Healthy and Creative Ways of Engaging Children in Early Years
The early years of a child's life are the foundational years both for the child and the parent. The high pace of change and growth in the first few years of a child is only matched by the steep learning curve a parent goes through. As children grow independent, articulate and strong in their preferences, parents often seek ways of engaging them in healthy ways.
In times of digital explosion, high stimulation and concrete surrounds, children are often engaged indoors with sedentary activities and screen time with information overload. These activities do not provide opportunities for developing physical strength, imagination and senses.
The early years of a child are like a canvas waiting to be painted with wonder, exploration, and joy. It is in these years that foundations are laid --not just for academics, but for curiosity, emotional well-being and a lifelong love for learning.
Swechha Waldorf Inspired School in Vizag guides parents on engaging their child in a healthy and creative way. We believe that the best way to nurture little ones is to engage them in purposeful doing with a blend of play and imagination that engage all senses. Let's explore how healthy and creative activities can shape childhood in the most profound ways.
Free play that encourages self-engagement
Children are natural explorers, and play is their language of discovery. When play is free and open ended, it builds confidence, emotional regulation and social skills. A child who usually plays only with guidance and instruction from adults has limited imagination and independence. When left to themselves, children imitate the adults’ gestures unconsciously
Creative early childhood activities such as pretend-play, outdoor play and storytelling inspire wonder and imagination in children. A simple game of dress-up can transform into an adventure through a jungle, a dive into the ocean, or a journey to the stars—all led by the child’s boundless imagination.
Nature, too, is an infinite playground where children can develop resilience and sensory awareness. Whether it’s collecting leaves to create patterns, making shapes with twigs, or simply feeling the coolness of mud between their fingers, nature-based play encourages mindfulness and an appreciation for the world around them.
Engaging in outdoor play fosters movement, strengthens motor skills, and instills a sense of wonder that no classroom can replicate. When a child masters climbing a tree after months of trying with no guidance from the adult, they gain an intuition for balance and confidence in their movement.
Open-ended materials that grow imagination
In addition to play being free and unguided, open-ended toys and materials enhance imagination. Wooden blocks to build structures, cloth drapes to decorate doll houses or cardboard boxes to make a fort bring possibilities for children to imagine and create. Sensory art work like painting with watercolours, modelling with clay and wax modelling develop fine motor skills along with creative expression in a child.
Intricate toys and complex puzzles tend to bore or tire the child leading to shorter spans of play. Open ended materials like mud, cloth, flour and paint lend themselves to longer play span and more imaginative creations. A search for treasures like pebbles and shells in sand can last a few hours all the while giving priceless memories for the child.
Purposeful Work that is Imitation-worthy
Children live predominantly in imitation for the first seven years. In the age of adult professions and domestic work being filled with sedentary gestures of sitting, talking, typing, scrolling and pushing buttons, children find few gestures that are worthy of imitation.
At Swechha, kindergarten teachers lead the day in purposeful work like cooking, gardening, cleaning, washing and arranging. With no need for instruction or reminders, children imitate the adults by cutting fruit, arranging chairs and putting away their toys. This is a beautiful, organic way of forming habits, building gross & fine motor skills and calming a child’s whole being. This engages children’s boundless energy and brings a sense of calm.
Parents may easily involve children in household chores and increase complexity as the child’s dexterity and strength improve. This engages children for long durations without parents having to delay their work as they engage their child.
Repetitive routines that calm the child
One of the most effective ways of habit forming while keeping the child calm and grounded is to bring in routines. A mealtime routine that involves the child in setting the table, saying a verse of blessing or gratitude, serving each other and cleaning up will engage the child with no need of screen distractions or repeated instruction. Children are fully present in such routines with all their senses involved in the routine.
Children relate to music far more readily than verbal instruction. A washing song or a cleaning poem make the task joyful. Over time, children develop as much ease in repeating the task daily that no reminders are necessary. .
Fantasy in conversations and stories
A great approach to engaging the child in early years is through fantasy. Children have no rational limits when it comes to their imagination. Factual answers and scientific explanations usually lead to more questions and counter logic. When adults leverage fantasy in conversations, children are provided with rich pictures to imagine. Fairy tales are a great source of imaginative storytelling both by adults and children.
As the child grows older, they can be encouraged to draw or paint their favourite stories. The child’s skill gradually grows to bring their rich imagination to life.
The Waldorf Approach: A Holistic Path to Early Learning
At Swechha Waldorf Inspired School in Vizag, we embrace a learning philosophy that nurtures the whole child—mind, body, and spirit. We recognize that learning in early years is through imitation and should not burden the child with information. The environment is filled with gentle colours, open ended materials and nature surroundings. Through free play and purposeful imitation, we engage children's boundless energy in a free, yet calming way.
The early years are fleeting, but the impressions formed during this time last a lifetime. By engaging children in creative and healthy ways, we empower them to step into the world with confidence, curiosity and a heart full of wonder.
If you're looking for a nurturing and enriching learning environment for your child, Swechha Waldorf Inspired School in Vizag welcomes you to experience education beyond the conventional. Let’s build a foundation for a joyful and meaningful childhood together. Connect with us today!
