Gaurav Mittal is an innovative leader dedicated to enhancing children’s cognitive skills and mental math abilities. With a strong engineering background from Manipal Institute of Technology, he combines technical expertise with a passion for education to create impactful learning experiences. As CEO of Cognito Abacus, he has expanded programs that empower children aged 6-13 to develop critical thinking through engaging abacus-based activities.

In a recent interaction with M R Yuvatha, Senior Correspondent at siliconindia, Gaurav Mittal shared his insights on ‘How Imagination-Based Learning Opens New Doors in Child Education ’.

In 2025, we are seeing a fast increase in the use of imagination-based learning in education which helps children develop creativity, problem-solving skills and critical thinking through play. Using this approach, children learn by exploring, develop their feelings and enjoy fewer hours spent watching TV or using devices. Interaction with technology is improved and children’s creativity is boosted by playing and telling stories. Educators in schools use both traditional and innovative ways to help students develop their creative thinking. Inspiring curiosity and making children engage practically helps them succeed in a changing world.

The New Age of Experiential Learning

Understanding the difference between imagination-based learning and traditional learning is essential in education. Imagination-based learning uses mental visualization, like imagining 500 apples or how blood flows, making learning interactive and engaging. Traditional learning relies on rote memorization, repeating information without context, which leads to quick forgetting. Forgetting occurs quickly in traditional learning since it mainly focuses on rote memorization. Learning by visualizing and imagining engages many parts of the brain, including those linked to creativity and long-term memory, but traditional approaches stimulate fewer parts. Exercising different brain areas improves the mind’s workings and helps learning remain with us for a longer time, so learning with imagination works better than rote memorization.

When it comes to enhancing learning, Augmented Reality (AR) is a powerful educational tool that transforms traditional, monotonous lessons into engaging and dynamic experiences. Instead of relying on passive learning, AR delivers visually rich content, allowing students to safely explore complex phenomena such as volcanic eruptions in a virtual environment. Similar to how science fiction films immerse viewers in experiences like walking on the moon, AR creates vivid simulations that bring subjects to life, whether it's traversing the Himalayas, following river systems, exploring deserts, or visualizing biological functions like a beating heart. This immersive method aligns with imagination-based learning by enabling students to visualize and better comprehend abstract concepts, thereby enhancing retention. By bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and experiential understanding, AR makes education more interactive, memorable, and impactful.

The Three Pillars of Holistic Child Development

Learning can be effectively understood through three key dimensions:

Imagination: Allows children to visualize or pretend different scenarios, helping them form vivid mental images. This mental visualization strengthens their understanding and retention of concepts by turning abstract ideas into relatable experiences.

Play: Especially role play, is a vital part of a child’s learning journey. When a child plays ‘doctor’ or ‘kitchen’ using dolls and toy utensils, they mimic real-life situations and develop their own superheroes or idols. Such play nurtures social interaction and basic manners like greeting a guest with ‘Namaste’ or offering water. Play-based learning also promotes empathy, allowing children to understand and relate to others’ emotions. Additionally, games like cricket teach essential life skills such as patience, dealing with failure, teamwork, and effective communication.

Emotional intelligence: Develops through creative outlets like dance, music, and artistic activities. These forms of expression help children explore their emotions and understand the feelings of others. It builds empathy, self-awareness, and emotional regulation critical for both personal and social development.

Together, these three dimensions create a holistic framework for child development, fostering cognitive growth, emotional well-being, and social competence.

Providing innovative tools such as imagination-based learning helps nurture essential skills compared to earlier when there was not much developmental scope.

Integrating Project-Based and Practical Learning in Education

Project-based learning significantly reinforces imagination-based learning by encouraging students to actively create and experiment. For example, in science exhibitions, children build models like volcanoes or dams and conduct experiments on magnetism, engaging directly with concepts beyond textbooks. These hands-on tasks enhance understanding through real-world application.

Blending practical activities with theoretical instruction is essential. While traditional education emphasizes theory, incorporating projects and experiments enables students to apply knowledge meaningfully. Role plays further support this by fostering active participation and collaboration.

Different curricula adopt this approach to varying extents. The International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, for instance, promotes independent research like exploring the solar system developing critical thinking and self-directed learning. Assigning and evaluating such projects allows educators to balance academic rigor with student engagement.

Overall, prioritizing experiential learning over rote memorization fosters deeper understanding, better retention, and practical skill development, making the learning process more effective and enjoyable.

The Role of Early Childhood Learning and Parental Support

Children absorb knowledge most effectively at a young age. For instance, in multilingual households, children can naturally understand and speak multiple languages by age four or five something far more difficult for adults to achieve. The phrase ‘catch them young’ is true for skills like swimming or cycling, which children master quickly, unlike adults learning them later in life.

Providing innovative tools such as imagination-based learning helps nurture essential skills compared to earlier when there was not much developmental scope. Today’s children easily grasp mobile technology, while adults often take longer to adapt.

With the right resources and a supportive learning environment, parents play a key role in shaping a child’s future. Early exposure fosters creativity, curiosity, adaptability, and empathy, building a strong foundation for communication and problem-solving. Ultimately, early learning, backed by active parental involvement, ensures a path to lifelong intellectual and emotional growth.


Final Note

Parental involvement is crucial to a child’s learning. Often, screen time begins early sometimes as young as age two when parents use devices to distract children during meals. For example, instead of letting a child eat when hungry, parents may offer screens or sweets to coax them into eating. This creates an unhealthy habit.

Families should aim to create screen-free, interactive learning experiences. For instance, assembling a solar system puzzle together not only fosters bonding but also promotes hands-on learning. Informal 'talk sessions' at home like school discussions encourage curiosity and reinforce classroom learning.

When parents take an active role, kids usually perform well both in school and in social situations. Participatory involvement of parents can be explained during workshops that schools should organize for parents. Offering resources or cash is not enough; children grow better if you pay lots of attention and spend quality time with them.