Power of Play: Reimagining Early Years at Chughtai International School
Chughtai International — Pakistan’s Premier International Baccalaureate (IB) Early Years Candidate School — recently ran to a packed house as educators, managers, and school leaders from across Lahore gathered for an interactive workshop delivered by international trainer Ali Ezzeddine. The theme: redefining Early Years learning through the Power of Play.
A Fun Start
Proceedings started just as IB Early Years learners most often do: Circle Time. From A–Z introductions to cracking 5-75-1 brain teasers (one child, 75 countries visited, and a 5 am wake-up call), introductory exercises built instant rapport. Ali’s signature was evident throughout — sessions were question-led to model curiosity, activate prior knowledge. The lesson: engagement as key to real learning.
How Can We Approach Play?
The discussion then unpacked a deceptively simple question: What is Play? In groups, participants shared words like free, creating, connecting, learning, freedom, activating knowledge, and making connections. The collective exchange showed just how expansive ideas can prove when many voices are equally accommodated — and why Play remains at heart of Early Years education worldwide.
Ali then introduced its various kinds: free, reflective, exploratory, risk-taking, and power. A short video gave everyone the chance to test understanding, sparking conversations in small groups. Each team ultimately framed open-ended answers through the twin prisms of what, and how — a powerful statement on how Play thrives when diverse perspectives are welcomed.
Hitherto unfamiliar activities — collage or karate — were given earnest tries. By Friday, iceberg lettuce was being confidently planted with single-minded focus. A rhythm began emerging — learning, activity and belonging.
Cultivating the ‘Ideal’ Learning Environment
Conversation naturally circled back to what makes a learning environment ‘ideal’. Those present reimagined it not as a rigid space, but one that is communicative, collaborative, social, self-regulating, stimulating, and research-friendly. In ways more than one, these are the very qualities cultivated every day across Chughtai International School classrooms — especially in our one-of-a-kind Early Years programme, where learning begins with Play to fuel both: curiosity and collaboration.
Play Is Not Expensive
How play-based learning did not have to cost a fortune was perhaps the most eye-opening of cases sampled. Ali shared the example of a village school in Zanzibar where a teacher used everyday objects found by the beach to create rich learning experiences. It was a powerful illustration: play-based learning being less about costly resources and more about creativity, intention, and mindset.
Reflecting Together
To conclude, participants filled a live Wonder Wall, jotting down what they had learned. The workshop ended as it began — in Circle Time — each individual offering a one-word recap. Certificates followed with a twist: Instead of receiving one’s own, the rightful owner had to be found…
Community Learning Hub
At Chughtai International School, Play is not just a childhood essential but the foundation of a strong Early Years start. By bringing together learners, educators and leaders from across Lahore, we continue our mission of being more than a school: a hub of community-wide learning where ideas, practices, and people converge to reimagining education in Pakistan.
