Immerse in this unique festival that encourages children to address their emotional well-being through feelings and play

In a country where emotional wellbeing is rarely part of the school curriculum With Love MuSo a sixday festival by the Museum of Solutions with Teach For India curated by Bhawna Jaimini throws open that conversation The weeklong festival offers a range of immersive experiences across age groupsChildren at the Discover Lab PICS COURTESYMUseum of SolutionsTanvi Jindal Shete founderCEO Museum of Solutions whose brainchild the festival is says ldquoEmotional wellbeing cannot be addressed only when a child is struggling It has to be part of everyday childhood In Mumbai where schedules are full and pressures begin early children need space to be quiet bored frustrated and imperfect without an adult rushing to fix things I see this with my children When we pay attention to what draws them in or unsettles them they reveal much more about their inner worldrdquoShaheen Mistri right with a young learnerShaheen Mistri founder of Teach For India a nationwide movement working to end educational inequity says ldquoChildren donrsquot experience their lives in compartments They donrsquot separate home from school teachers from support staff parents from caretakers or relationships from learning when thinking about what makes them feel safe connected and joyful With Love MuSo places responsibility for childrenrsquos emotional wellbeing not just on schools but on parents educators and the wider communityrdquoRedefining successShete elaborates ldquoWe need to expand the question from lsquoWhat did this child achieversquo to lsquoWhat kind of human being is this child becomingrsquo A child who keeps asking questions returns to a challenge after failing and notices when someone needs help is developing capacities that will shape their entire life Empathy resilience and curiosity may be harder to capture on a report card but they are foundationalrdquo Mistri agrees that we still define success too narrowly by measuring and comparing children against the same markers ldquoBut every child is a whole person with an emotional world relationships imagination and a sense of who they are Education must make space for all of thatrdquoYoung visitors try their hands at activities at the Lower Parel spaceScreenfree childhoodShete doesnrsquot believe screens are the enemy The real question she says is whether the world around a child offers enough to compete for their attention ldquoThe real world has to earn it Invite children to cook build something that might collapse or follow an unusual question wherever it leads We see how quickly they engage with experiences that are authentic participatory and alive Restriction may create compliance meaningful experiences create genuine choicerdquoTanvi Jindal SheteMistri feels screens offer stimulation connection and sometimes a sense of belonging even if temporary ldquoIf we want children to look away from it we need to offer something thatrsquos worth looking up for How do we create a childhood rich in connection curiosity play and possibility that a screen becomes a small part of itrdquo It could simply begin with being listened to creating something together exploring outdoors or spending unhurried time with their loved onesrdquoNot easy but realShete throws light on possible solutions ldquoIrsquove watched children who struggle to sit through a worksheet spend hours absorbed in making something work negotiating disagreeing changing course and trying again Children donrsquot necessarily want easy They want realrdquo Mistri adds ldquoWe have historically found it easier to measure what a child knows than understand how a child feels A child who feels anxious lonely or afraid cannot fully engagerdquoWhat to expectgtgt For kids The Magical Garden Exquisite Monster Peace Through The Magical Garden storytelling performance Exquisite Monster collaborative drawing Peace Through Play inclusive games Clown Encounters laughter music and therapeutic clowning Strangers Choir choral singing Love into Lyrics creating a shared songgtgt For families The Dance Between Us movement and play To Love Is to Rest lullabies sound and stillness Cooked with Love family recipes through writing and storytelling Mapping Love and Care in Our Bodies movement and visual artgtgt Also catch Night Neighbours sensory storytelling and theatre Myths and Me folktale movement and theatre and Storytelling for Peace collaborative storytelling and moreON September 1 to 6AT Museum of Solutions Victoria House Lower ParelLOG ON TO museumofsolutionsin to book ticketsENTRY Rs 1500 plus taxes