Kelly Hutcheson

My mission is to revolutionize education through the transformative power of play, and it's deeply personal.

My Story: From Struggle to Transformation

​Growing up with dyslexia, I was the "problem child" in school. Teachers saw me as disruptive, struggling to fit into the rigid confines of traditional education. I felt lost, misunderstood, and convinced that I was somehow broken.

But everything changed when my parents introduced play-based learning into our home. Suddenly, the world opened up. My "disruptions" became creative breakthroughs. My "struggles" transformed into unique problem-solving abilities. Through play, I discovered not just how to learn, but how to thrive.

This transformation inspired my father, Brent Hutcheson, to develop Six Bricks, a revolutionary approach to play-based learning [https://www.carefored.co.za/]. What started as a way to help one "problem child" has now, through the LEGO Foundation, grown into a global movement transforming education for millions of children worldwide [https://learningthroughplay.com/].

My Mission: Play Alchemy for Every Child

​As The Play Alchemist, I'm offering a key to unlock every child's innate genius. My goal? To bring the magic of Six Bricks and play-based learning into every home, every classroom, every corner of the world where a child's potential waits to be unleashed.

Armed with degrees in Early Childhood Development and Learning Support from the University of Pretoria, and fueled by my personal journey, I've dedicated my career to shattering educational norms and igniting children's creativity:

• I've introduced the Six Bricks approach across the globe, from Ireland to China, Germany to Egypt, the US to Ukraine.

• I've taught in diverse settings, from the innovative International School of Billund in Denmark to Cambridge curriculum-based schools in South Africa

• My research at Harvard University on international reading programs has deepened my understanding of how play catalyzes literacy.

​But more than my qualifications, it's my lived experience that drives me. I know firsthand the pain of being labeled a "problem." I also know the indescribable joy of discovering your true potential through play.

How I'll Help You Unlock Your Child's Potential

Whether you're a parent of a struggling child, an educator seeking fresh approaches, or simply someone who believes in the power of play, I offer you a new paradigm in learning:

 1. I'll show you how to transform your home or classroom into a laboratory of creativity and innovation.

 2. You'll learn to see "problem behaviors" as unique thinking styles waiting to be channeled.

 3. I'll guide you in integrating play-based learning into every subject, every day.

 4. Together, we'll nurture confident, adaptable learners ready to thrive in an ever-changing world.

The Science Behind the Magic

The research is clear and compelling:

• Children in play-based programs show significant improvements in problem-solving and critical thinking.

• Play enhances social-emotional development, fostering empathy and cooperation.

• Long-term studies reveal that play-based learning leads to sustained academic success.

​But beyond the data, I offer you something more: hope. Hope for the child struggling to fit in. Hope for the parent at their wit's end. Hope for a future where every child's unique brilliance is recognized and nurtured.​

Join the Play Revolution

​Are you ready to defy educational dogma and champion a new approach to learning? Then you're in the right place. With The Play Alchemist, you're joining a movement.

Remember, in our rapidly changing world, adaptability and creativity are survival skills. By harnessing the power of play, we're empowering them to create it.

Let's turn play into intellectual dynamite. Let's raise a generation of innovators who will render today's experts obsolete. Let's prove that in the war for our children's minds, standardization is the true learning disability.

The future belongs to those brave enough to play. And it starts with you, right here, right now.