Dhara Mehta, Founder, The Kids Company
Back in 2008, an M.B.A. working in an MNC, Dhara Mehta was unaware that the sabbatical taken then to embrace motherhood would be her final goodbye to the corporate world! Read on to know the story behind the launch of The Kids Company.
In the colorful journey of childhood, where curiosity blooms and imagination knows no bounds, creativity stands as a guiding light. The formative years of a child’s education play a pivotal role in shaping their
perception of the world and fostering a lifelong love for learning. Let’s explore the vital role of creativity in early childhood education and its profound impact on the holistic development of young minds.
Unleashing imagination through play:
At the heart of early childhood education lies the power of play. To an adult, play may be a break from work but for a child, play is work! It is not merely a form of pastime, but a bedrock of learning, providing children
with the freedom to explore, experiment, and create. Through imaginative play, children develop cognitive, social, and emotional skills along with problem-solving, communication, and empathy.
CULTIVATING YOUNG MINDS, BRICK BY BRICK!
Dhara Mehta, Founder & Chief Creative Builder at The Kids Company, an after-school activity center catering to children in the age group of 3-8 years, integrates her entrepreneurial drive with a passion for nurturing young minds. Holding an M.B.A. in Marketing and a Diploma in E.C.C.Ed., alongside certification as a Lego educator, she has amassed over a decade of experience in the early childhood space. Dhara’s innovative learning initiatives have earned her prestigious accolades, including the Rising Star Award 2017 (Pan India) and the Women Entrepreneur Award 2019. In 2023, she bagged a Bronze badge for being among the Top 30 percent of teachers globally. Her impact extends globally, inspiring countless curious minds across India and beyond.
As kids almost all of us must have built a blanket fort under our dining tables and draped our mother’s dupatta as a cape and jumped from one chair to another pretending to be our favourite superhero! While engaging in such make-believe adventures, play ignites the spark of creativity, nurturing a child’s innate curiosity and ingenuity.
Creativity ignites curiosity: When a child builds structures with Lego bricks or magnetic tiles, it gives them a chance to experiment with the shape, structure, balance, and spatial relationships. As they build and dismantle their creations, they naturally become curious about how things fit together and work.
Vihaan attempted to construct a Lego bridge and when he thought he was almost done suddenly something snapped and scattered the bricks in all directions. He soon got on to rebuild the bridge. This time confident that he had got it right but once again all the bricks fell apart! Now his curiosity was tickled, and he started analysing what was going wrong. After 2 failed attempts he managed to build a solid bridge and what had started off as playtime turned out to be a practical lesson in physics – understanding the distribution of weight and force on the structure.
Encouraging self-expression and building confidence: Creativity empowers children to express themselves effortlessly thus fostering a sense of identity and boosting their self-confidence. When a child is regularly exposed to an environment where creativity is encouraged and they are allowed to share their ideas, thoughts, and feelings without having the fear of being judged they emerge as confident individuals. They develop a positive image of themselves and that lays a strong foundation for their future success.
As Kian’s papa returned home from work, eager to relax on his couch, 6-year-old Kian dashed to his room with boundless enthusiasm. He retrieved his school project, ‘Best from waste,’ and excitedly shared how
he transformed dried-up batteries from his toys, broken crayons, and an old shoebox into a marvelous marble maze game. His father’s genuine appreciation boosted Kian’s confidence, filling him with pride, and he soon
decided to try and work on one more project this time using Papa’s old computer keyboard!
Cultivating critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Creativity and critical thinking are two sides of the same coin guiding children on a journey of exploration and discovery. While creativity focuses on
generating novel ideas, critical thinking helps to analyse evaluate, and refine those ideas by examining their feasibility and potential consequences.
When faced with open-ended challenges, such as inventing a game or building a rectangle shaped swimming pool with blocks of different sizes, children learn to think innovatively, adapt to new situations, and develop resilience when they encounter challenges. Through such hands-on activities that encourage experimentation
and risk-taking, children develop essential problem-solving skills and learn to approach problems from multiple perspectives and devise creative solutions. These skills not only benefit them in academic settings
but also prepare them for the dynamic demands of the ever-changing world beyond the classroom.
It should be every educator’s endeavor to support and encourage children to generate multiple solutions to a problem and coax them to explore unconventional approaches.
Imbibing lifelong passion for learning: During the foundational years of childhood, the seeds of lifelong learning can be planted with creativity acting as the catalyst. By integrating creativity into education, educators can foster an atmosphere where learning evolves into a delightful and engaging journey. Whether it’s exploring the wonders of science by making an edible volcano or imaginative storytelling with the use of real-life props or understanding the life cycle of a butterfly with Lego bricks, creative learning opportunities have the power to captivate children, igniting lasting enthusiasm for exploration and curiosity, what extends
beyond traditional teaching methods.
To summarise: In the fabric of childhood, creativity weaves moments of wonder, curiosity, and boundless possibility. As guardians of early childhood education, it is our responsibility to cultivate and praise the creative spirit that resides within every child. By fostering an environment where creativity thrives, we can empower children to embark on a lifelong journey of exploration, innovation, and self-discovery. Together, let us embrace the transformative power of creativity and unlock the limitless potential of young minds.
