Notes on 64 Kalā (कला) and Application in Early Childhood Education
- Kalā (कला) refers to a specialized skill, art, or science a cultivated capacity that blends practical technique, aesthetic sensibility, and deeper philosophical grounding.
- Traditionally, the 64 Kalās are considered a comprehensive set of human accomplishments - spanning arts, crafts, sciences, and life skills - aimed at holistic development.
- Never seen as “hobbies” but as integral parts of education, contributing to a balanced personality physical, intellectual, aesthetic, and spiritual.
- Interconnected: Many Kalās integrate Ganita Vidyā, āyurveda, music theory, vāstu, and philosophy.
- Pedagogical: Traditionally taught through gurukula, apprenticeship, and paramparā, blending experiential learning with scriptural study. bharathhushan
How can we include these things in life of 3 to 8yr old children ?
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At this age, skills are given in seed form — not as formal training but through play, rhythm, imitation, and imagination.
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The teacher/parent’s role is to model beauty, order, joy → the child “absorbs” the Kalās naturally.
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Many Kalās that in Indian tradition appear as refined arts (music, crafts, riddles) are given through playful, child-suitable forms.
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We can includes some things as long term practice, some things as one of exposures. For example we can include art, hand work, music, drama in schedule as long term practice. Weaving cloth kind of thing as one of learning experience / project theme.
64 Kalā in Classroom (Ages 3–8)
| Kalā Cluster | Classroom of 3–8 yr old |
|---|---|
| Singing, Music, Rhythm | Singing seasonal songs, circle time songs, pentatonic flute, clapping games |
| Dancing, Drama, Mime | Circle dances, rhythmic movement games, eurythmy / Garaba, role-play in stories |
| Storytelling, Recitation | Daily tales & nature stories, rhymes, verses, puppet plays |
| Painting, Drawing, Decoration | Wet-on-wet watercolor painting, form drawing (Class 1), beeswax modeling, seasonal nature table decoration |
| Crafts (Weaving, Sewing, Handwork) | Finger knitting, simple sewing, braiding, paper folding, Class 1 knitting with needles |
| Cooking & Food Arts | Baking bread, chopping fruits/vegetables, making butter, festival cooking |
| Gardening & Nature Care | Watering plants, simple gardening, caring for classroom plants, nature walks |
| Flower & Garland Arts | Making flower crowns, seasonal crafts (lanterns, leaf collages) |
| Jewelry & Ornamentation | Bead stringing, natural material crafts, shell or seed necklaces |
| Games & Play | Cooperative circle games, clapping games, finger plays, ball passing games |
| Riddles & Wordplay | Simple riddles, rhyming games, tongue twisters, playful language verses |
| Animal, Plant, Tree Knowledge | Nature walks, stories and songs, gardening, seasonal festivals |
| Mineral & Nature Arts | Playing with stones, shells, sand play, beeswax modeling, nature art, playing with soil |
| Household Arts | Helping with chores: folding cloths, sweeping, tidying, table setting, rangola, decorating center piece |
| Conversation & Gesture Arts | Verse recitation with gesture, circle time movements |
| Mechanical / Building Arts | Building with blocks, simple woodworking (Class 1), outdoor imaginative construction from soil/sand |