Unboxing creative learning for the young

The pandemic-induced lockdown confined a number of people to their homes, pushing most age groups to the edge. While, for adults, it translated into blurring boundaries between work and leisure, children experienced educational challenges. Being disconnected from a physical learning environment meant millions of students were unable to access education in the first place. However, those who could adapt to the digital mode also faced several learning losses.

The situation alarmed parents and policymakers alike. Realising the importance of an intervention in the learning space, Pallavi Singla and Himani Bansal founded Tiny Thinkers, a South Extension- based organisation that creates learning programmes for children aged two to six. “We had moved to online education and mothers were stressed about how to go about it. We came up with this idea that if we put all the learning material in a box and deliver it to one’s home, it will be much easier for children to learn the subjects,” shares Singla.

Making learning easy
The education system has, for long, focused on rote learning, offering limited opportunities to go beyond conventional teaching methods. However, over the years, both teachers and educationists have identified that learning goes beyond just reading and writing. Practitioners now lay stress upon the importance
of co-curricular activities and hands-on learning to benefit children and their overall development.

Focusing on experiential learning, Tiny Thinkers provides activity-based modules for children along with learning supplies—flash cards, lab kits, art and craft supplies, etc. They use these educational activity boxes—Singla and Bansal develop these boxes along with certified early-learning experts—focusing on holistic learning. to supplement the education children receive in schools.

“Not all schools provide options to delve into co-curricular activities. Our box gives the opportunity to explore and discover various themes in a fun and creat i v e way,” explains Singla, who is a Montessori certified trainer. The boxes created by Tiny Thinkers are categorised into Toddler Box (for 1 year), Junior Box (for 2 to 3.5 years), Senior Box (3.5 to 6 years), all starting at Rs 1,499.

A teacher from the organisation also conducts weekend classes to help students try these activities that focus on core values of Montessori education—a system for children that seeks to develop natural interests and activities rather than use formal teaching methods. Tiny Thinkers thus focuses on improving the child’s analytical and scientific skills, enhancing creativity and mindfulness.

Five-year-old Avyaan’s mother, Mahima Madaan, a Jaipur resident, points out how her son would find it difficult to concentrate during online classes. “He cannot sit in one place for long,” she says. However, Madaan feels that the Tiny Thinkers subscription boxes have helped her son. “He looks forward to this class. It is very engaging and he learns a lot,” she concludes.