Know Your Teacher: Homeschooling inspired this mom to become an early childhood educator

Yukti Malhotra had no plans to be a teacher until she taught her own children and fell in love with the job. Working at present as an early childhood educator at Rhythms Kinderworld, Greater Kailash -II, she shares how her students inspire her every day.

Edited excerpts:

What inspired you to become a teacher, and how did you get started in the field?

My children inspired me after I started teaching them at home. In the process, I learnt of the many ways to make learning more interesting for kids. My children were my first students. With time, I developed immense love for it, especially because of the beautiful bond between a teacher and a child. I thought, since I enjoy teaching so much, why not take it forward? I went on to pursue a course in early childhood. Luckily, Komal Nathani ma’am (headmistress) understood my potential and my passion towards teaching and introduced me to Apeejay Rhythms Kinderworld.

Tell us about your educational background.

I completed my BCom followed by an MBA with specialisation in Marketing and HR from Mumbai University. Later, I pursued a course in Early Childhood Education from Shri Ram Foundation School. I am also trained in Jolly Phonics.

How long have you been associated with Apeejay Rhythms and how would you describe the journey?

It has been two years that I am teaching at Apeejay Rhythms, and it has been an amazing learning experience. Every day, little Rhythmites teach me the value of trusting someone and that learning is a continuous journey.

As an early childhood educator, what strategies do you use to create a fun and engaging learning environment for your students?

The key is to create a happy, vibrant classroom through a lot of games, sensory activities, circle time, group time and give children a lot of opportunities to be innovative. This encourages them to think on their own and explore creative things. Music helps a lot. It is therapeutic and its rhythmic nature assists wonderfully in learning.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

What’s most challenging is handling separation anxiety in little ones when they are in school, away from their parents. The best way to help a child is by winning their trust. As facilitators, we must make them realise there’s someone they can relate to and can share their feelings with. It is all about becoming their friend and healing them.   

At the foundational level, how important is it to focus on a child’s social and emotional development apart from cognitive skills?

A child’s social and emotional development are most important at the foundational level. As a child steps out of their highly protective environment and goes to a school, where they meet a lot of other children from different backgrounds, it is essential that they learn to create a bond with each other and that happens when we build their social and emotional skills. This will boost their confidence and encourage them to express themselves freely.