The Evolving Role of Parents in Early Education: A Strategic Shift in the Learning Ecosystem

The early education landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation, with parents taking on a more active, strategic role in shaping young minds. In this expert commentary, Sanjay Desai — author, entrepreneur, and Founder of ConsciousLeap — highlights how conscious parenting is emerging as a vital component of the preschool ecosystem. His perspective aligns with the industry-wide shift towards integrating emotional, social, and intellectual development in the early years.

In today’s rapidly evolving education sector, preschool is no longer just a gateway to formal academics. It’s a dynamic space where emotional intelligence, social learning, and personal identity begin to take root. With this evolution, the role of parents is also being redefined — from passive facilitators to proactive stakeholders in their child’s development.

This aligns with a broader industry consensus that learning outcomes are optimized when schools and families function as collaborative partners in the educational journey.

Conscious Parenting: A Core Element in Early Education

As Desai points out, the foundational years are about more than literacy and numeracy. Children need emotional grounding, consistent reinforcement, and conscious modeling — and that can only come through involved, mindful parenting.

He emphasizes, “The child’s first teacher is, after all, the parents. By creating safe spaces for curiosity, encouraging questions without judgment, and modeling empathy and resilience, parents put their foundations for a lifetime of significant learning.”

This shift is significant from a policy and pedagogy standpoint, especially as early childhood education becomes a key focus area under India’s New Education Policy (NEP 2020).

Why the Industry Must Prioritize Emotional Learning

Desai’s insights align with the holistic learning movement that is gaining traction across education institutions and early learning centers. His organization, ConsciousLeap, advocates for an experience-based approach that emphasizes:

• Self-awareness
• Real-world application
• Reflection-based learning

These methods are not just pedagogical tools but industry strategies that nurture emotional intelligence — a quality now widely regarded as essential for future-ready learners.

Early Mental Wellbeing as a Long-Term Investment

Across the education industry, there is growing consensus that mental wellbeing is as vital as academic readiness, especially in formative years. Desai views this as not just an educational priority, but a societal investment:

“Consciously addressing mental wellbeing education with academic schooling, especially in the early years, is one of the most powerful investments we can make — for our children and for the future of society itself.”

Desai’s expert viewpoint reflects a broader call for integrated frameworks in early education — where parents, educators, and policymakers collectively support children’s development.

As India’s educational ecosystem continues to evolve, embedding conscious parenting and emotional development into preschool strategy will not only benefit individual children but also strengthen the fabric of future learning environments.

Sanjay Desai is an Author, Entrepreneur, and Founder & CEO of ConsciousLeap — an organization focused on self-awareness and mindful learning. His work bridges education, wellness, and human potential through practical frameworks and thought leadership.