We started toucanBox because we believe creative thinking is the number one skill for the future. Yet in our experience as mum of 3 children and Montessori teacher respectively, we’ve seen funding for arts in schools being cut, and busy lifestyles or screens getting in the way of imagination. We know that children learn best by “doing”, especially if they’re having fun, yet “hands-on” time seems to be in fierce competition with “screen” time. With toucan-Box, we want to make it easy to unleash children’s creativity; having fun making things, learning in the process, creating memories and asking “why?”.

This is our story, now start yours.

WHO WE ARE...

The team behind every toucanBox creation is a dedicated group of former teachers, educators and artists. We’ve all spent time teaching and designing curriculums for children in one capacity or another. Education and creativity are important to us as individuals and we bring that passion and knowledge to bear on every project we develop for our customers at toucanBox.

OUR DESIGN PRINCIPLES

• Fun
• Learning via self-discovery
• Hands-on experiences

When we sit down to create a new toucanBox we start with one main question: what’s fun for children? Giving kids something they want to do is at the heart of every project. And naturally the teaching, the investigation, the engagement all falls into place. When faced with a toucanBox project, your child should find something to challenge them, but ultimately succeed.

Our projects are designed with the firm belief that when children work with their hands, they gain a very concrete understanding of materials and concepts. They see how something works. They make more neural connections. Abstract learning evolves from concrete experiences they have had. Tell someone what to do and they’ll struggle to understand; show someone what to do and they’ll learn much faster, and make their own discoveries along the way.

Although every toucanBox has a specific outcome, as designers and educators we feel very strongly that the process of creating is the most important part of the experience. Children should be encouraged to experiment, adding their own take. For example, our Modern Art project tells the story of how Mondrian preferred to paint with primary colours. So kids can follow in Mondrian’s footsteps, or mix their primary colours to create something unique.

WHAT IS STEAM?

toucanBox projects are designed to cultivate a child’s natural curiosity to learn. And while our inspiration stretches across many methods of learning and curriculums, from the National Curriculum to Montessori, each box ultimately champions STEAM. Using Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths as key touchpoints, children should be thinking creatively: observing, designing, inventing, expressing themselves and solving problems to complete their project. All whilst having a great deal of fun.