Our Story

Our Purpose

To make parenting a joyful and creative journey, that nurtures a generation of independent, emotionally intelligent, and resilient children.

Our Vision

To create a future where parenting is joyful, effortless, and driven by creativity and playful learning that empowers both children and parents to thrive.

Our Mission

Our mission is to create interactive and impactful experiences that make parenting fun and meaningful, fostering deeper connections between families and nature.

Meet the Founder

Mira Khleif is an accomplished architect and entrepreneur who seamlessly blends her design expertise with her passion for child development and education.

With an M-Arch Masters in Architecture from the University of East London (2010), Mira built a successful career at Maisam Architects & Engineers (2009-2017), where she received recognition for outstanding achievement. Her creative vision extends beyond traditional architecture, as demonstrated by her photography exhibitions including "A Walk through Fontainbleau Forest" (2019) and "My I: Under the theme-Existence" (2024).

In 2020, Mira founded MkandM, an innovative children's educational brand that provides spaces, tools, and products designed to foster imagination and brain development. This venture represents the perfect combination of her architectural background and her Stanford education in child brain development and mental health.

Mira's expertise has been recognized with the "Wonder Mom Award for Small" and her work has been featured in prominent publications including Reemona Magazine, Kul Al Usra Magazine, Haya Magazine, and Harpers Bazar. She has also made appearances on AlDafra TV, Alghad TV, and Mustella.

As a member of MELA (Middle East Leadership Academy) and an Estidama Pearl Qualified Professional, Mira continues to expand MKandM's presence, most recently opening UAE Stores in 2025.

Our Values

To transform parenting into a joyful, creative, and impactful journey, where both parents and children thrive through play.

We aim to empower parents, especially mothers, to embrace their creativity, simplify early learning, and create meaningful connections with their children.

With a focus on imaginative, screen-free engagement, MKandM strives to inspire a shared learning experience that fosters holistic development in the most fun and playful way.

Edge

MKandM’s unique value proposition is providing creative, playful, and authentic solutions for everyday parenting challenges, all through hand-drawn, personal designs.

Why

To create a future where every child grows in an environment full of joy, creativity, and resilience, becoming the independent and emotionally intelligent leaders of tomorrow.

Philosophy

We turn everyday moments into magical ones, where play sparks growth, and parenting becomes a shared adventure in creativity and connection.

Purpose

At MKandM, everything we create begins with intention. Our purpose is to support parents in raising emotionally intelligent, resilient, and confident children by offering tools and experiences that matter. From thoughtfully designed products to values-led workshops, our mission is to make parenting more meaningful and impactful, transforming everyday moments into opportunities for connection, learning, and growth.

Play

Play is at the heart of how children learn, grow, and make sense of the world, and we believe it should be at the heart of parenting too. Our offerings are designed to spark imagination, creativity, and curiosity while encouraging screen-free, hands-on engagement. Whether it’s through our wooden toys, activity cards, or playful spaces, we celebrate the joy and learning that come from play in its purest form.

Presence

We believe that the greatest gift we can give our children is our attention. Presence is about slowing down, tuning in, and being fully engaged in the moments that matter most. Our products and experiences are designed to nurture mindful parenting, helping families reconnect with each other, with nature, and with themselves, even in the midst of busy modern life.