Kindergarten｜Follow the camera and see what a day looks like for our students!

My favorite day starts with a good morning.

—Year 1 Graduate, Harrow Beijing Kindergarten

At Harrow Beijing Kindergarten, children begin their day with light steps, open arms, and bright eyes. They walk into a space full of friendship, discovery, and experiences that encourage exploration, celebrate individuality, and nurture character.

The video captures a day in the life of our children — from imaginative building and joyful reading to creative art, energetic play, and cheerful mealtimes. But to us, these are more than just adorable moments of daily life; they are a living journal of real growth. As one child said when describing her favorite architecture-themed project, “We can use our brains and work together to draw the map of our dream city.” That’s what makes Harrow Beijing Kindergarten so special — every day is a gentle journey, guided by courage, humility, fellowship, and honor.

Behind the curriculum is the strongest testament to our in-house innovation and years of educational experience.

The Little Lions Curriculum at Harrow Beijing is a values-led framework that blends global perspective with local culture. It focuses on the holistic development of each child — nurturing not only cognitive growth and skills, but also character and dispositions. At the heart of the curriculum is the belief that who a child becomes matters more than what they learn. Its design is built upon key pillars: values as the foundation, leadership development as a goal, and learning dispositions as the engine. Five essential capacities – emotional well-being, curiosity, motivation, cognitive development, and creativity – guide children toward lifelong growth and lasting happiness.

The Five Essential Capacities
Hidden growth skills that bring the curriculum to life in everyday practice.

At Harrow Beijing, we believe children are not passive containers to be filled with knowledge, but vibrant little universes bursting with energy. Their emotions, interests, perseverance, and imagination are the true engines of growth. That’s why we place special emphasis on five “hidden skills of development” – what we call the Five Essential Capacities.

Emotional Well-being and Emotional Literacy

In a child’s journey of growth, recognizing emotions and feelings is only the beginning. What truly matters is whether they can transform that understanding into the ability to manage and express their emotions effectively. At Harrow Beijing, we guide children from understanding themselves to empathizing with others — gradually building a strong inner shield for emotional resilience.

Each class at Harrow Beijing Kindergarten is led by a native English-speaking homeroom teacher, supported by a teaching assistant and a caregiver. From the very first day, children are met with warmth, attention, and care — helping ease separation anxiety from parents. Through creative activities like making “emotion monsters,” children also learn playful and constructive ways to recognize and release their feelings.

Curiosity
Every child is born with a natural desire to know. Curiosity is innate — the driving force behind a child’s ongoing exploration of the world, and their growing understanding of themselves and others. At Harrow Beijing, we value every “Why?” and celebrate every “I want to try!” Teachers guide children to observe with interest, experiment with tools, ask questions, and engage with the world around them. Through these experiences, they gradually construct their own understanding of how things work. Each day, children are exposed to a wide variety of objects, tools, and materials. By engaging their senses — sight, touch, and smell — we help stimulate brain development and deepen their curiosity through hands-on exploration.

Motivation
When we give children enough support and trust — and respect and nurture their internal drive — they become more willing to engage, explore, and immerse themselves fully in what they do. They stay focused on their goals and persevere, even when facing challenges. This process not only helps children develop key skills like independent thinking, self-management, and problem-solving, but also fosters a strong sense of self and emotional resilience. It is this inner strength — often called “soft power” — that becomes an essential part of their lifelong growth.

Cognitive Development
One of the core goals at Harrow Beijing Kindergarten is to holistically support the development of children’s cognitive abilities and thinking dispositions. Through carefully designed learning experiences and continuous guidance, children expand their cognitive horizons, grow through exploration, and gain wisdom through hands-on practice — laying a solid foundation for lifelong learning and personal development.

Our unique project-based learning approach is a powerful tool for enhancing cognitive growth. These long-term, interdisciplinary projects are rooted in authenticity, cultural relevance, and aesthetic pride. Project-based learning encourages children to ask questions, conduct research, and apply their findings to real-life projects, strengthening their inquiry and problem-solving skills. In the past, teachers have guided children through themes like the Forbidden City, where they crafted miniature versions of the Nine-Dragon Wall, ceramic works, roof ornaments, and the Gate of Supreme Harmony. They also carried out botanical garden studies, recording plant growth observations. Each year, the themes and scope of the projects are thoughtfully adapted to match the developmental stage of each year group, ensuring that every child is cognitively challenged and supported.

Creativity
At Harrow Beijing Kindergarten, we believe that every child is born creative. Their perceptions are unique, their expressions are rich, and each of their explorations and attempts is a natural outpouring of creativity. Children need to be seen, supported, and encouraged — to discover their own interests and strengths. Only when they are given enough space and opportunity can they truly express themselves in meaningful, personal ways and develop their own voice.

The Five Essential Capacities may be invisible, but they are present in every moment of focus, every nod of understanding, and every enthusiastic “Let me try!” They are the quiet strengths that will carry children further and help them soar higher.

A Curriculum of Growth
Rooted in Everyday Moments

At Harrow Beijing, we don’t focus on “what we teach,” but rather on “what children experience.” Our curriculum is woven into every cultural celebration — where children build a sense of belonging and cultural identity by engaging with traditions; it’s present in every morning story session — where they learn to express themselves and understand others through language; and it lives in every moment of free play and exploration — where they connect with the world, experience cooperation, take turns, and learn perseverance.

These moments aren’t just activities — they are education in its truest form. We encourage children to express themselves, make independent choices, ask questions, observe closely, and create freely. In a safe and nurturing environment, their natural curiosity is set free. Teachers act as guides, listeners, and responsive partners, turning these everyday experiences into meaningful, lasting foundations for each child’s future.

At Harrow Beijing Kindergarten, we believe that education should never be confined to the four walls of a classroom. True growth happens through every attempt, every question, and every discovery a child makes. Children should learn through real experiences, think through play, and take their first steps into the world with confidence and curiosity.

Our hope is that every child who grows up at Harrow Beijing will one day become a person who is strong, compassionate, and deeply responsible — a truly remarkable adult.