Kids Time: Where play is the way to learn

Tanzila Afrin, a homemaker in her late 30s, lives with her husband and two children. Her son spends most of his time on schoolwork, while her husband is engrossed in the news, and she is busy maintaining the household. 

Tanzila's three-year-old daughter, Pranti—full of energy but lacking direction—often turns to the iPad, like many children her age.

Noticing the gaps in her daughter's day, Tanzila decided to make a change. She enrolled her in Kids Time, a pre-play-to-KG school in her neighbourhood of Dhanmondi, known for its focus on creativity.

"Pranti is an extrovert by nature. Being in a room with ten children her age, making crafts, doing physical exercises, learning through rhymes, has helped her channel her energy in a positive way," Tanzila explained.

"She speaks more clearly now, and although it might seem like she's just playing, she is actually learning too. She can tie her own shoes and use a fork and spoon—skills she has picked up alongside her ABCs."

Other parents have witnessed similar transformations. Five-year-old Ilhaam Umar's mother, Kaniz Fatema, realised her son wasn't receiving the stimulation he needed at home.

"He doesn't even want to leave, as he enjoys doing arts and crafts here," she shared.

Dr Shanta Roy noted that her three-and-a-half-year-old, Rishaan—once unable to function without watching videos—has become more active and engaged through crafts and physical activities. "It's a great relief to see him more present and active, rather than glued to the screen," she said.

Designed for learning

Kids Time may be housed in a concrete building in Dhanmondi; however, its rooms are designed to spark imagination, with indoor slides, colourful toys, soft carpets, and open spaces where children can explore freely.

"The speciality lies in our materials and teaching methods. Each class has six teachers for around 20 students," mentioned founder Tahmina Rahman.

Kids Time follows the CPA (Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract) approach—an effective method for teaching maths that builds understanding through hands-on experiences before moving on to symbols and numbers.

"In traditional schools, you learn your ABCs from the board. Here, when you learn the letter A, you might be making an aeroplane at the same time, so the association becomes natural," Tahmina noted.

Tahmina started Kids Time in 2016 with small weekend art and craft sessions for 10 children. Since then, it has grown into an after-school programme that focuses on creativity, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and empathy. She believes these qualities are essential for children growing up in a fast-changing world.

Parents agree. Dr Shanta Roy recalled students watching a documentary about the life of a farmer. "Content like this teaches children to respect all kinds of work," she said.

"Play and imagination are not distractions—they are the foundation of learning," Tahmina continued.

"We aim to create a space where children can think independently, make decisions, and enjoy the learning process. They will grow up to work in jobs that do not even exist yet. Traditional methods alone cannot prepare them," she added.

At Kids Time, worksheets are replaced by hands-on activities such as story-making, role-playing, crafts, and interactive maths games. Children create handmade storybooks, combining imagination with language skills. The books they read are modern, inclusive, and reflective of the world they live in.

For instance, to learn the word 'Topor,' one story features two birds getting married, while their other bird friends call each other on smartphones to plan the wedding. Such stories are markedly different from the books used in traditional schools.

The school now serves children aged three to twelve across multiple branches, offering art, storytelling, Singapore Math, and spoken English.

"Finding educators trained in play-based learning remains a challenge, and many parents arrive hesitant, still accustomed to memorisation. We train both our teachers and parents for the betterment of the children's future," Tahmina added.

Kids Time represents a broader shift in Bangladesh's education landscape—moving away from rote learning toward nurturing creativity, empathy, and emotional resilience. Given the right environment and skilled educators, learning can feel a lot like play. And for today's children, that change can make all the difference.