We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Wasfee Vazir a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Wasfee thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for Hindi Time Kids originated from my personal experience and the challenge of passing on heritage language and culture to my child growing up in the U.S. As a parent, I faced the difficulty of ensuring my child remained connected to their roots. While there were resources like Hindi books and classes, they didn’t fully address the need to make Hindi an integral part of my child’s community and everyday life.

One afternoon, I was reading a Hindi storybook to my child and realized how engaged they were, not just with the story but also with the cultural nuances and language. This made me think: what if there was a way to make Hindi more relatable and fun for them, integrated into their lives just like their other activities?

The turning point came when my son was four years old. I asked him something basic in Hindi, expecting a natural response, but he couldn’t understand. It hit me then that despite being a native Hindi speaker, my full-time work schedule and reliance on an English-only speaking nanny, followed by his time in Montessori, meant he had very little exposure to his heritage language. This is a common issue for many immigrant families in the U.S., especially without family members or grandparents around to speak the language and pass it on to the children.

The idea took shape as I envisioned engaging classes, story times, and programs, especially around South Asian holidays. I wanted to create a space where my child could celebrate their culture while learning the language. By tying in U.S. holidays and making them relatable in Hindi, the goal was to bridge their dual identities in an enjoyable and meaningful way.

Emotionally, this endeavor felt incredibly fulfilling. The thought of building a community where my child could connect with their heritage in a supportive and engaging environment was thrilling. Logically, it made sense as well; there was a clear gap in the market for a holistic approach to language and cultural education that went beyond traditional classes.

Through Hindi Time Kids, I aimed to solve a problem that many parents like me faced. We were offering a unique approach that combined education with cultural immersion, making it fun and relevant for children. We developed a Hindi language enrichment program particularly for preschool and elementary-aged kids, ensuring they get exposure to the Hindi language and South Asian culture from the very start using crafts, rhymes, hands-on activities, and games. Additionally, we recognized the importance of nurturing multilingual and bilingual abilities and cognitive development, as these skills are increasingly valuable in our globalized world. The most exciting part was the potential impact: fostering a sense of pride and connection to their heritage while helping them thrive in a multicultural environment

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

About Me: My name is Wasfee Vazir and I am the founder of Hindi Time Kids. My background is deeply rooted in my Indian heritage, having grown up immersed in South Asian culture and Hindi/Urdu language. I moved to the U.S. several years ago and pursued a career in banking and corporate finance, balancing my professional life with my passion for preserving and promoting my cultural roots. As a full-time working mom, I faced the challenge of passing on our heritage language and culture to my child growing up in a predominantly English-speaking environment.
How I Got Into This Industry:
The inspiration for Hindi Time Kids came from a personal and profound experience with my son. Despite being a native Hindi/Urdu speaker, I realized when my son was four years old that he couldn’t understand basic Hindi phrases. This revelation hit me hard. My busy schedule, reliance on an English-only speaking nanny, and his time at Montessori meant he had very little exposure to our heritage language. This common issue among immigrant families in the U.S., especially those without extended family members around to pass on the language, spurred me into action.
What We Provide:
Hindi Time Kids offers a comprehensive Hindi language enrichment program for children, particularly targeting preschool and elementary-aged kids as well as Middle and High Schoolers. Our services include:
• Engaging Classes: Interactive sessions (virtual & In-person) where children learn Hindi through fun activities.
• Story Times: Captivating weekly storytelling sessions (as a world -language story teller with King County Library system in Seattle) that make language learning enjoyable.
• Cultural Programs: Celebrations and activities at local museums, libraries, non-profit organizations, schools and cultural centers in Seattle around South Asian holidays and tying them to U.S. holidays to make them relatable.
• Crafts and Rhymes: Hands-on activities and traditional rhymes that enhance learning in classes and story times
• Games: Fun and educational games that help in language retention and cognitive development in all our program, workshops and classes.
Problems We Solve:
We address the significant challenge of preserving heritage language and culture in a multicultural setting. Our program helps:
• Immigrant Families: Providing a structured way for children to learn and embrace their heritage language and culture.
• Language Exposure: Ensuring kids get consistent exposure to Hindi, which might be lacking in their daily lives.
• Cognitive Development: Enhancing bilingual and multilingual abilities, which are crucial for cognitive growth and valuable in a globalized world.
What Sets Us Apart:
What makes Hindi Time Kids unique is our holistic approach to language and cultural education. We don’t just teach Hindi; we immerse children in the language through engaging and relatable activities. Our focus on early childhood ensures that children are exposed to their heritage from the start, making it a natural part of their lives. We blend traditional learning methods with modern, interactive techniques to make the experience enjoyable and effective.
What I’m Most Proud Of:
I am incredibly proud of the community we’ve built and the positive feedback from parents who have seen their children not only learn Hindi but also develop a sense of pride in their heritage. Watching kids eagerly participate in our classes, celebrate their culture, and confidently use their language skills is immensely rewarding.
Key Things to Know About Us:
• Passion-Driven: Hindi Time Kids is born out of a genuine desire to bridge cultural gaps and foster bilingualism in a fun, engaging way.
• Community-Focused: We aim to create a supportive community for families to celebrate their heritage.
• Holistic Approach: Our programs are designed to integrate language learning seamlessly into children’s lives, making it enjoyable and impactful.
We’re excited to continue this journey and expand our reach, helping more children connect with their roots and thrive in a multicultural world. Thank you for taking the time to learn about Hindi Time Kids! You can look up for our upcoming summer / Fall classes & Family Cultural Workshops and community events schedule for 2024 on our website hinditimekids.com.
Summary Below:
Upcoming Hindi Language & South Asian culture Classes:
• Virtual and In-Person Hindi classes -Summer & Fall 2024 – Open for sign up
• Summer camp enrichment class: week 8/5-8/9 at Living Montessori in Bellevue, WA
Community Summer programs:
• Saturday, July 27th KCLS Teen program in Redmond -STEM meets Culture.
• Sunday, July 28TH – Bellevue Art Museum Kids Fair 2024 Bellevue, WA

Community Fall Diwali Family Workshops:
• November 2024- Burke Museum Seattle, The Circle WA, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Seattle Children’s Museum and KCLS.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One lesson I had to unlearn was that traditional, structured methods are the best way to teach children a language. Initially, I relied on formal lessons and grammar drills to teach children Hindi, but they quickly lost interest. However, I noticed enthusiasm when we read Hindi storybooks and did crafts related to the lesson plan. Realizing that engaging, immersive activities worked better, I incorporated games, rhymes, and crafts into our learning. This approach not only improved my student’s language skills but also made learning enjoyable.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

A pivotal moment for me came in 2020 when the pandemic struck, fundamentally changing how I envisioned Hindi Time Kids. Prior to the pandemic, I had successfully completed one winter camp for preschoolers, my target audience, providing in-person Hindi learning in a preschool environment. However, once the pandemic hit, in-person activities were restricted, allowing only class teachers to interact with children. This forced me to pivot my entire business model to Zoom classes.

This shift presented significant challenges, especially given the short attention spans of preschoolers. Virtual classes lacked the hands-on, sensory activities that were crucial for engaging this age group. To adapt, I introduced free story times to attract families and showcase my teaching style. This approach was a huge hit!

Pivoting from in-person to virtual learning for such a young and challenging audience was difficult, but it also opened up new opportunities. Online learning proved to be convenient for families, especially for learning a new language. Additionally, it allowed me to reach a new age group, including older children and adults.

Instead of giving up during the pandemic, this pivot not only kept Hindi Time Kids alive but also expanded our reach and created a new channel for business. The experience underscored the importance of adaptability and resilience in the face of unforeseen challenges.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hinditimekids.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hinditimekids/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hinditimekids