Meet Our Author: Saanika Gandhi

Saanika Gandhi is the Owner and CEO of Yellow Kite Nursery, formerly Kangaroo Kids, with over two decades of hands-on experience leading a British early years setting in Dubai. She has spent over 20 years shaping nurturing, thoughtful environments where children feel safe, seen, and supported to grow at their own pace.

Born and raised in India and now proudly calling Dubai home for more than 22 years, Saanika brings a deeply rooted understanding of culture, family, and community into her work. She is a wife and mother to two teenagers, and her leadership is shaped as much by lived parenting experience as it is by professional expertise.

With a background in fashion and business management, Saanika’s career has always balanced creativity with structure. Before entering early years education, she ran a multi-designer fashion house in Dubai and later produced a regional Indian film under her production house, Krtyavat Productions. These experiences continue to influence her belief in creativity, storytelling, and self expression as essential parts of childhood development.

In 2024, alongside the rebrand of Kangaroo Kids Nursery to Yellow Kite Nursery, Saanika published her first children’s book, The Yellow Kite. Speaking about the story, she shares, “It reflects everything I believe childhood should hold. Freedom, imagination, and the confidence to explore the world while feeling supported.” While writing is a personal passion, her primary focus remains firmly rooted in early childhood education.

Saanika is especially passionate about inclusive practice in the early years. A long-term goal close to her heart is the creation of a dedicated Centre of Inclusion, designed to support children of all abilities through early intervention, specialist resources, and collaborative family support. She believes inclusion must begin early, when understanding, empathy, and acceptance are still forming.

Today, Saanika continues to lead Yellow Kite Nursery with clarity and intention, combining experience, curiosity, and care. Her vision centres on creating environments where children thrive emotionally first, families feel supported, and education feels both grounded and human.