Learn and play-The Ogalala way!

In today’s fast-paced world, balancing work, parenting, and personal life can feel overwhelming for many of us, especially for parents.

Because of all these demands and pressures, we often end up forgetting one of the most important things our children truly need from us, our time.

Time spent playing with them.

Yet research and experience show that through actual play, children learn more easily and absorb information faster. It plays a vital role in their development.

And yes, it’s not always easy for working moms or even stay-at-home moms to divide their time and energy. Even though I stopped working a long time ago, I still find it challenging at times to both entertain my kids and teach them at the same time.

I am truly grateful to have been part of the Ogalala System Play event held at Richwell Club in Tomas Morato. Honestly, I learned so much more about how to better engage and connect with my children.

And to think I already have three, I should be a veteran by now, but I still feel like I’m learning every day.

It was launched by Richwell’s COO Maye Yao Co Say to provide moms additional knowledge on how to teach kids through play.

What is Ogalala?

It is an ancient Native American term that refers to an underwater irrigation system. At its core, it is rooted in the belief that everything begins with water and of course, water is life.

The Ogalala System in Play was developed to help parents and educators identify important developmental milestones and provide tools that support a child’s growth, while also strengthening the bond between parent and child.

I used to think traditional teaching was mostly based on visuals alone, but there are actually three types of learning: auditory, physical, and visual learning.

When doing the exercises, you’re encouraged to observe and figure out which learning style your child responds to best whether they are more visual, auditory, or hands-on learners.

This makes the process much easier for both parent and child, allowing teaching and learning to flow more naturally.

It’s also important to always keep in mind that children should never be compared with one another. Each child develops at their own pace and has their own unique strengths.

Through these activities, you may also find yourself becoming more aware and appreciative of each child’s individual growth. In a way, it creates a shared sense of fulfillment for both parent and child.

You can download activity sheets like this one for mommy-kid bonding

"If they can't learn what we teach , we teach the way they learn."
You can actually start them young from birth or you can support their learning in school.
From 0 month to 12 years, there’s an Ogalala System in Play for you and your child.

For each child, it’s important to establish a consistent routine even up to their grade school years, so they gradually learn that there are other meaningful activities beyond academics and screen time.

This is where Ogalala introduces its partner brands that support learning and development:

CRAYOLA

Triangular shape promotes a proper writing grip so this is best for toddlers :)

Quite frankly, here in the Philippines, it often comes down to crayons. We love buying crayons for our little ones (guilty here!).

One of the featured brands is Crayon Republic.

What Crayola aims to emphasize is that art plays an important role in a child’s psychological development.

MELISSA AND DOUG

Wooden educational toys that are very multi-function and multi-age.
Did you know that building blocks and puzzles can help develop hand-eye coordination in children as early as 12 months!

DISCOVERY KIDS AND ANIMAL PLANET

This one is more self-explanatory, focusing on science and discovery tools that help children explore concepts that are truly out of this world.

On the other hand, ARTEC brings a slightly more interesting and hands-on approach to learning.

It is a Japan-based brand that focuses on subjects like biology, physics, and robotics, all the more technical and hands-on aspects of learning.

OOPS, on the other hand, is a brand from Switzerland. If you’re familiar with toys from Melissa and Doug, which often feature classic colors and horizontal block designs, OOPS takes a different approach with more playful aesthetics and vertically oriented building blocks.

Parents nowadays tend to be more cautious when it comes to plastic toys, especially with concerns about safety and materials used in the past.

That’s why many are leaning toward alternatives made from natural materials. These toys are often crafted from wood, making them a safer and more eco-friendly option for children.

Brands like HABA, for example, are known for using sustainably sourced wood, even growing their own—so you can feel more confident that the toys are safe, well-made, and suitable for kids.

It is known for the most expensive wooden toy in the market.
Everything has to be organic. Natural.

EMCO

They offer non-toxic plastic construction play products for the little ones.

The good news is that soon they will have an Ogalala store here in the Philippines.
It will be a world of fashion and play with lots of educational toys for the little ones.