84 Percent of Gen Alpha Children Can’t Handle Failure – KLAY Empathy Index by KLAY Preschools

A quote shared by Arshleen, KLAY’s Head of Academics, was recently featured in multiple newspapers, highlighting how children flourish when they are encouraged to understand their emotions, express themselves freely, and collaborate with peers.

“This study reflects what we at KLAY see every day, and what our new nationwide study has now confirmed. When children are supported to recognize emotions, express themselves authentically, and collaborate with peers, they thrive. Emotional intelligence isn’t a supplement to early education, it’s the foundation for resilience, adaptability, positivity, and leadership”- Arshleen Kalra.

As part of our commitment to strengthening early childhood emotional development, KLAY Preschools & Daycare conducted the KLAY Empathy Index, gathering insights from 6,500 parents across 170 centres in 20 cities. The findings reveal a clear pattern: India’s Gen Alpha children (ages 3–6) show impressive emotional awareness, yet many still find it challenging to cope with failure or disappointment.

What We Found: Strong Awareness, Emerging Resilience

• Half of the parents shared that their child recognises when someone is upset and tries to comfort them.

• 86% reported that their child can express emotions clearly.

• Children in Bengaluru displayed 32.3% higher empathy levels than peers in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Noida.

  The KLAY Empathy Index underscores that when empathy and resilience are nurtured early, children grow into happier learners, stronger problem-solvers, and more confident individuals.

The Preschool Impact: 92.4% Growth in Resilience

At KLAY, we see the power of early education daily, and the data reinforces it. Among children who initially struggled with disappointment, 92.4% of parents saw a positive shift after their child joined preschool.

As Arshleen shared, emotional intelligence is not an “extra” in early education, it is the foundation for adaptability, positivity, leadership, and lifelong learning.

The Gen Alpha Need: More Play, More Interaction, More Real Experiences

We believe this resilience gap comes from limited peer interaction, reduced unstructured play, and fewer safe opportunities to experience and overcome failure. Today, parents understand more than ever that early education must go beyond academics and equip children with emotional tools that support relationships, confidence, and well-being.

At KLAY, we’ve always believed that emotional connection is the core of meaningful learning.

Read the original article in Passionate in Marketing, Business News Week, BizNews Desk, Content Media Solution, Business News Matters, Businesshour 9.