Measuring smiles - Not milestones.

Every Monday morning, as the little ones walk in, I watch their faces light up. Mischief dances in their eyes, their energy fills the space, and even though most of them are just two or three years old—too young to put their feelings into words—I can feel their excitement. Their expressions say it all: they love being here.

That’s when it hit me.

What do three-year-olds really need? Rhymes? Stories? Language skills? Writing drills? No. What they truly need is to feel happy, safe, and secure.

And I believe—wholeheartedly—that if a child is happy, healthy, and emotionally secure, learning happens naturally. It doesn’t need to be forced. It doesn’t need to be pressurized.

Each day, I check in with every child—not to see if they've finished a worksheet or learned a concept, but to see if they’ve had enough water, eaten well, avoided screen time, played with their friends, and smiled enough. These are the things that matter to me. Because in a world already filled with pressure—advice columns, social media expectations, and well-meaning voices telling parents what their child must do—I want to be the gentle alternative. I want to create a space where children can just be.

So, if you're a parent wondering, “But my child is just playing… what about academics?”—here’s our quiet secret: that play is learning. We thoughtfully design the environment so that learning is woven into joy. When a child is engaged, relaxed, and having fun, their brain is naturally open to curiosity, exploration, and growth. That’s where real learning happens—not in pressure, but in play.

And when I see children reluctant to leave at the end of the day, asking for just five more minutes, do I feel proud? Not exactly. I feel responsible. Responsible for keeping that joy alive, for holding space where they feel safe, seen, and excited to come back.

Because for me, success isn’t measured by academic milestones. It’s measured by smiles, laughter, and that spark in their eyes when they walk in on a Monday.