In our family, Stapelstein has become essential for learning through play. Every day, my children, aged 3 to 5, immerse themselves in their imaginative worlds, constantly finding new ways to use Stapelstein elements in their dramatic play. These versatile tools transform into anything their creativity conjures up, from building blocks to props in their pretend scenarios. We incorporate the sets into various educational activities.
The kids use them for color collections, working on color gradation, counting, and a lot of gross motor skill practice. As open-ended play tools, Stapelstein elements foster a wide range of learning opportunities, allowing my children to learn through their play naturally and enthusiastically. As a homeschooler and a progressive educator with a master's degree in childhood and early childhood education, I firmly believe in experience-based learning. I let my kids lead the way in their learning journeys, using open-ended toys like Stapelstein to create their worlds and scenarios. For instance, if they're building a shop, I'll seize the opportunity to teach them math by counting money. This approach enables me to integrate learning seamlessly into their play. Our elements and sets are used daily in various imaginative ways. They become cooking pots, seats for customers, swimming pools for stuffed animals, mountains for toy mice, steering wheels for pretend vehicles, and so much more.
The open-ended nature of Stapelstein inspires my children to engage in self-directed play, providing endless opportunities for learning and creativity. Occasionally, I set up development-directed activities using Stapelstein, such as color sorting, counting exercises, or an obstacle course for gross motor practice. My kids' enthusiasm for these activities often leaves us wanting more Stapelstein sets to expand their play even further.
One of our first magical moments with Stapelstein was when my kids used them as wheels on a huge wooden block car they built. I was amazed by their creativity and pleased to see how they combined different open-ended toys. Another memorable moment was when they used the elements as a chimney on a house they constructed. These experiences highlight the endless possibilities Stapelstein offers for imaginative play. Another fun adventure was when, recently, my niece and nephew visited, and my kids set up all our Stapelstein elements across the playroom floor. All the children took turns balancing and jumping between the elements at their own pace and in their unique ways. This play session showcased the universal appeal of Stapelstein, engaging big kids, little kids, and toddlers alike. This is simply great.