Celebrating the Journey: LKG to UKG at Creative Minds Preschool
By Beuala Mandala, LKG Class Teacher, Creative Minds Preschool, Ballarpur

The close of the Lower Kindergarten (LKG) year is a momentous occasion in a child’s early school life—a gentle transformation, marked not by achievement of uniform milestones, but by a flourishing of unique voices, talents, and budding confidence. As our LKG students prepare to step into Upper Kindergarten (UKG), we pause to reflect on the remarkable journey they have completed, guided by the ethos of Creative Minds Preschool: cultivating every child’s distinct strengths and passions. Here,

no fish is forced to fly, and no bird is forced to swim

—every learner’s path is respected and carefully nurtured.

With the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 providing a progressive new vision for early childhood education, and with Creative Minds’ child-centric philosophy at the core, this article offers a detailed analysis of LKG children’s development, the ways teachers support them, and live examples of how these ideals come alive in our classrooms.

NEP 2020: Shaping the Foundations of Early Learning

India’s NEP 2020 represents a historic shift in how foundational years are viewed and structured. For the first time, ages 3–8 are recognized as the Foundational Stage, blending nursery, LKG, and UKG into a continuum focused on play, discovery, and holistic growth, rather than rote knowledge or forced academic benchmarks. Key principles include:

(a)Holistic Development:

Cognitive, physical, emotional, and ethical domains are equally prioritized.

(b) Play- and Activity-Based Learning:

Classrooms thrive on play, hands-on exploration, and creativity, not passive listening or memorizing.

(c) Inclusion and Diversity:

Every child’s background and ability are honored; there’s no single correct path or pace for learning.

(d) Flexibility and Multilingualism:

Teachers adapt to the needs and strengths of each learner, often using the child’s home language for comfort and deeper learning.

(e) Continuous Assessment:

Progress is tracked through observation, portfolios, and conversations—not by pressure-filled pen-and-paper tests.

Within this framework, LKG is no longer just preparation for academic rigor—it’s a vital stage of growth, discovery, and joyful, pressure-free education.

The Creative Minds Philosophy: Individual Growth Over Uniformity

At Creative Minds Preschool, the NEP’s vision comes alive in daily practice. Our motto, “No fish is forced to fly, and no bird is forced to swim,” is not just a slogan; it’s the lens through which each child is viewed, taught, and celebrated. Here, children are invited to:

(a)Express Themselves Freely:

Shy children are respected in their quiet, while outspoken ones are offered space to shine. Children like Meera, who preferred painting to recitation, are applauded for their artistic stories.

(b)Grow at Their Own Pace:

Fast learners are supported but never used as a benchmark; children who take longer are cherished for persistence, not hurried to keep up.

(c)Explore Strengths:

Nikhil, who constructed elaborate buildings with blocks, was encouraged to collaborate and narrate what he built—strengthening both spatial and language skills.

Teachers act as facilitators and co-learners, gently steering the class but leaving plenty of room for individuality.

Monthly Milestones: The LKG Year Unfolds

Month 1–2: Settling In and Building Trust

The start of LKG often brings new anxieties—separation from home, new faces, and unfamiliar routines. Teachers focus on:

(a) Warm welcomes at the gate, comforting reluctant children without pressure.
(b) Gentle routines, with plenty of free play, open-ended stories, and music.
(c) Assigning buddy friends so newcomers feel included.

Example:

Arya, who cried every morning for the first week, was gently paired with Aman—quickly, comfort grew, and she began participating in art time, smiling and relaxed.

Month 3–4: Social Sprouts and Language Blooms

Children become comfortable, start communicating, and show curiosity about peers. Teachers:

(a) Encourage collaborative games, circle-time conversations, and show-and-tell.
(b) Foster respect for multiple languages and dialects in the classroom.
(c) Praise efforts to speak up, however small.

Example:

Vansh, initially reserved in English, blossomed when encouraged to share stories in Marathi, building pride and language skills in both tongues.

Month 5–6: Independence and Self-Help

New skills surface—zipping bags, independently washing hands, or asking for help politely. Teachers support:

(a) Hands-on tasks: children water plants, tidy toys, choose their activities.
(b) Positive reinforcement for even small steps towards independence.

Example:

Sneha beamed the day she buttoned her own shirt; her pride was celebrated with a “helper sticker” and applause from the class.

Month 7–8: Imagination, Creativity, and Problem-Solving

Children’s curiosity explodes into dramatic play, art, and music. Teachers:

(a) Set up stations—blocks, paint, costumes, and instruments—for self-directed exploration.
(b) Invite children to solve real-world problems (e.g., fixing a tower that keeps falling).

Example:

Aarti and Karan disagreed over colors for a classroom mural. As teachers guided a dialogue (“What can we do?”), the duo decided to divide spaces and later merged their designs, showing both creativity and compromise.

Month 9–10: Confidence, Friendships, and Emotional Growth

Richer friendships form, and emotional regulation matures. Teachers:

(a) Encourage children to talk through disagreements, using “I feel…” sentences.
(b) Model empathy—comforting a sad child, celebrating kind gestures.
(c) Recognize every form of participation—artwork, song, questions, or simply listening attentively.

Example:

Ravi, who struggled with sharing, learned (through stories and teacher guidance) to wait his turn and soon was inviting others into his train set play.

Month 11–12: UKG Readiness—Not a Race, But a Journey

By year-end, children display stronger concentration, can follow routines, and are ready for the new adventures of UKG. But more important is their sense of belonging and self-assurance.

The NEP 2020 Lens: What Sets This Approach Apart?

1. Whole-Child Focus:

Learning goes beyond letters and numbers. Cognitive, social, emotional, ethical, and physical aspects are all nurtured. Kids are not compared; strengths and differences are celebrated.

2. Play as the Heart of Curriculum:

NEP 2020 and Creative Minds both recognize that play is a child’s “work.” From puppet shows to gardening, LKG’s learning spaces celebrate joy and exploration over early academics.

3. Inclusion and Equity:

Children from all backgrounds—regardless of language, ability, or family structure—are given opportunities to thrive. Teachers adapt instruction, ensuring no one is left behind.

4. Responsive Teaching:

Teachers receive ongoing training, reflect on methods, and tailor lessons to child interest and pace. Formative assessments—via observation and conversation—replace rote “testing.”

Live Examples of Teacher Support

1. Differentiated Instruction

When Aarav showed fascination with animal stories but found drawing challenging, teachers integrated animal-themed tracing activities, blending his interest with skill-building.

2. Emotional Coaching

Group “feeling circles” help kids put words to emotions: I was sad when my friend didn’t play with me. Teachers validate feelings, offer coping tools (like deep breaths or talking to a friend), and model kindness.

3. Family Engagement

Parents receive regular updates, tips for at-home activities, and are encouraged to support learning through play rather than drills. Special “family days” bring in dances, storytelling, and shared art projects.

4. Multi-lingual and Multi-sensory Learning

Children learn songs, stories, and counting in both English and home languages, making learning inclusive and accessible. Teachers use music, movement, storybooks, clay, and nature walks to engage every sense.

5. No One-Size-Fits-All Benchmarks

Children are not hurried—those slower to speak or write are met with patience, gentle encouragement, and alternative ways to express understanding, such as demonstrating with puppets or building models.

Impact: What Growth Looks Like at Year’s End

By LKG year’s end, children at Creative Minds Preschool exhibit:

(a) Curiosity: Asking “why” and “how” about the world, eager to explore.

(b)Independence: Managing personal needs, some daily tasks, and asking for help confidently.

(c) Empathy: Comforting peers, sharing, and communicating feelings.

(d) Love for Learning: Expressing joy in stories, art, songs, and outdoor play.

(e) Readiness for UKG: Not just academically, but emotionally, socially, and physically.

Live feedback from parents frequently mentions children who “never want to miss a day,” who bring home stories, songs, and artwork, and who are resilient in the face of small setbacks—hallmarks, NEP 2020 and educational experts agree, of genuine “school readiness.”

 The Creative Minds Promise: Looking Ahead

As our LKG children step forward into UKG, they do so not as products of a rigid system, but as joyful, confident, and individual human beings. Our teachers, trained in the latest NEP-aligned methods and inspired by our Ballarpur community, remain vigilant to the uniqueness of each child, determined that here, no child’s strengths or dreams are ever squashed in pursuit of uniformity.

In the words of our school’s guiding philosophy:

Let every child be free to be a child. Let them run, soar, crawl, and swim—whatever is most natural—for the world is big enough for all ways of being.

To every parent reading this: trust your child’s unique rhythm. Celebrate what makes them different. Know that at Creative Minds Preschool, Ballarpur, we do too—every day, with every lesson, in every smile and every small victory.