Children must master the language of things before they master the language of words.
Friedrich Frobel
Children understand the world through experience. In the quote above, pedagogist Fredrich Froebel, the Father of block play, is capturing this. In spending time with any young baby or child we see this desire to touch, first the family, the parents, to touch the body of the caregivers, to snuggle into clothes or hold the hair. Then as time goes on, there is a shift to explore their own body, sucking toes and hands, pulling at socks and hats! Then later still the baby and indeed, the toddler wishes to explore the world around them, hungry for experience, touching, tasting, moving, climbing, what can I find? What can I discover!
The tactile nature of discovering and of experiencing the world is so embedded in young children, so key to their development and learning that it seems clear that the richer and more engaging for the senses a child’s environment is, then the richer their learning and experience will be. The quality and nature in what we offer children to discover is so key in this early journey into play. A desire to provide families with rich resources that offer children tactile discovery and unlimited play opportunities is what guides the ethos at Oplay.
Discovery and ‘mastery’ with the hands is such a human skill and so historically and culturally significant. Crafting with wood is seen globally in all ancient cultures and continues today or course not only in toymaking but in all areas of design, architecture and craft. It is this heritage and respect for hand craftsmanship that we wish to champion at Oplay. Play and tactility has been central in our design, the process of making our blocks in itself is a skilled and tactile creative experience.
When you touch and feel an Oplay piece there is a connection not only to the wood, the tree, the living nature of the material, but also to the maker. The smooth edges and soft finish have been skillfully crafted to make the blocks fit in the hand with ease, pleasing and complete.
