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10 Creative and Easy Craft Ideas for Children to Try at Home

Young minds can be stimulated, creativity can be fostered, and motor skills can be enhanced via crafting. Children’s craft ideas offer a fantastic combination of enjoyment and education, making them ideal for a rainy day or weekend activity. Let’s look at 10 such fun do-it-yourself children’s craft ideas that are simple to complete at home with supplies that are typically accessible in all our homes.


Advantages of Crafting for Young Learners

  • Increases Creativity: Encourages kids to articulate their thoughts and think creatively.
  • Enhances Motor abilities: Cutting, folding, and glueing enhance hand-eye coordination and fine motor abilities. 
  • Improves Focus and Patience: Children learn patience and attention to detail by following craft instructions. 
  • Promotes Self-Expression: Children can express their feelings and sense of style via art and craft.
  • Fosters Problem-Solving Skills: Assists children in applying critical thinking to the process of putting together or embellishing their projects.
10 Easy and Enjoyable Children’s Craft Ideas
Rangoli With Flowers or Colored Rice:
  1. Materials: powdered colours, flower petals, or coloured rice.
  2. Steps: 
    1. Pick a straightforward rangoli pattern.
    2. Draw the design on the floor with chalk.
    3. Add powder, petals, or coloured rice to fill it in.
    4. Ideal for celebrations such as Pongal and Diwali.
 Do-it-yourself Handprint Art:
  • Materials: Paint, paper, markers, and brushes.
  • Steps: 
    1. Press paint onto the paper after dipping your hands in it.
    2. After drying, use markers to create peacocks, trees, or other figures of the prints.
    3. Gift it as a present to loved ones.
Do-it-yourself Thread Bangles: 
  • Materials: Beads, glue, coloured thread, and old bangles.
  • Steps:
    1. Tightly wrap the bangles in colourful thread.
    2. Include little embellishments or beads.
    3. Wear these handcrafted items yourself or give them as gifts.
Coconut Shell Painting:
  • Materials: Paints, brushes, and dried coconut shells.
  • Steps:
    1. Wash and pat dry the coconut shells.
    2. Use traditional motifs or simple designs to paint them.
    3. Use as ornaments in your house.
Do-it-yourself Clay Diyas:
  • Materials: Paints, glitter, and air-dry clay. 
  • Steps: 
    1. Turn clay into little diyas or even buy diyas from the market.
    2. Give them time to fully dry.
    3. Apply paint and add glitter.
    4. Ideal for the celebration of Diwali.
Makar Sankranti Kite Making:
  • Materials: Sticks, coloured paper, string, and glue.
  • Steps: 
    1. Cut coloured paper into the shape of a diamond. 
    2. For support, fasten them with bamboo sticks. 
    3. Attach a thread and use patterns to adorn it. 
    4. Fly it on Makar Sankranti.
Handmade Earthen Pots with Paint:
  • Materials: Brushes, acrylic paints, and little clay pots. 
  • Steps:
    1. First, wash and dry little earthen pots. 
    2. Use traditional Indian motifs when painting them. 
    3. Use as festive décor, planters, or pen holders. 
Banana Leaf Painting:
  • Materials: Paint, brushes, and dried banana leaves. 
  • Steps: 
    1. Gather and pat dry banana leaves. 
    2. Paint rural scenes or traditional patterns. 
    3. Use the threads and braid them to make greeting cards or wall décor. 
    4. Attach beads or decorative elements.
    5. Tie and gift on Raksha Bandhan.
Paper Mache Ganesha:
  • Materials: paint, glue, and old newspapers.
  • Steps:
    • 1. Tear up newspapers and combine them with adhesive.
      2. Shape it into the form of Lord Ganesha and allow it to dry.
      3. Apply paint and embellish them.
      4. Ideal for celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi
Handcrafted Rakhi:
  • Materials: Thread, glue, and beads. 
  • Steps:
    1. Braid colourful threads. 
    2. Add ornamental components like beads. 
    3. On Raksha Bandhan, tie it and give it as a gift.

These children’s craft ideas are perfect for kids of all ages, providing both fun and learning experiences. Since many of these crafts use traditional Indian elements, they are wonderful ways to celebrate culture and festivals while keeping children creatively engaged.

Why not make crafting a family activity? Gather some materials, choose a favourite craft, and spend quality time creating something unique! Encourage children to experiment with colours, textures, and patterns, making each craft their own. 

In addition to providing entertainment, crafting helps young minds develop critical life skills like patience, creativity, and confidence. So, roll up your sleeves, dive into the world of creativity, and let new crafts keep coming in. Happy crafting!

How to Choose the Best Nursery Near Me: A Parent’s Guide to Early Education

Often pondering over the question hounding every parent nowadays, What’s the best nursery near me? It is given that this exercise of finding the ideal nursery for your child is the most important decision parents must make with the utmost care. The early years are the most crucial period when you see your child’s brain developing rapidly. During this time, finding the right nursery for them that can provide a solid foundation for their future learning is a very weighty decision on a parental shoulder. But relax now! This guide will help parents understand what to look for when choosing a nursery and why Mindseed is a great option for such quality early education.

Why Does Early Childhood Education Matter?

Early education for children plays a very important role in shaping the way a child’s overall self develops and also makes them a reflection of their adolescent years. It not only prepares them for their primary schooling but also builds a strong foundation in them, in the early years, to make them self-confident and aware.

  • Brain Development: Our brain growth occurs mostly before the age of five. To prevent this growth from happening at its fullest capacity, a good nursery is needed. For things to help and guide them in developing their cognitive abilities.
  • Social Skills: Children are taught and shown ways to interact, share, and express themselves and their thoughts with their peers and their teachers.
  • School Readiness: Learning and developing some strong pre-reading, pre-math, and other problem-solving skills prepares children for school and their early building intelligence.
  • Emotional Growth: A nurturing environment is also needed for teaching children to manage their emotions and build their confidence levels so they continue to explore and widen their horizons in the best ways possible.

Key Factors to Consider While Choosing a Nursery Near You

Finding the best nursery near you requires careful pondering and evaluation of a variety of factors and aspects. Here are some important things parents should consider:

  • Location & Accessibility:
  • The nursery should be close to home or work.
  • The surroundings should be safe with minimal traffic.
  • Curriculum & Teaching:
  • A nursery should have a well-structured curriculum in hand.
  • Different teaching methods encouraging creativity, curiosity, and independent thinking should be followed.
  • Teacher Qualifications:
  • Teachers are needed to be well-trained and certified in their present jobs.
  • They should also be patient, understanding, and passionate in a real sense about teaching young children.
  • Infrastructure & Facilities:
  • Generally, spacious and well-ventilated classrooms and play areas are preferred.
  • Also, quality availability of books, toys, and other resources is again a must.
  • Parent Involvement:
  • Regular parent-teacher meetings should be held.
  • Also, parental participation in events and celebrations is also a good way for parental involvement.

Why Mindseed is the Best Choice for Early Education?

For parents searching for the best nursery near me, Mindseed is an excellent option available out there. It is not a question that it provides a variety of high-quality services that focus on a child’s individual learning. Here’s what makes Mindseed stand out:

  • Unique and Innovative Curriculum:
  • Personalized learning ensures that each child learns at their own pace.
  • Their curriculum is designed to develop creativity and problem-solving skills in your child for life.
  • Highly Trained Educators:
  • Teachers at Mindseed are trained in modern teaching techniques.
  • They focus on developing a child’s emotional and social skills along with honing their academics.
  • Safe and Engaging Environment:
  • Mindseed takes pride in always maintaining its safety and hygiene standards.
  • The classrooms and play areas are similarly designed to encourage exploration and hands-on learning in children, and everything is organized in such a way that it doesn’t interfere with a child’s individual learning needs.
  • Regular Communication with Parents:
  • Parents receive regular updates from the nursery’s side on their child’s daily progress.
  • Regular parent-teacher meetings are organized to ensure that parents are involved in their child’s learning journey.
  • Affordable and Value-for-Money Education:
  • Mindseed offers high-quality education at an affordable fee structure.
  • The nursery also provides additional services such as daycare and extra-curricular activities in their services to support working parents and their children’s needs.

Still Wondering, Where to Find a Nursery Near Me?Finding the right nursery near you is thus a decision that requires thorough research and careful consideration on the parent’s part. Early childhood education is known for having a lasting impact on a child’s future, and due to this, it makes it very essential to choose a nursery that provides such a safe, engaging, and building environment for your child.

At Mindseed we take pride in standing out as an excellent option for parents in this field. We offer not only quality early education but also ensure that every child gets the best start in life. By choosing the right nursery, parents can give their children a strong foundation for future learning.

How Clay Modelling Enhances Cognitive Development in Early Childhood

Witnessing a child express their creativity through art is an exhilarating experience. You have probably caught your child scribbling on their hands, papers or even walls with pens, markers, crayons or whatever else they can get their hands on. Kids tend to communicate through art from a young age. Just like painting and drawing, clay modelling creates a platform for your child to foster a sense of self-expression and let their emotions and imagination flow freely. Yes, clay modelling is not just a fun pastime. There are several known benefits of this activity which will be discussed in this article. 

Clay modelling is among the activities for children that engage both the hemispheres of their brain. As a kid moulds the clay, it ignites their creativity (right side of the brain) and sharpens their problem-solving skills (left side of the brain). It encourages them to reflect their imagination and creativity by developing characters and scenarios using clay. Clay modelling provides them with a great opportunity to develop creative abilities.  In the process of clay modelling, they are visualising the image of the final product in their mind and focusing their efforts on planning to achieve it. The task of planning and executing those plans to attain the desired shape or form involves critical thinking. It also enhances their sensory development, allowing children to see and make sense of their surroundings more clearly. 

Overcoming obstacles is a crucial developmental aspect of this activity. As they mould the clay to achieve the desired result, they might be faced with difficulties along the way. In those moments, they will learn to assess the situation, look for solutions and work their way around the problem to create a particular form or figure. In the process of trial and error, not only will they adopt different tactics to reach the end goal, but also will learn from their mistakes and adapt their approach along the way. Through experimentation and adjustments, they will be enabled to grow as resilient individuals with a positive attitude towards challenges and problem-solving. 

Rather than a mere hobby, clay modelling is an activity that promotes social interaction and emotional expression among children. Working together on a clay moulding project instils the qualities of communication, collaboration and teamwork in children. As they share the experience of creating something beautiful together, they are given a chance to interact and work on their social skills. Clay modelling can be a great icebreaker activity to create new friendships, giving children a sense of community. 

It acts as a great medium for children to express or communicate their thoughts and feelings. By giving their ideas a physical form, they learn to share their experiences and emotions in a creative and non-verbal way. Clay modelling also offers therapeutic benefits. Playing with clay can be a calming and grounding experience that relieves stress, and promotes relaxation and mindfulness. It enables them to channel and understand their feelings constructively. The activity allows them to navigate the feelings of joy, excitement, sadness and frustration. Kneading and shaping the clay can be a soothing outlet, helping children improve their emotional well-being. 

Clay’s modelling supports the idea of learning through play. Through their interaction with material, kids learn the concept of learning and sorting. Therefore, it is an engaging and effective way to introduce key educational ideas to children. Clay modelling is one effective way to develop fine motor skills in children. Squishing, kneading and patting the clay smoothen their wrists and, strengthen their hands and finger muscles. This way, it prepares them to be ready for the formal writing and drawing lessons that are to come ahead. Additionally, working with clay calls for a great deal of focus. As children immerse themselves in shaping their creations, they are expected to develop a longer attention span over time. This will not only help them in their cognitive development but also will benefit them in their future educational journey. 

More than just an activity for fun and leisure, clay modelling is a valuable skill-based learning tool that will help children in their overall growth and development. Apart from crafting cute creations, it provides them with a platform to express their emotions and creativity. From boosting creativity and developing problem-solving capabilities to fine-tuning the little fingers and improving attention span, clay modelling is one creative learning activity for the holistic development of children.

Preschool Diwali Celebration: Embracing Traditions with Little Ones

Diwali or the festival of lights celebrates new beginnings. It also provides an opportunity for us to create meaningful experiences with our little ones, appreciating the beauty of traditions and customs. This article explores the magical world of Deepavali celebrations at Mindseed, presenting different activities for Diwali early years in preschool. 

When one thinks of Diwali, one of the first things that comes is decorating the home with vibrant colours and warm lights. Since a preschool is a home away from home, we thought it is fitting that we bring out the inner artists and fill our learning spaces with a festive ambience. Apart from creating a visually stunning environment, incorporating classroom decoration as part of the Diwali celebration at Preschool allowed children to be creative and collaborate with each other. 

The Deepavali celebration in preschool started by involving our little ones in the decoration planning process. In addition to brainstorming ideas and themes, we thought of it as a great opportunity to educate children about the significance of celebrating an eco-friendly festival. Together, teachers and students made Torans using recycled and sustainable decorations such as natural flowers and paper cutouts. Their happy faces reflected how excited they were to witness each room transform into a magical space filled with the spirit of Diwali. 

Rangoli making was also among the activities for Diwali in Preschool that the kids enjoyed. They made beautiful rangoli patterns out of flowers and rice powder. It is said that adorning courtyards and entrances with rangoli will bring prosperity. As our children unleashed their imagination and drew colourful designs with their tiny hands, they were also learning about its cultural heritage. 

One of the important life lessons that the Festival of Lights teaches us is that no matter how dark the circumstances may seem, you will always find light in the end. Deepavali is a festival that commemorates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and truth over falsehood. As part of Diwali activities for preschoolers, we made sure that our children came across the story of Lord Rama’s successful return to Ayodhya after defeating demon king Ravana, symbolising that the truth shall always prevail. 

Storytelling is a great tool for teaching children the values, ethics and history associated with festivals. Our teachers read age-appropriate stories and rhymes to discuss the lessons and morals associated with the festival. To make our Diwali in preschool more engaging, we encouraged all of our children to narrate the tales of their Diwali celebrations at home. 

We know that Diwali celebrations would be incomplete without diyas. To bring out the creative side of our students further, we introduce diya and lantern making as one of the fun Diwali crafts for preschoolers. They let their imagination run wild and made colourful Diya paper cutouts in different sizes. 

At Mindseed, be it learning or celebrating festivals, we urge our parents to get actively involved in these activities with their children.  Parents get the opportunity to bond with children over Diwali activities. While suggesting creative ideas for making diyas, they also educate the kids about how diyas are associated with purity and represent the triumph of light over dark. Festivals are a great time to teach children about the value of sharing. Every year, we follow the sweet tradition of sharing sweets among students and teachers at Mindseed. Since we have a rich tradition of ‘Mithai’  that has great significance in our Indian culture, we get to see our students bringing a variety of sweets from their homes to exchange with their peers. 

Celebrating festivals with children is a rewarding experience that fosters creativity, cultural understanding, and collaboration among kids. Through these engaging activities like storytelling, enjoying traditional sweets, and fun Diwali craft preschool ideas such as rangoli and diya making, we can help children understand the true meaning of Diwali and embrace our traditions. At the same time, educating children about the significance of eco-friendly festivals ensures that our kids follow the measures to save Mother Earth from suffering- a true representation of the spirit of Diwali.

Fostering a Love for Nature: Eco-Friendly Ganpati Celebrations for Pre …

Ganesh Chaturthi is a vibrant festival that is celebrated in almost every part of India. The festival involves grand processions, beautiful decorations and the installation of Lord Ganesha’s idols in pandals (temporary stages). However, over the years, the focus of the Ganesh festival has been more on the pomp and show of the festival rather than the celebration of the cultural heritage. As parents of future adults, it is crucial that you take notice of this shift and take active steps to right the wrongs of the past. While educating children on the significance of this special occasion, it’s important to communicate the need to tone down the extravagance and embrace an eco-friendly celebration.

Teaching preschoolers about nature and safeguarding natural resources is crucial for ensuring their future on the planet. Here are a few sustainable festive practices that you can implement to celebrate future festivities in an eco-friendly way with your children. 

Be Mindful of Decorations 

Lights and colours are the first things that come to our mind when we think of decorations during the festive season. The creativity that goes into making beautiful rangoli and the fun of illuminating houses with colourful lights with family sets the mood for the special occasion.

As parents, you don’t want your children to miss out on this wholesome experience, but, at the same time, you need to ensure that it is not at the cost of the planet’s well-being. Festivals provide a wonderful opportunity to show your kids that it’s possible to celebrate joyfully while also fulfilling our responsibility to nature. 

Instead of choosing chemical colours for rangoli, you can opt for natural colours such as dry rice flour, turmeric, kumkum powder and coffee powder. You can also add flowers and leaves to enhance the vibrancy of your rangoli. Use garlands made of real flowers and not plastic ones. If not real flowers, you can add eco-friendly Ganpati decorations to your home using naturally biodegradable materials. For example, this year, as part of Mindseed’s Ganpati celebrations Play With Clay, our children and parents made Marigold flowers out of craft paper. 

You can cut down on the consumption of electricity by limiting the number of lights and using them only when required. A combination of low-energy LED bulbs and diyas can be used to light up the spaces. Plus, diya-making is one of the most engaging nature-inspired activities for kids to be part of during the time of the festival. Creating clay diyas with your children will become one of those cherished memories from this festival that you will treasure for years to come. Allow them to bring out their creativity and paint the diyas using watercolours. 

Reduce Pollution 

The main goal of green Ganpati celebration ideas is to minimise pollution of nature’s valuable resources. The traditional idols of Ganpati which are made out of Plaster of Paris can pollute our water-bodies. Every year, lakhs of devotees head to seas and rivers to immerse Ganpati idols to mark the culmination of the Ganesh festival. Our water bodies are bleeding due to the pollution caused by this event. As we mentioned earlier, festivals are the best time to communicate the spirit and essence of festivals, and the significance of contributing to a cleaner environment for children. Set an example by choosing clay idols of Ganesh which do not pollute the water-bodies with toxins and harmful chemicals just like Mindseed Preschool did this year. At our Play with Clay, Ganesh Chaturthi event , we organised activities at Mindseed involving children, together with their families, making eco-friendly Ganpati idols using potter’s clay. These small clay idols were later taken to their homes, worshipped and then immersed using just a bucket of water. To add to these sweet memories, they also made chocolate modak with their parents’ help. 

Playing music at low volume can help in reducing noise pollution. You can protect your ears without compromising on the festive spirit by opting for low-volume instruments such as harmonium and tabla. 

Restrict the Number of Pandals

Festivals in Indian households are all about bringing people together and celebrating the togetherness of families, friends and communities. If we all agree on this idea of shared oneness, then families, friends and neighbourhoods should come together to celebrate, thus restricting the number of separate pandals/mandaps. Along with significantly reducing the impact on the environment, this eco-conscious choice will serve as a great example of sharing for the children. 

In India, it is believed that children are a gift from God. In that case, it is only fitting that they are made aware of the significance of celebrating an ecologically sound festival and are taught the right ways of protecting Mother Earth. 

How Preschool Teachers Foster Emotional Resilience in Early Childhood

Emotional resilience is the ability to adapt to and navigate challenges and setbacks. By strengthening emotional resilience in preschoolers, children will be better equipped to handle tough situations by not losing control over their emotions. Emotionally resilient children often view failures as an opportunity to do better, thus not letting setbacks negatively impact their mental health. They learn to understand their emotions and self-regulate. This will help them to express themselves openly, build positive relationships and focus on learning in the classroom. 

From building a healthy and long-lasting bond with children to creating a safe space for children to communicate their feelings, preschool teachers can help kids strengthen their emotional resilience in many different ways. Just like parents, the role of teachers in child development is crucial since they are the ones who accompany children in their activities for most of their day once they start attending preschool. Here are some of the strategies adopted by Mindseed Preschool to help children build this vital skill. 

Learning Through Play 

Playing gives children the opportunity to develop friendships, to learn to control their emotions and to solve problems confidently. However, they tend to feel frustrated when things don’t go their way during playtime. It is the responsibility of the teacher to strengthen their resilience daily by providing opportunities for them to learn through play. 

At Mindseed, our instructors encourage children to be part of different mindfulness games such as the block games where they build creative structures using blocks. This creates an opportunity for children to initiate peer interactions while playing. Additionally, activities like breathing exercises and reading books empower them to regulate their emotions and respond thoughtfully during stressful situations. 

Having Predictable Daily Routines 

When a child feels that they have been forced to stop an activity they enjoy, they may respond with an emotional outburst which can ruin the mood of the whole class. At Mindseed, we let children feel in control of their day through predictable routines. Children are given a clear understanding of their schedule to reduce the chances of them getting anxious or angry. They also get enough time between activities to complete their task, relax and clean up their spaces. As we know how difficult classroom transition can be for some children, we warn them about upcoming transitions so that they feel prepared, relaxed and comfortable.

A Welcoming Classroom Environment 

The learning atmosphere can influence a child’s mood, their behaviour towards others, and their resilience. A well-designed classroom will bring sunshine into the room and give children enough room to move around, relax and play. At the same time, it should also provide a safe environment where children feel comfortable sharing their feelings and the teacher must bring in the feeling of warmth and acceptance to the classroom. Simple questions like ‘What was your favourite part of the day?’ or ‘How are you feeling today?’ will help kids to recognise and express their emotions freely. 

Building a Resilience Toolbox 

As part of early childhood education, we help children learn the essential skill of problem-solving. Whether it’s figuring out creative solutions to puzzles or resolving a conflict with peers, we enable them to brainstorm solutions through each experience. In addition to building resilience, it also boosts their confidence to face future challenges. 

The Art of Embracing Failures 

At Mindseed, we believe that failures are stepping stones to personal growth. Our focus is on fostering a culture that views mistakes as not ‘The End’, but as a learning opportunity to improve. Here, it is ok to make mistakes. We teach to celebrate the process and not just the outcomes. This shift in mindset will allow children to perceive mistakes or failures as a chance to learn and do better. They will learn not to give up in the face of adversity. 

These are some of the ways by which Mindseed ensures that it provides preschool emotional support, essential for children to achieve personal growth. The key here is to be consistent with your efforts to prepare them to tackle challenges on their own and feel confident about themselves while keeping in mind that building and strengthening resilience takes time.  

Can Daycares be as Good as Homes?

Ever since your child’s birth, you might have spent almost every single day of your life staying up all night and day, tending to their needs and seeing them giggle. That rosy period has come to an end and you now have to resume work. 
‘Is my child ready for daycare?’
‘But, why do I feel a knot in the pit of my stomach every time I think about having to send your child to daycare?’
‘Am I doing the right thing or am I being selfish?’ 
‘Should I take a step back in my career for my child?’ 
These questions might be looming large in the mind of every mom considering sending their child to daycare. While it’s ok to feel this way, we’ll tell you why sending your child to the Mindseed daycare is the right decision for both you and your kid. 

Your Child, Our Responsibility 
We take care of your child like our own. If you are wondering about the daycare quality vs home care quality, here’s how Mindseed stands out by providing services of home care quality at daycare.  

Cognitive Development 
At Mindseed, we aim at providing our children with an environment that promote curiosity and exploration. We will get your child involved in activities like colouring, cutting out shapes, playing with blocks and numbers etc. It might seem like play, but these activities are crucial to ensure cognitive development in children. It helps in boosting their fine motor skills. 

Social Development
In a daycare setup, your child will be accompanied by many other kids. Here, we encourage our little ones to interact with their peers, express themselves and voice out their opinions through various activities. As your child, be it a newborn or toddler, grows around others of their age, it will help in their social development. They will learn to communicate, share toys and solve disputes with other children. 

Consistency in Care 
If a staff member who is responsible for your child’s care happens to fall sick, we make sure that it doesn’t affect your child’s schedule nor the functioning of the daycare. They will be replaced by another member for that specific time. That’s our way of ensuring a consistent and reliable source of care. This way, you can manage your schedules and responsibilities easily. 

Time to Rest 
When a woodcutter is set out for cutting wood he has a sharp blade. But, after a while, its sharpness wanes. At this point, if the woodcutter does not stop to sharpen his knife, he will just end up hacking the logs and not being able to get the wood cut in the manner that he wants to.         
Now, think of yourself as that woodcutter. Your energy is that blade which will help you in shaping your kid’s childhood in the desired form. Giving yourself space for some me-time will enable you to gain the energy to be a truly present parent. We can help you in getting that downtime to regroup yourself and ‘sharpen’ your parenting skills! 
Despite these pros, you might still have some concerns regarding the safety of your child at daycare. So, here are a few things we follow to ensure that we’re the best daycare centre for your child. 

Child’s Safety
When the parents are dropping off their kids at the daycare, they need to be assured about the safety of their children. While you need not be looking for prison-level security, some safety necessities should be in place to ensure that both the children and staff are safe. 
Our daycare facilities have proper cameras positioned at key areas including the parking lot, classrooms, playgrounds and other activity areas. Every window and door has childproof locks. There is also a sign-in and sign-out system for visitors in place. Additionally, regular health inspections are also being conducted. 

Staff-to-Child Ratio
While visiting a child care centre, you need to ask for their staff-to-child ratio. It’s always better to choose a facility which assigns fewer kids to each adult. At Mindseed daycare, the staff to child ratio for toddlers and older children are 1:6 and 1:10 respectively. When there are more adults to look after the children, parents will feel confident about the facility’s safety. 

Childproofed and Secure 
The infant daycare centres need to be as safe and child-friendly as possible. That’s why we ensure proper sanitation and safety measures are followed to ensure both indoor and outdoor safety of the child. Since children get into all kinds of trouble, especially during playtime, we have undertaken precautions to keep them from harm’s way in every possible way. 
The furniture in Mindseed is secured to the walls and floors and if all the electrical units have safety covers. Additionally playground equipment and play materials are checked regularly to ensure that it’s child-safe. 
For most parents, making the decision to send your child to the daycare can be laborious. You might still feel their hands and legs glued to your body. While you are on the lookout for the best ‘daycare for infants near me’, we hope that these daycare advantages of Mindseed are not overlooked. Please do consider Mindseed Preschool as your child’s home away from home. 

What are the Things to Check while Selecting a Daycare

Daycare might be the first space that your child is going to explore outside of your home. Since you will not be accompanying them on this journey, choosing the right daycare facility is of utmost importance. This can be a challenging and overwhelming time for any parent. If you want to make the best choice, we have prepared a daycare checklist for parents.

 

Program and Curriculum

Be it 6 months old or 6 years old, children tend to learn something new every day. The first thing you should look for when selecting a daycare is their curriculum. You need to ensure that the lessons taught in the daycare are age-appropriate and will aid your child in their personal growth. What are your goals for teaching? Are your programs tailored to fulfil children’s developmental needs? How will you intend to update us with our children’s progress? These are some of the questions to ask daycare providers while enquiring about the curriculum. You need to make sure that they give equal importance for learning and playing. Children of this age group require a lot of play time to ensure their overall growth.

 

Daycare Environment

Another important factor you need to tick off from your daycare checklist is the environment of the daycare. Make sure the daycare building, play areas, classrooms and other spaces are safe for infants and young children. Check the safety and security procedures the facility follows to protect and take care of children. Take time to check out that there are no safety hazards you need to be worried about.

 

Materials Used

Be sure to pick up a daycare with clean activity spaces and play materials. Check the toys and other materials used at the daycare to ensure they are play-safe and child-friendly. Ask for the daycare essentials for infants at daycare and the things that need to be added to the infant daycare packing list. By taking time to time to check these things, you can rest assured that your child is going to provide a friendly, safe and warm environment conducive to learning.

 

Child-Instructor Interaction

While visiting the daycare facility, be sure to check the educational background and experience of teachers. Interact with the staff and find out if they have been trained in first aid, infection control and CPR. Pay attention to how instructors interact with the children. Make note of their body language, actions and the words that they use while engaging with children. Also, observe the way children respond to them.

 

Daily Activities

The day-to-day activities at every daycare centre can be different from each other. While some focus on learning through structured classroom activities, others put more emphasis on outdoor activities. Consider your child’s behaviour and needs before committing to a daycare program. Additionally, check if the learning activities match your parenting style.

 

Recommendations

One of the best ways to know about a daycare facility is by speaking to other parents. Ask your family and friends about their personal experiences and if they have any recommendations. If you have a specific daycare in mind, ask for their opinion on that facility. You can also visit the facility’s website and look for reviews by parents to check if there are any red flags.

 

First Impression

Remember to trust your gut feelings while deciding on a daycare. When you feel that something is not right about a daycare, then there are high chances that you are probably right. What did you feel when you visited the facility? Did you feel happy and welcomed? Will your child like this place? Consider these things before making the final decision.

 

Choosing the right daycare facility for your child is not going to be easy. However, we hope this guide will help in making that big decision. While you are in the lookout for a daycare centre for your child, we hope you consider Mindseed Preschool as well.

 

Mindseed Preschool Encouraging Parental Involvement in Their Children& …

It’s your child’s first year of Preschool. You are looking into the curriculums offered by different schools to pick the best one for your child. You are eagerly waiting for the day your child will take their first step towards reading, learn to count numbers and start to write alphabets. And then, the pandemic hits. You have your concerns regarding how effective online classes will be and, at the same time, want to provide the best learning experience for your child even during those trying times. These were the circumstances when Mrs. Raghavi C.K- or as we know her, Vilvah’s mother- reached out to us. From our first interaction, we understood that Vilvah has the best support system she could ever ask for in the form of a mother who would leave no stone unturned in making sure that her child is provided with the best facilities. All Vilvah wanted was a guide who would take her through the right path of learning and Mindseed Preschool happened to be the best fit for that role. In this article, we’ll further discuss how Mrs. Raghavi made sure that her child stayed on track with the preschool curriculum at home. 

 

My Journey as a Preschooler’s Mother 

 

I’m Raghavi, Vilvah’s mother. It was during the time of COVID-19 that I felt most grateful for the technology available. Now, looking back, I wonder, had the pandemic come a decade earlier, how would we have managed children’s education? Thanks to the online classes, my child did not have to wait for the physical schools to open for her to start her learning journey. Being new to virtual learning, I had my doubts about its effectiveness, but I decided to give it a try. Today, I’m glad that I made that decision as online learning with Mindseed Preschool not only delivered a world-class education to my child but also proved to be her source of connection to normalcy to a great extent. Vilvah used to look forward to seeing her teachers and friends online. It gave her reassurance that although she couldn’t go to parks and play with friends, she still got to make new friends and interact with them. This created a comfort zone for her while all she could otherwise do was sit at home and play alone. During a time when all we heard and saw was despair, those interactive sessions with teachers and friends were much needed for kids to lighten the mood. 

 

Speaking of academic curriculum, Mindseed Preschool encouraged students to embrace learning using natural methodology and by incorporating learning concepts with fun activities. I believe that this was crucial for holding the attention of kids while learning. Whether it was painting, counting numbers, identifying shapes or reading a book, Vilvah actively took part in these activities. In fact, after the classes, she would ask me to participate in these activities as well. I used to sit with her while she read out the alphabet and words. At a young age, she started to recognise the colour and shape of different objects that she found at our house. 

 

The one most important thing that made this whole online learning a lot easier is the Mindseed App. It updated me daily with the learning activities that Vilvah took part in and her learning progress. Through the app, I could connect with her teachers and understand her strengths and the areas to improve. Through their tips and suggestions, I was able to guide my child in the right direction. 

 

Today, Vilvah can solve math problems which children two years older than her are expected to solve. She can read books without any external help. All thanks to Mindseed Preschool for making learning possible and enjoyable for my child. 

 

The Mindseed Impact

 

Just like Mrs. Raghavi, many parents wonder if online learning could be as effective as learning in a physical classroom. However, having developed a curriculum that was based on the idea of online learning a few years before the pandemic, Mindseed Preschool was confident that it was possible. Our collaborative tool, the Mindseed App, acts as the bridge that connects home to school. It allows parents to be actively involved in their children’s education by giving them instant updates about their children’s learning progress. This way, they get to follow their kids’ learning journey and celebrate their wins. We understand the significance of parents’ presence in their children’s education and our efforts are focused on making this home-school collaboration even better so that the kids get to benefit from them. 

Here’s How Mindseed Preschool Helped Samhita Make Her Big Little Lea …

Children are learning something new every day through their experiences. From going on playdates and birthday parties to visiting museums and attending in-person classes, kids were always on the go. They made new friends, explored new experiences, played and learned together. They kept themselves busy through these activities. But, just as the pandemic struck, children were confined to the house and restricted from doing many activities that they were once free to do. Now, imagine having to start your initial days of preschool under these conditions. Such is the story of Samhita. She joined Mindseed Preschool as a toddler. Soon after she started coming to the school and her classes began, the pandemic hit. This blog will further discuss her experience with online classes and how she navigated learning and exploring during those testing times. 

 

The Story of My Preschool Life 

 

Hi, I’m Samhita. I joined Mindseed Preschool as a 3-year-old. I enjoyed going to school and interacting with my friends and teachers. Be it playing, learning, or drawing, we did everything together. Things were going great as I used to look forward to going to school. But, that’s when all schools had to shut down because of COVID-19 and I had to sit at home. I missed meeting my friends at school every day and that’s when I was told I could continue interacting with them through online classes. Although I couldn’t meet them in person, I was happy that I was able to interact with them virtually. I’d share how I went about my day with my teacher and friends daily. We used to discuss various topics like how we felt about the pandemic, if we missed our outdoor play sessions, what we would like to do once the pandemic ends etc. While we all had our concerns, we were hopeful about going back to normalcy. 

 

Thanks to the Mindseed App, together we learned to count numbers, read alphabets, words and sentences, and pour a drink without spilling. We were also part of various fun activities where we were taught to identify different objects and shapes. Our teachers also encouraged us to draw pictures from our imagination. Colouring sessions were my favourite part of the online classes. Every day I used to wake up early and get ready for my classes. The fun activities followed even after classes- on some days I used to paint and draw, and on others, I used to write small stories from what I had learnt in the class. This way, I didn’t feel any boredom nor did I spend most of my day watching cartoons. Plus, I got to share all these experiences with my parents daily – just like old times when I used to go to school in person. And, that’s how I graduated from Pre-K to K1 during the pandemic. 

 

Today, I go to Mindseed Preschool and get to have face-to-face interactions with all my friends and teachers. But, this feels the same as what I used to feel during my online sessions. The only difference is that now I get to sit next to them. 

 

The Mindseed Impact 

 

Having regular conversations on a range of topics with preschoolers is an important part of their development and well-being. When children are given a space to have conversations, they can ask for their needs, be listened to and make strong relationships. Mindseed Preschool conducts daily discussions and makes sure every student takes active participation in those discussions. Through this, we aim to make them confident enough to voice out their opinions. 

 

Another important aspect of online preschool learning is achieving developmental milestones. We understood that even when the world was at a standstill during the pandemic, these children were growing, both physically and mentally. Over the years, Mindseed Preschool has been following a learning mechanism where we infuse key learning concepts with fun activities and deliver them using the LSRW approach. Yes, the pandemic did pose some challenges as to how effective virtual classes will be in keeping the children engaged. But, with active collaboration with parents, we were able to keep these young minds curious and engaged. The Mindseed App came in handy to track the progress of students in their learning activities. This approach turned out to be successful as many students like Samhita can now read books which are expected to be read by Grade 2 students. 

 

Most importantly, we managed to build a routine for the kids even during lockdown by keeping the online classes fun, interactive and kid-friendly. Today, while 85% of Mindseed Preschoolers can read a book by themselves, 96% can draw and write stories independently. Above all, despite the challenges of the pandemic, we are proud that we were able to build confidence in these young minds as 87% of them can speak on stage without any fear. 

How Mindseed Empowers Moms on Mother’s Day and Every Day

The bond that a mother shares with her child is priceless and there is nothing in this world that compares to the love of a mother. It is this same bond that defines the child’s personality and perspective of the world. Children love to learn by copying their parents and more so their mothers. Although endearing, this challenging aspect assigns moms with a responsibility to make sure that their child learns to copy all that is good. Children will grow to be confident individuals only when they are empowered to think, decide and take responsibility from a young age. 

That being said, along with being a mother, a woman has to play different roles inside and outside her household- that of a partner, an administrator, a leader etc. From taking care of the household chores and getting kids ready for school to focusing on their job or business to coming back home to help their children with their learning activities and get them to sleep- a woman has to keep shifting into different gears throughout the day. Despite all that they do, child development and empowering women are often perceived as at odds with each other. A major reason for this is the belief that greater participation of women in the workforce will come in the way of child development as children get to spend little time with their mothers. This leads to situations where women quit their careers post-motherhood and most of them do it not out of choice. 

But, this doesn’t have to be this way. At Mindseed Preschool and Daycare, we believe that a mother can raise their child to be a confident individual and still find time to focus on themselves. They should never be put in a position where they have to compromise on their life choices because of the burden of responsibilities that come with being a mother. And, for that, all they need is a little help. On the occasion of Mother’s Day 2024, let us share how Mindseed Preschool and Daycare empowers mothers to be active participants in their children’s developmental journey and still focus on personal growth. 

Keeping Parents Informed – The Mindseed Way 

No matter how much parents wish to get involved in their child’s early childhood education journey, they can do nothing without knowing how their child performs at school. We overcame this barrier with the introduction of our Mindseed App. Through the Mindseed app, parents are updated about their child’s learning activities, their progress on foundational skills, the areas where they need to work, etc. Once they get to learn what goes on in the classroom, they will have a better understanding of how to help their child in their growth. 

Being the Teacher of a Teacher 

At Mindseed, we believe that parents are the best educationists in the world. However, sometimes, even they may be uncertain about how to engage their child at home productively . Realising the importance of educating our special educators about this topic, we came up with a number of educational videos on the Mindseed app that explain how to assist children in their learning activities. These ‘Do at home’ videos will come in handy when working with their children at home.

Facilitating Open Communication 

In today’s world, there are different ways to make communication possible with parents. For instance, we can send reminders to them about assignments and other learning activities through the app. We make sure that parents and teachers maintain an open line of communication where they inform each other about the child’s activities both at home and school. With this, they can come up with unique ideas that will best suit the child in their learning and developmental journey. 

While we are considering different Mother’s Day activities to surprise the mothers of our households with, let’s remind ourselves that it’s not just a one-day thing. On this 2024 Mother’s Day, let’s come up with different Mother’s day ideas to celebrate the fact that a woman doesn’t have to lose her individuality after becoming a mother. She is fully capable of pursuing her interests and, at the same time, helping her child in achieving his dreams. 

A woman wears multiple hats and the role of a mother is one of them. Through these initiatives, all Mindseed aims to do is help them smoothly manage the role of a mother so that they can also focus on being better at the remaining hats they wear. Happy Mother’s Day

How Mindseed instils a love for math in kids and why is it crucial

Mathematics is a lot more than just a subject- it’s a critical skill that can be applied to almost every aspect of life. Maths is a tool which can be used to describe the world around us. Keeping that in mind, it’s no wonder that experts say kids should be introduced to maths from a very young age. This blog discusses the benefits of maths for children and the role of Mindseed Preschool and Daycare in building a love for maths in kids

 

The significance of pre maths education for kids 

 

Pre-maths education for kids refers to the idea of developing basic mathematics understanding and abilities in children which will serve as a precursor to formal mathematics education. Before diving deep into the complex world of numbers and calculations, kids first need to understand these foundational mathematics concepts. Introducing children’s maths in preschool is not just about kickstarting the academic journey of students, maths skills development also gives them an idea of the world around them. The concepts of sorting, sequencing, patterning etc. are so interwoven into daily lives that it will aid kids in understanding the world better. A solid foundation in pre-maths education also means building love for maths in kids, thus enabling them to learn complex mathematics concepts easily. 

 

Breaking down the structure of the pre-math arc 

 

At Mindseed Preschool and Daycare, we strongly believe that children can learn about the world around them better by understanding maths. Keeping this in mind, we have categorised our engaging pre-math curriculum into three stages- sorting/matching, sequencing and patterning. Pre-math learning at Mindseed begins with sorting/matching activities where a child will learn to identify, sort and match different colours, shapes and sizes. The idea here is to enable them to identify the similarities and differences between various objects around them. Then comes the sequencing stage, where a child is taught to create sequences using different shapes and colours. Once they develop an idea of different shapes, objects and sizes, and how they are all connected, then it is time to apply these learnings in real-life contexts- and that will be done in the next stage, patterning. Here, kids are encouraged to create their own patterns using various shapes and colours through kindergarten math games.  

 

Role of early numeracy skills 

 

An engaging math curriculum will encourage children to employ logic and reasoning to devise solutions for a problem. Teaching numeracy at preschool will aid in enhancing logical reasoning, memory and attention in children. Learning basic mathematical concepts such as counting and reading numbers is crucial as numbers are incorporated into our daily lives in many ways. While most kids already have an idea of the concept of numbers, they are unaware of their symbols, face values, place values and how they are all connected. The numeracy lessons at Mindseed Preschool and Daycare are introduced to solve this problem. 

 

How does numeracy learning work at Mindseed Preschool and Daycare

 

At Mindseed Preschool and Daycare, we believe that there is no better means to develop critical thinking than math education for kids. As children navigate through different levels of the numeracy arc, they will learn to count and read, understand their face and place values, and arrange them in ascending and descending order. They will also learn how to perform basic mathematical operations such as addition and subtraction.   

 

Embracing failures and learning from mistakes

 

We understand how crucial it is for kids to learn how to deal with failures in a healthy way. When kids make a mistake while playing these fun math games– let’s say, counting the numbers incorrectly in a numbering game for kindergarten– we make sure they use it as an opportunity to learn and improve.

 

Why should you choose Mindseed Preschool and Daycare? 

 

Mindseed’s approach to teaching math is influenced by one of our core philosophies that learning should be fun. We have incorporated a variety of activities for preschoolers in our engaging math curriculum to make learning more enjoyable. Through these math fun activities, we ensure that each child has a strong understanding of basic math skills.