Today we’d like to introduce you to Rahela Rajh.
Hi Rahela , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story truly began the moment I arrived in Dubai. I already had years of experience in early childhood education, but it was this city — with its mix of cultures, fast routines, and ambitious families — that shaped my work into what it is today.
Over the past decade, I’ve spent countless hours with children and parents across Dubai — from toddlers on carpets in Jumeirah, Burj Khalifa, and Arabian Ranches, to storytime and playful learning in nurseries citywide. During rushed school pick-ups, parents often shared a familiar challenge: busy days, limited time together, and a reliance on screens or toys to occupy children — followed by guilt and uncertainty about how to reconnect.
These honest, everyday conversations became the foundation of my work and eventually led to the creation of the Joys of Childhood™️ Play Concept, a way of play that is simple, sensory, hands-on, and uses materials families already have at home. It’s designed to help parents and educators see the developmental learning happening during play — helping children feel seen, heard, and supported.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all. Starting again in a new country meant rebuilding trust, relationships, and credibility from the ground up. I had to show that play, simplicity, and sustainability weren’t just nice ideas — they were practical solutions that worked in real homes.
Dubai has given me tremendous opportunities, including being part of the UAE children’s authors group. Like any vibrant, fast-moving city, the pace of life can make it challenging for parents to find time for meaningful engagement with their children — which is exactly the gap my Joys of Childhood™️ Play Concept and guided play experiences aim to fill.
Writing my book while working full-time with children was another challenge: creating over 80 guided play activities, filming them, integrating QR codes, and ensuring each experience was developmentally meaningful required stamina, focus, and deep commitment. But every challenge clarified my purpose: helping families slow down, reconnect, and rediscover the joy of simple, sustainable play.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Author & Founder of the Joys of Childhood™ Play Concept
I specialize in learning through play using everyday materials families already have at home. The Joys of Childhood™️ Play Concept is built around zero-cost, sensory-rich play experiences that allow children to develop physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skills while strengthening family connection.
What sets my work apart is that it was developed and tested with real children and families in Dubai, in their own homes, not in a laboratory or classroom. Each activity includes an invitation to play and a section called “Understand Your Child’s Development,” so parents and educators can see exactly what learning is happening while a child plays.
My book, Discovering Joys of Childhood Through Play, was a finalist at the GESS Education Awards 2025, recognized as a leading sustainability resource in education — reinforcing the importance of practical, accessible play-based solutions.
I’m proud to help families, nurseries, and corporates bring calm, connection, and confidence into childhood through signature play sessions, family engagement programs, and sustainable play initiatives. Play is a universal language that cuts across age, culture, and background, and it has the power to rehumanize relationships at home, at work, and in the wider community.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Families, nurseries, corporates, and community organizations can work with me through:
Nurseries & Early Years Settings
• Family engagement days
• Teacher workshops
• Sustainability-through-play projects
• Hands-on parent workshops
Corporates & Community Organizations
• Family wellbeing events
• Themed play activations
• Lunch & learn sessions for working parents
• Sustainable play installations
Parents & Families
• Author-led signature sessions
• Coffee mornings
• Practical guidance for calmer daily routines
Whether you are a family, nursery, corporate, or community organization, my programs are designed to create calm, connection, and confidence — helping children and adults alike rediscover the joy of play.
With 2026 announced as the UAE Year of the Family, this is a pivotal moment to prioritize connection, wellbeing, and meaningful play. My goal is simple: to help families slow down, reconnect, and rediscover joy — one Play Recipe at a time, through Discovering Joys of Childhood Through Play.
People can reach me via email: [email protected], Instagram: @joysofchild, or my website: www.joysofchildhood.com. I’m always excited to collaborate with nurseries, corporates, and organizations that believe in nurturing childhood, supporting parents, and building stronger, more connected communities across Dubai and the UAE.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://joysofchildhood.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joysofchild/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahelarajh/
- Other: https://a.co/d/aj0mOp6
