Textbooks. Tests. Repeat.
That seems to be the hamster wheel of traditional education, year in and year out. And it’s no wonder that children get uninspired, unenthused, and lackluster.
Now imagine if there was an educational pit stop, a breather from this incessant spin. A place where education is more than grades—it’s about growth, it’s about joy, it’s about life.
That’s the very foundation of Mindvalley for Kids, a program at the annual Mindvalley University for children ranging from three to 12-year-olds.
The brainchild of Vishen, the founder and CEO of Mindvalley, it started as a way to expose his children to high-level conversations, like entrepreneurship, creation mindset, and so on. The kind of topics covered at Mindvalley events like A-Fest and Mindvalley Live.
“He was very frustrated about the fact that his kids were not able to join him,” explains Gigi Márquez Suárez, the head of the Mindvalley Youth Programs. “So he created the space for them to be able to have that.”
The program eventually became one of the trademarks of Mindvalley University, starting with Barcelona in 2016. And with toddlers, kids, and teens joining in on the experience, it’s a place where, as Gigi puts it, “you come and learn with your whole family.”
The psychology behind Mindvalley for Kids
Let’s put the traditional education system on the shelf for a moment. Instead, let’s look at learning this way:
What if education for kids wasn’t just about acing exams and forgetting everything after? What if it was about helping kids understand their emotions, navigate their relationships, and, well, learn how to be happy, successful human beings?
That’s the reality of the Mindvalley Youth Program—it’s essentially a reimagining of the quintessential summer program for kids and teens that prioritizes experiences over grades. Here are a few ways it goes beyond the traditional education system:
- EQ over IQ. One essential aspect of the Mindvalley education for kids is its focus on emotional intelligence, which is often overlooked by traditional education. A study from the University of Illinois found that this type of intelligence plays a significant role in children’s success, both academically and personally.
- Fun over stress. The workshops are designed based on experiential learning and hands-on experience. The focus is not on lessons from textbooks but on immersive and impactful educational experiences your little ones will carry with them for life.
- Connection over isolation. Mindvalley education for kids promotes collaborative learning, which has been shown to boost empathy, communication, and self-esteem. So they’re all encouraged to build meaningful relationships with their peers, fostering a sense of community.
In contrast to a typical kids’ summer program, Mindvalley University is an adventure, a quest, and an epic tale of personal growth. They’ll be the heroes of their own stories, equipped with the knowledge and skills to conquer the world—one challenge at a time.
What kids learn at Mindvalley University
Traditional education has its upsides. It provides children with knowledge like how to read and write, a fixed schedule dedicated to learning, and an atmosphere where they can interact with students and teachers alike.
However, it falls short in a myriad of areas that are essential for their well-being. It’s like craving a rainbow but only receiving shades of gray.
That’s where the Mindvalley for Kids program fills in the gap. It comes in like a burst of color, providing a holistic approach to learning and proving that experiences make us happier than rote memorization.
The schedule changes every year. However, here’s what your toddler or kid can look forward to:
Toddlers program (ages three to five)
Imagine this: pint-sized explorers diving headfirst into the grand adventure of learning with the Toddlers Program.
Led by experts in child development, this immersive curriculum is far more than just nursery rhymes—it’s a playful journey that sparks curiosity and creativity.
Inspired by holistic learning approaches like the Waldorf method, the Toddlers Program puts imagination and hands-on experiences at the forefront. Through activities that develop communication, empathy, kindness, and confidence, your child will be encouraged to explore and grow in a supportive environment.
Whether they’re learning to collaborate, expressing themselves through art, or building new friendships, this experience can help nurture a love for learning and lay the groundwork for future success.
Kids program (ages six to 12)
This experience is more than just a summer program—it’s a mission to inspire the next generation of Kid Cudis, Greta Thunbergs, Oprah Winfreys, Steve Jobs, and Vishens. To do that, your youngster will be exposed to what’s really going on in the world and armed with tech knowledge that would put their geeky uncle to shame.
The program will be jampacked with interactive sessions and workshops spanning the vast lands of science, technology, entrepreneurship, expression, and health. Through hands-on experiences (because kids love getting their hands dirty), they’ll learn to collaborate, solve problems, and cultivate resilience.
But wait—it’s not just about the brain; they’ll also learn how to be attuned to the body and soul. There will be daily practices like meditation, breathwork, yoga, and fitness challenges. It’s all in the name of broadening their horizons and cultivating a healthy mindset.
So growth mindset? Check. Problem-solving skills? Check. Making new friends? Check.
Talk about the total package.
Kids’ transformation at Mindvalley University
“Guess what I learned today?” That could be your kid telling you all about the tales of emotional intelligence, teamwork skills, and everything else that they learned at the Mindvalley for Kids program.
That’s the dream as parents, isn’t it? To have your kids come home all excited to tell you what newfound knowledge they’ve picked up.
And that’s what happens at Mindvalley University.
Here are a few stories from parents whose kids have experienced just that:
After a couple of hours of feeling intimidated by all the English-speaking wild children, feeling insecure in his own English abilities, and yes, asking me to go straight back home again, he completely blossomed. Day after day, he got more confident, running around Kultuurikatel with the other children, making friends for life, and falling in love with the team.
— Anne-Sophie Reinhardt, Germany
He cried when we left and speaks of the next MVU almost daily now. Little Timmy, who knows Iron Man, energy healing, breathwork, and especially the field trips to the museums, left a huge impact on him.
We had the most amazing time at Mindvalley University! We took our 7-year-old daughter with us, and she loved the kids’ program so much that she begged us with tears in her eyes to not go back to her school in Iceland and to stay at her new school at MVU.
— Joana Matos, Iceland
Mindvalley University is radically and successfully breaking the mold of what learning looks like. To invite 100s of ‘students’ of all ages to another country and provide weeks of enriching content and experiences is bold, risky, and beyond ambitious—and they did it beautifully.
— Akira Chan
I believe Mindvalley University will one day be looked upon as one of the most important social movements in the history of education.
Why parents pick Mindvalley University for their kids
In an era when every toddler’s tantrum can be pacified with an iPad and every teenager’s social life exists mostly within the confines of their smartphone, the Mindvalley Youth Program brings something more substantial to the table. Something human, wholesome, and well-rounded that can’t be downloaded from an app store.
The truth is, our world will only become more and more digitized, so the importance of providing our kids with more meaningful learning experiences only intensifies. And Mindvalley is not just responding to that call; it’s dialing the numbers and setting the ringtone to a catchy tune.
As Gigi puts it, “It’s our responsibility as adults in the world to ensure the next generations get access to the best possible options out there.”
Wi-Fi connections may seem stronger than human ones, but programs like Mindvalley for Kids (or Mindvalley for Teens, even) champion the idea that youngsters need more than good broadband to thrive. It’s where kids, alongside their parents, learn the same tools to live their best lives, as Mindvalley member Stacey Sellar points out.
“What a gift to expose my children to leading experts and such amazing principles, values, and skills at such a young age,” she adds. “In addition, we were surrounded by a tribe of like-minded parents and kids who we instantly connected with (and will be friends with forever!)”
Mindvalley for Kids: Parent-approved, kid-loved
Here’s the thing about Mindvalley University: Children aren’t just students; they’re explorers, dreamers, and visionaries. Plus point? The program doesn’t just check boxes; it tosses the box out the window and says, “We can do better.”
Your kiddos deserve a learning environment that doesn’t shrink them into categories or labels but expands their horizons and encourages them to color outside the lines. After all, isn’t life one big, messy, beautiful canvas?
So, here are some questions you should answer:
Are you ready to embark on a journey that could reshape your child’s outlook on learning, nay, on life itself? Are you prepared to disrupt the status quo and leap towards an educational experience as unique as your child’s?
If your heart is whispering (or screaming) a resounding yes, then it might be time to check out Mindvalley University. Ultimately, education is more than just molding minds; it’s about inspiring hearts.
Welcome in.
