India’s New ECCE Excellence Index & What Finland Can Teach Us About Early Childhood Quality

Thursday, May 29, 2025


India has taken a bold and commendable step toward transforming early childhood education.

With the joint launch of the India Early Childhood Excellence Index 2025 by the Association of Indian Principals (AIP) and the Confederation for Quality in Early Childhood Care & Education (CQ-ECCE), the country is now setting clear benchmarks to measure and enhance the quality of education in the foundational years.

This is not just a policy initiative — it's a movement.

For private preschool owners, educators, and curriculum leaders across India, the Index provides a strong framework for quality assurance and continuous improvement. But to truly bring this vision to life, preschools need proven models, practical tools, and a deep understanding of what quality looks like in practice.

That’s where we believe Finland’s best practices in early childhood education can offer valuable inspiration — and practical guidance.


Why This Index Matters for Private Preschools in India

The India Early Childhood Excellence Index 2025 defines essential parameters for high-quality preschool education, including:

  • Holistic child development
  • Age-appropriate pedagogy
  • Learning through play
  • Trained and empowered teachers
  • Parent engagement and transparency
  • Safe and stimulating learning environments

These are not just lofty goals. They are the foundation of a preschool’s reputation, its ability to attract discerning parents, and ultimately, its long-term success.

By adopting the measures defined in the Index, private preschools can:

  • Stand out in a competitive market
  • Offer evidence of high-quality education to parents
  • Build a consistent and scalable teaching model
  • Invest in their teachers' professional growth

This is the perfect moment for preschool leaders to ask: “How can we bring these principles to life in our own classrooms?”

And Finland — widely regarded as the global leader in early childhood education — has already walked this path.


Finland: A World Leader in Early Childhood Education

Finland’s early childhood system is admired around the world for its:

Screen time guidelines and engaging alternatives

Wednesday, May 28, 2025


The World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have provided guidelines to help manage screen time for young children:

These guidelines emphasize the importance of interactive, non-screen activities to promote healthy development.


🎨 Engaging Alternatives to Screen Time

To support children's growth and reduce reliance on screens, consider these activities:

For Educators:

  • Interactive Storytelling: Use puppets or props to bring stories to life, enhancing language skills and imagination.Pediatrics Of Florence+2Catherine Hershey Schools+2SmartSocial+2
  • Sensory Play Stations: Set up areas with materials like sand, water, or playdough to stimulate tactile experiences.National Geographic+1Catherine Hershey Schools+1
  • Music and Movement: Incorporate songs and dance to develop motor skills and rhythm.
  • Outdoor Exploration: Organize nature walks or scavenger hunts to encourage curiosity and physical activity.
  • Kindiedays has a versatile set of lesson plans for Experiential Learning.

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For Parents:

  • Family Reading Time: Establish a daily routine of reading together to foster a love for books.
  • Creative Arts and Crafts: Engage in simple projects like drawing or collage-making to boost creativity.
  • Cooking Together: Involve children in meal preparation to teach basic math and science concepts.
  • Physical Play: Encourage activities such as dancing, jumping, or playing catch to promote physical well-being.

These activities not only reduce screen time but also support holistic development. 


🏡 Creating a Balanced Environment

Implementing consistent routines and boundaries can help manage screen time effectively:

  • Designate Screen-Free Zones: Keep areas like bedrooms and dining spaces free from screens to encourage activities that are not screen-based.World Health Organization+1thetimes.co.uk+1
  • Set Clear Expectations: Establish and communicate rules regarding screen use to children.
  • Model Healthy Behavior: Demonstrate balanced screen habits, as children often emulate the behavior of adults.
  • Use Technology Wisely: When using screens, choose educational content and co-view to enhance understanding.

By creating an environment that prioritizes diverse activities, children can develop a range of skills essential for their growth. 


📚 Conclusion

Balancing screen time with engaging, developmentally appropriate activities is crucial for children under 5. By implementing these strategies, educators and parents can create enriching environments that support children's overall well-being.

Team Kindiedays


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How to Build a Modern, Profitable Preschool with Kindiedays Digi Tools

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Give your preschool the professional edge parents expect in 2025

Running a preschool is not what it used to be. Parents are more demanding. Teachers are overworked. And every other school is claiming to offer “high-quality learning.” So, how can you stand out?

The answer is simple: Go digital smartly, not with just any app but with tools built especially for preschools like yours. That’s where Kindiedays Digi Tools come in.


Why Going Digital Matters in 2025

Digital isn’t just a trend – it’s what parents now expect.
You may fall behind if your preschool still uses paper notebooks or basic WhatsApp or email chats.

Here’s what top-performing preschools are already doing:

  • 📸 Sharing daily updates and photos with parents
  • 🎯 Showing visible learning outcomes
  • 👩‍🏫 Supporting teachers with innovative, easy-to-use tools

Kindiedays helps you do all this – and more – without making life harder for your teachers.


What is Kindiedays?

Kindiedays is an award-winning digital platform built on the world-famous Finnish early childhood education model, and fully adapted for preschool needs.

Modernizing Preschools to Meet Today’s Parental Expectations

Monday, May 19, 2025


Insights from a conversation between Nils Lagerström (Executive Chairman, Kindiedays) and Ranjan Goyal (Senior Preschool Consultant)

Introduction: A New Era for Early Childhood Education

In today’s rapidly evolving education landscape, private preschools face a critical challenge: how to meet the rising expectations of modern parents while building a profitable, high-quality education business.

In a recent global webinar, Nils Lagerström, Executive Chairman of Kindiedays, sat down with Ranjan Goyal, a Senior Preschool Consultant with extensive experience in Indian and Southeast Asian markets. Their discussion offered deep insights into how preschools in developing countries can navigate this transformation by adopting proven practices from Finland, which is recognized globally as a pioneer in early childhood education.


What Are Today’s Parents Really Looking For?

Parents today are far more informed, ambitious, and discerning about their child’s early education than they were just five years ago.

They want:

  • More than just day care—they expect real learning.
  • Clear visibility into their child’s development and achievements.
  • Engaging learning environments that nurture creativity, confidence, and communication.
  • Schools that balance academic readiness with social and emotional development.

Yet, many preschools still rely on outdated, manual methods and rigid curriculum models that do not reflect what we now know about how young children learn best.


Ranjan’s Ground-Level View: The Gap Between Vision and Practice

Ranjan shared his observations from working directly with preschools in India and Southeast Asia:

“Many preschool owners truly care about delivering quality education. But they often lack the tools, training, or framework to translate that vision into daily practice.”

He explained that while schools may adopt popular terms like “play-based” or “child-centric,” these concepts often remain superficial without structured guidance, clear lesson planning, and teacher support.


How Finland’s Early Education Model Provides a Solution

Kindiedays brings to preschools a powerful yet simple solution: a Finnish-inspired digital learning environment designed for developing countries.

Nils emphasized:

“Finland’s early education is globally admired—not because it’s expensive, but because it focuses on the whole child and gives teachers the tools to personalize learning. We bring those principles to preschools in India and Southeast Asia in a way that’s affordable, practical, and scalable.”

Kindiedays helps preschools implement three key pillars of modern early education:

  1. Learning-Focused Daily Practices
    Teachers can access ready-made, play-based lesson plans aligned with local and global learning goals. These plans make it easy to ensure children's progress in essential areas like language, motor skills, numeracy, and socio-emotional development.
  2. Digital Tools to Document and Show Progress
    With the Kindiedays mobile app, teachers can instantly capture and share learning moments. These moments are linked to learning goals, so parents see evidence of growth as well as photos.
  3. Teacher Empowerment through Training
    Through Kindiedays Academy, educators join live online workshops to deepen their pedagogical skills. These practical sessions help teachers feel more confident, supported, and motivated.


Why Preschool Owners Should Care

Private preschool owners must strike a delicate balance between satisfying parents, supporting teachers, and running a profitable business. Kindiedays addresses all three.

“When you implement Kindiedays,” Ranjan noted, “you differentiate your preschool. You have a clear answer when parents ask, ‘How will my child learn here?’ And you show that answer with proof, not just promises.”

The results?

  • Increased parent satisfaction and word-of-mouth referrals.
  • Reduced teacher turnover and burnout.
  • A more organized, future-ready preschool business.


Is It Expensive? Surprisingly, No.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that adopting international best practices is costly. Nils clarified:

“Kindiedays is designed to be affordable. You don’t need expensive hardware or major infrastructure. A smartphone and an internet connection are enough to get started.”

The subscription model is flexible, with packages tailored to each preschool's size and needs. The return on investment is tangible, from increased admissions to smoother operations.


From Vision to Action: What Can You Do Today?

The webinar closed with a clear message: preschool transformation doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Start with one step:

  • Introduce digital documentation to connect better with parents.
  • Use Kindiedays’ ready-made lesson plans to support your teachers.
  • Join a Kindiedays Academy workshop to raise the quality of your teaching team.

“We are here to walk with you,” Nils said. “Our goal is not just to sell a product—it’s to help you grow your preschool into a modern, respected learning center.”


Final Thoughts

Preschool education is no longer just about care—it’s about impact. Parents want results, teachers want support, and owners want sustainability. Kindiedays offers a trusted path forward backed by global expertise that is adapted to your local context.

7 Essential Qualities to Seek in a Preschool Curriculum Partner

Tuesday, May 6, 2025


Choosing the right curriculum partner is a pivotal decision for any preschool owner. A well-aligned partnership can elevate your institution's educational standards, enhance teacher effectiveness, and foster stronger parent engagement. Here are seven critical factors to consider:


1. A Clear Vision for Early Childhood Education

An ideal curriculum partner should possess a well-defined philosophy that emphasizes:

  • Holistic Child Development: Addressing cognitive, emotional, social, and physical growth.

  • Play-Based Learning: Using play as a fundamental learning approach, as Finnish educational practices exemplify.

  • Cultural Sensitivity: Respecting and integrating local cultural values and expectations.

Kindiedays embodies this vision by offering a curriculum that supports high-quality learning for children aged 1 to 6. It meets their unique needs through a holistic and playful approach inspired by the best practices from Finland.


2. Adaptation to Local Curriculum Standards

While international best practices are valuable, they must be tailored to fit local educational frameworks. A competent partner will:

  • Integrate Global and Local Approaches: Merging Finnish methodologies with local curriculum frameworks.

  • Align with National Standards: Ensuring lesson plans and activities meet guidelines like India's NEP 2020.

Kindiedays honors local cultures and adapts its approach to fit each preschool’s unique context, ensuring compliance and relevance.


3. Innovative and Play-Based Learning Methods

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