed play at its heart, we at Guidecraft took on the challenge of innovating on her beautiful 100-year-old unit block system.
Crazy Costumes = Developing Brains – Lauren’s Learning Lab
In this episode of Lauren’s Learning Lab, mom, architect and teacher, Lauren Magee shares the benefits of pretend play for her 3-year-old, 7-year-old, and 9-year-old. From sharing...
Blocks: Play with Toys the Natural Way – Lauren’s Learning Lab, Featuring Dr. Carla Horwitz
In this episode of Lauren’s Learning Lab, mom, architect and teacher, Lauren Magee is joined by Carla Horwitz MS, Dip. Ed, Ed. D and Child Study Center...
How Kids Learn Using Their Senses – Lauren’s Learning Lab
In this episode of Lauren’s Learning Lab, Lauren Magee shares how important sensory play is for young children in home-based learning environments. Lauren’s 3-year-old, 7-year-old and 9-year-old...
Blocks: Play with Toys the Natural Way, Part 2 – Lauren’s Learning Lab, Featuring Dr. Carla Horwitz
In this episode, mom, architect and teacher, Lauren Magee, continues her conversation with Yale University’s Dr. Carla Horwitz about Unit Blocks and what makes them...
Lauren’s Learning Lab – Summer Series: Back to Nature
Going outdoors brightens everyone’s mood, especially the moods of Lauren Magee’s 3 young children. This summer, Lauren’s Learning Lab heads outside for a much needed reset. Follow Lauren and...
Everyday Materials Have the Capacity to be Playful
The world is a naturally playful place. Children don’t need to be in a playroom or at a park to explore playfully. In fact, they’re...
Enhance Block Play at Home with Three-Dimensional Lines and Shapes
“A simple geometric shape could become any number of things to a child. It could be a truck or a boat or the car of...
There are a few approaches to offering materials to children for play and exploration. There are toys and materials that are accessible to kids in...
Everywhere Materials: Play is Possible All Around Us
We know that children are going to play, no matter what: through good days and bad days, celebrating their interests and digging deep into the...
