Rahela Rajh – Author | AboutRahela Rajh

Hi I am Rahela Rajh

Author | Early Childhood Expert

Creator of Joys of Childhood™

I partner with families, early childhood centers, and community initiatives across the UAE and beyond to rehumanize early childhood through calm, sustainable, connection-based play.

I create environments where children feel secure, curious, and confident — using simple, accessible materials that work in every home and every classroom.

My book, Discovering Joys of Childhood Through Play — a GESS Education Awards 2025 Finalist — shares over 80 sustainable play experiences, with QR-code video demonstrations for real-time guidance.

No expensive toys. No complicated setups.

I believe sustainable play isn’t just good for the planet — it also:

reduces overwhelm for parents and educators
builds creativity, confidence, and emotional intelligence
supports calm, connected learning environments
makes meaningful play simple and realistic

If you are:

a working parent who wants to be present
an educator seeking confidence and practical strategies
a nursery seeking sustainable play solutions

—you are in the right place.

Welcome to Joys of Childhood™ — where play is simple, sustainable, and deeply human.

My work is enjoyed and applied by families and educators across the UAE and worldwide.

My Approach

Play is not just an activity.

It is a daily ritual that builds emotional security, life skills, and curiosity in early childhood.

The best learning tools are already around you:

Cardboard. Wooden spoons. Fabric scraps. Nature treasures.

With over 20 years of experience in nurseries, homes, and multicultural communities in the UAE and internationally, I have seen how toy overload replaces imagination — and how children flourish when given open-ended materials and calm, present adult support.

Through the Joys of Childhood™ Way of Play, families and educators learn to:

Choose creativity over consumption
Prioritise connection over pressure
Simplify environments and routines
Embrace sustainability over excess

Because play is the heartbeat of early childhood — and the foundation of calm, connected family life.

The Mission

In a fast, performance-driven world, early childhood is becoming rushed, structured, and overstimulated.

My work brings us back to what children truly need: connection, simplicity, emotional safety, and meaningful play.

Through practical guidance and research-informed approaches, I help adults:

Simplify play and reduce overwhelm
Strengthen emotional wellbeing and resilience
Create calm, connected daily rhythms
Design environments that support curiosity and independence
Replace toy overload with sustainable, open-ended materials

Together, we create spaces where children feel seen, secure, and free — and where adults feel confident, calm, and connected.

Families and educators in the UAE and around the world are bringing these ideas to life every day.

I partner with schools, nurseries, and parent communities to bring these ideas to life through interactive sessions, workshops, and keynote talks.

I also create Croatian & Balkan language play experiences in Dubai, helping children stay connected to their language, culture, roots, and sense of belonging through the kind of warm, imaginative, real childhood play many parents remember from their own childhood.