Unleash Your Inner Two-Year-Old:

Why Playful, Practical Learning Builds Skilled, Confident Teams

At Sequoia, we believe one simple truth: systems don’t make decisions—people do. And for people to make good decisions, they need more than just access to data. They need the skills, confidence, and curiosity to explore, question, and understand what’s really going on.

Surprisingly, the best inspiration for how we should learn as adults doesn’t come from a boardroom or classroom—it comes from a toddler.

Learning, Two-Year-Old Style

My daughter, E-J, is endlessly curious. She learns by doing, testing, and trying again. Whether she’s banging on the window with her toy hammer, jumping off the sofa, or pouring water all over the table just to see what happens, she’s not just playing—she’s conducting experiments.

She doesn’t read a manual. She doesn’t wait for instructions. She explores, adjusts, and learns through real, tangible experience.

And guess what? That’s exactly how adults learn best too.

What Went Wrong?

Somewhere along the way—between primary school and corporate life—we traded curiosity for compliance. We stopped asking “What happens if I try this?” and started asking, “What’s the right answer?”

But research from learning science and cognitive psychology confirms what E-J already knows: learning is most effective when it’s hands-on, engaging, and emotionally safe.

In fact, studies show that adults retain more information and build deeper understanding when they’re actively involved in the learning process (Kolb, 1984), especially when they feel safe enough to make mistakes without fear of judgment (Edmondson, 1999). That’s why psychological safety—feeling secure enough to experiment, fail, and ask questions—is a critical foundation for any adult learning environment.

Bringing Learning to Life at Sequoia

At Sequoia, we’ve taken those principles and embedded them into the heart of our training programmes. Instead of lectures and tick-box sessions, our workshops are built around interactive, risk-free environments that mimic the freedom and curiosity of a child’s mind.

Using powerful HTML5 simulations, learners can explore variables, adjust inputs, and instantly see the impact of their decisions. They learn through doing—not just watching—creating those all-important “Aha!” moments that stick.

So, Why Does This Matter?

Because while businesses have invested millions in ERP systems and digital tools, many have overlooked the most important asset: their people.

ERP systems are brilliant at storing and processing data, but they can’t tell you how much stock you really need, when to schedule production, or how to improve customer service. That still depends on your team’s ability to understand, interpret, and act.

Yet many planners and operations staff are expected to make high-stakes decisions with little more than basic system training—"which button to press next" rather than why it matters.

Skilled People Make Smart Systems Work

An expensive system in the hands of an undertrained team is like giving a high-performance car to someone who’s never had driving lessons. But when your people are confident, curious, and equipped with real-world knowledge, they’ll make even simple tools work wonders.

That’s why we focus on giving teams more than just instructions—we help them build true business insight through applied, exploratory learning.

The Results?

- Higher engagement
- Deeper understanding
- Long-term retention
- Practical, real-world application

Whether we’re teaching the dynamics of supply chain trade-offs, scheduling models, or performance metrics, our goal is the same: empower your team to think critically, experiment confidently, and make better decisions every day.

Final Thought: Learning Shouldn't Stop at Childhood

Rediscovering how to learn like a two-year-old doesn’t mean being childish—it means being open, curious, and unafraid to test new ideas. When adults are given the tools and the freedom to learn like this, the results aren’t just better performance—they’re transformative.

Let’s invest in your people, not just your platforms. Let’s create training that doesn’t just tick a box—but builds capability, confidence, and curiosity.

Let’s talk about how we can help your team unleash their inner scientist—and take your business further.

Discover how we can help your business

Why Playful, Practical Learning Builds Skilled, Confident Teams