So my daughter has started going to school (Kangaroo Kids) – and I find that she is comfortable going there.
In the initial few days, we were “deluged” with handouts giving various instructions. And there were also different things that the small children were to do. So one day, there was this handout that said that my daughter was to become a ‘Tortoise’ – as part of the ‘Horse and Tortoise’ story game! So how was it to be? We were to make a hump – so we managed it with a small bamboo basket covered with green paper and dressed our daughter in green!
Apart from that there were some other things. The school has holidays on Saturday and Sunday. On one such Saturday – the first one – I was not aware, and took my daughter to her school – only to find that it was a holiday! Despite being so, I found teachers were occupied making various play things for the children.
The good thing I have found in the few days that she has been in school is that she has gained in confidence. She is quite willing to go to school and more than that – she even wants to go to school on Saturday and Sunday!
Apart from that she even now goes to places where she would not previously prefer to go. She has now become more outgoing and more confident.
Being at Jabalpur – its difficult to find good schools. In my opinion, it is this pre-school age that the basic confidence and attitude to life forms – which stays for lifetime. This is more important than learning a,b,c,d in the traditional way – the way we were taught in school – which I would call – “one way tiresome non engaging communication”!
There is also another dimension – the school gives snacks – these are largely predefined on weekday basis. So in some ways, children also learn sharing and eating without cribbing about what they are being given. I have found my daughter to have become ‘experimental’ in the sense that now she prefers to try new food – which she would outright reject previously.
Playschool also contains swimming pool that is inside the school ie. indoor. Its hardly a swimming pool in the conventional sense – only to provide that “sense” of a pool. Also, children play with sand as part of the curriculum – by making different things through moulds on the sand – this I understand is to make them come closer to nature. In urban life, now a days there is hardly scope for children to play with sand! – so again the school scores on this.
Apart from above, there are also few other things that deserve mention. The students are given a book to take home on a weekly basis. I have found that these are good quality children books. Then on one occasion – actually without any occasion – the children were given ‘gift’ and chocolates. My daughter got a toy piano – perhaps other children were also given similar gifts.
Then the children have also been given rhyme book -cum -CD for permanent keep and practice at home. All these seem to be quite good for children at the playgroup level. I have found that these provide a sense of ‘high spirits’ to my daughter. And also, though I have not been witness to the classroom activity – it must be good enough that keeps her motivated and willing to attend school daily.
