Sunday afternoon lazing around in bed, I ask the peapod to recite her alphabets, she says them all, count your colour pencils and she does a perfect 12. Identify your colours and she gives them straight with a light green and dark green as well. Gives me the days of the week and months of the year with perfection. Identifies most objects in her picture book including anaconda. Totally pleased I tell P we can enroll her in lower KG this year instead of nursery. She already knows everything she is supposed to know by the end of the year. He smiles and asks "Will she open her mouth anywhere else other than here in your bed?" Hmm ...the answer is no. For the past 6 months I have been training her to answer to the question "What is your name?". She gives me the perfect answer at home with her last name as well. You walk out and there are umpteen number of people who ruffle her curly hair and ask her "What is your name?" and all she will do is pull out her tongue and cling to my legs. I can stand there and keep prodding all I want but not a word. That is the peapod. A dozen questions every waking minute, can argue with her parents & grand parents, can scream like sunny deol in jail and is a total rowdy at home but the moment she is out, meet people she would just not respond. You spend a few hours and might start to get a feel of the rowdiness but otherwise she seems like an angel, I only remember faintly when she was about 12months.
Her nursery begins next week and I hope she adjusts. We have moved her to a different branch of the same pre-school, which we realized was closer home. Hope she has fun with her new teachers and friends.
Showing posts with label Schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Schools. Show all posts
Monday, June 01, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Peapod begins Playschool
So finally my baby has taken her first baby steps towards the outside world. Or maybe I can get all poetic and say she has flown the nest.
Every Diwali holidays, our church hosts the VBS(Vacation Bible School) for a week for kids. Its all of 3-31/2 hours with almost 2 hours of singing sessions with actions and an hour of story telling classes. Last year I took a week's leave to coincide with the VBS so that I could take both the kids, the peapod and jellybean to it. They enjoyed it and learnt almost all the songs with actions. On the final day they had a rally around the church shouting slogans. The other older kids just loved and fuzzed around these babies of mine. By the end of day 1, I had offers from boys & girls who wanted to trade little brothers for little sisters. Some also plead with me to let them take the kids home. The 2 enjoyed all the attention but were mostly irritated with the constant picking up and kissing.It was a very nice experience. Ever since I did known, they were both ready for the larger thing called playschool.
She had been wanting to go to some place when mumma and Dada were going to office and she realized that would be school. For 2 weeks I had been listening to her pleas of wanting to go to school every time I dressed up for work. Nursery wouldn't start untill June and I thought she could do with some playing with kids her age so I enrolled her for playschool for the next 3 months. I and the peapod went to her school, got admission, then went shopping for her clothes, which eventually got her all excited. The first day, the day after republic day, she began school. I drove her to school in her new clothes and a small bag with a tiffin and water bottle. She walked in with me holding my hand and she smoothly left mine and held her teacher's fingers and walked off to her class. I forgot about clicking a snap when she was walking in. I stood there not sure what to do next. In 5 mins, the teachers told me I could leave since she did not seem to have a problem. She wasn't crying blue murder nor was she asking for mumma. I walked out reluctantly. I stood outside with a broken heart. I wasn't sure what exactly was bothering me, was it this small step towards independence or was it that she did not cry or cling. I was getting all worked up emotionally. After talking to the shower gang, I felt better. She had grown into this confident little girl, who was ready to explore the world. That thought pleased me. She was waiting for me with smiles when I went back to pick her up in the noon. She told me about her day in bits and pieces over the rest of the day. It was endearing to hear her speak in her babyish malayalam.
The very next day, when I tried to leave her she started crying. But as soon as I was out of the gate she was fine. And this continues till today. The other big thing is also the return arrangement that we have worked out. She comes back in a maruti van. My baby commutes in a vehicle that belongs to a stranger and is dropped right at our gate for mom to pick her up.As my previous post says, she came home with a medal on Thursday to make an already touchy mom to go over the roof.
At 34 months, she can communicate very well in malayalam and can understand English. Walking into a school should have been the next natural thing. Inspite of it all, seeing my baby walk into school was a VERY BIG DEAL. I always knew she would take to it very easily. I always knew it was going to break my heart seeing her walk away from me to a new world. Knowing it and feeling it, very very different.
Every Diwali holidays, our church hosts the VBS(Vacation Bible School) for a week for kids. Its all of 3-31/2 hours with almost 2 hours of singing sessions with actions and an hour of story telling classes. Last year I took a week's leave to coincide with the VBS so that I could take both the kids, the peapod and jellybean to it. They enjoyed it and learnt almost all the songs with actions. On the final day they had a rally around the church shouting slogans. The other older kids just loved and fuzzed around these babies of mine. By the end of day 1, I had offers from boys & girls who wanted to trade little brothers for little sisters. Some also plead with me to let them take the kids home. The 2 enjoyed all the attention but were mostly irritated with the constant picking up and kissing.It was a very nice experience. Ever since I did known, they were both ready for the larger thing called playschool. 
She had been wanting to go to some place when mumma and Dada were going to office and she realized that would be school. For 2 weeks I had been listening to her pleas of wanting to go to school every time I dressed up for work. Nursery wouldn't start untill June and I thought she could do with some playing with kids her age so I enrolled her for playschool for the next 3 months. I and the peapod went to her school, got admission, then went shopping for her clothes, which eventually got her all excited. The first day, the day after republic day, she began school. I drove her to school in her new clothes and a small bag with a tiffin and water bottle. She walked in with me holding my hand and she smoothly left mine and held her teacher's fingers and walked off to her class. I forgot about clicking a snap when she was walking in. I stood there not sure what to do next. In 5 mins, the teachers told me I could leave since she did not seem to have a problem. She wasn't crying blue murder nor was she asking for mumma. I walked out reluctantly. I stood outside with a broken heart. I wasn't sure what exactly was bothering me, was it this small step towards independence or was it that she did not cry or cling. I was getting all worked up emotionally. After talking to the shower gang, I felt better. She had grown into this confident little girl, who was ready to explore the world. That thought pleased me. She was waiting for me with smiles when I went back to pick her up in the noon. She told me about her day in bits and pieces over the rest of the day. It was endearing to hear her speak in her babyish malayalam.
The very next day, when I tried to leave her she started crying. But as soon as I was out of the gate she was fine. And this continues till today. The other big thing is also the return arrangement that we have worked out. She comes back in a maruti van. My baby commutes in a vehicle that belongs to a stranger and is dropped right at our gate for mom to pick her up.As my previous post says, she came home with a medal on Thursday to make an already touchy mom to go over the roof.At 34 months, she can communicate very well in malayalam and can understand English. Walking into a school should have been the next natural thing. Inspite of it all, seeing my baby walk into school was a VERY BIG DEAL. I always knew she would take to it very easily. I always knew it was going to break my heart seeing her walk away from me to a new world. Knowing it and feeling it, very very different.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Nursery for the Peapod
We have finally figured it all out. After months of doing nothing other than just listening to friends & colleagues talk about schools (playschools, nurserys) and the right age for admission we were a little fazed. Is it 3 & 1/2 or 3? was that nursery or school? does the lower kg follow nursery or is it the same? So to get some answers P & I finally took a half day off and went school hunting. With the peapod. Just like that.
A few things that we considered before we said "Ok, so this is the one"
1. Location - A school should be located in a peaceful & quiet environment. The school should be away from main streets and major cross roads. It should be within 10 kms from home.
2. Reputation - It should have a good reputation among parents and children who study/studied there. I met a teacher who retired from this school and I took an instant liking to her. I happened to also meet a couple of kids who passed out from the school this year. Everybody thought the school was good.
3. A big playground - It was important to me that the school had a good enough playground where children can run, jump and break a limb or two. I wanted a school that wasn't just into academics but encouraged lots of running around, playing and all sorts of extra curricular activities and there was enough space for it all.
4. A co-ed - I have already written about why I thought a co-ed is better.
5. A convent - Now I don't know why I am slightly(make that hugely) inclined towards a convent other than the fact that I studied in one and I thought it was the best start I got.
Off the 5 factors, the school we liked meets 4 criterias. Its a girls school and that has been the only sore point. The school reminds me of my school and that probably just makes it feel right. The watchman of the school gave us some insights on the junior kg & nursery and pointed us to a notice about the admissions in June. Since the school starts with junior kg, the peapod will start this school in 2010. We are not even sure of the admission yet but atleast we know what we want for her.
Secondly, we went around hunting nursery schools where she could start going starting June 2009. We visited 3 nursery schools. The first one we visited was the one I liked the best. The other 2 were just passable. It was like putting in a toy car and a see-saw in our house with some colors splashed on the walls and calling over a few kids from the neighbourhood. Hmm..coming to think of it, she will have a blast. Anyway, so coming back to the reasons why we liked the first one
1. The nursery comprised of two cottages & 2 bamboo house with sufficient free space in between for the kids to play. The place had enough trees and there were no buildings towering the nursery. The environment was very welcoming. Open, breezy and a playground.
2. They follow the Montessori way of teaching. They have a music room with pianos and guitars. The teachers there played the instruments to different rhymes and songs. I loved this music thing. The peapod loves music like any other child. She is generally found singing songs to herself the whole day, sometimes clapping and sometimes performing a little jig with her little bum to "pappu nahi sakta".
3. Lots of bright pictures and colors, spacious class rooms with enough light and breeze. A good library that the parents can use for the kids.
These give me a good feel about the whole place. The only thing I wasn't very happy about was
1. 26 kids in a class they said with 2 teachers and 2 maids. I have a tough time imagining it even. I will need to see how this works.
2. Its about 9 kms from home. That seems a little far away for a nursery.
We do not have admissions yet. We are waitlisted. we will know about it in January. It seems the admission was open just for 3 days. We are waitlisted for nursery admissions ..can you imagine. I wanted to laugh at it but ofcourse didn't want to risk the chance if the principal didn't take it lightly. The peapod wanted to stay in all of the schools we went. We literally had to scoop her off from every place. Ever since we are back she has been asking me when will she go to school. For an another 6 months I have to answer that questions.
The jellybean left us last month. Its been a year since she came to live with us and the kids had a wonderful time togather. My sister resigned her job and went back to join her hubby in Baroda. Hence its a dull time at home for the peapod. She is still under the impression that the jellybean will be back any day. This is the silence before the storm though. My sister(not the jellybean's mom) is expecting a baby this month(12th Dec). Hopefully she will find some amusement soon. Waiting with fingures crossed for the next baby in the family.
A few things that we considered before we said "Ok, so this is the one"
1. Location - A school should be located in a peaceful & quiet environment. The school should be away from main streets and major cross roads. It should be within 10 kms from home.
2. Reputation - It should have a good reputation among parents and children who study/studied there. I met a teacher who retired from this school and I took an instant liking to her. I happened to also meet a couple of kids who passed out from the school this year. Everybody thought the school was good.
3. A big playground - It was important to me that the school had a good enough playground where children can run, jump and break a limb or two. I wanted a school that wasn't just into academics but encouraged lots of running around, playing and all sorts of extra curricular activities and there was enough space for it all.
4. A co-ed - I have already written about why I thought a co-ed is better.
5. A convent - Now I don't know why I am slightly(make that hugely) inclined towards a convent other than the fact that I studied in one and I thought it was the best start I got.
Off the 5 factors, the school we liked meets 4 criterias. Its a girls school and that has been the only sore point. The school reminds me of my school and that probably just makes it feel right. The watchman of the school gave us some insights on the junior kg & nursery and pointed us to a notice about the admissions in June. Since the school starts with junior kg, the peapod will start this school in 2010. We are not even sure of the admission yet but atleast we know what we want for her.
Secondly, we went around hunting nursery schools where she could start going starting June 2009. We visited 3 nursery schools. The first one we visited was the one I liked the best. The other 2 were just passable. It was like putting in a toy car and a see-saw in our house with some colors splashed on the walls and calling over a few kids from the neighbourhood. Hmm..coming to think of it, she will have a blast. Anyway, so coming back to the reasons why we liked the first one
1. The nursery comprised of two cottages & 2 bamboo house with sufficient free space in between for the kids to play. The place had enough trees and there were no buildings towering the nursery. The environment was very welcoming. Open, breezy and a playground.
2. They follow the Montessori way of teaching. They have a music room with pianos and guitars. The teachers there played the instruments to different rhymes and songs. I loved this music thing. The peapod loves music like any other child. She is generally found singing songs to herself the whole day, sometimes clapping and sometimes performing a little jig with her little bum to "pappu nahi sakta".
3. Lots of bright pictures and colors, spacious class rooms with enough light and breeze. A good library that the parents can use for the kids.
These give me a good feel about the whole place. The only thing I wasn't very happy about was
1. 26 kids in a class they said with 2 teachers and 2 maids. I have a tough time imagining it even. I will need to see how this works.
2. Its about 9 kms from home. That seems a little far away for a nursery.
We do not have admissions yet. We are waitlisted. we will know about it in January. It seems the admission was open just for 3 days. We are waitlisted for nursery admissions ..can you imagine. I wanted to laugh at it but ofcourse didn't want to risk the chance if the principal didn't take it lightly. The peapod wanted to stay in all of the schools we went. We literally had to scoop her off from every place. Ever since we are back she has been asking me when will she go to school. For an another 6 months I have to answer that questions.
The jellybean left us last month. Its been a year since she came to live with us and the kids had a wonderful time togather. My sister resigned her job and went back to join her hubby in Baroda. Hence its a dull time at home for the peapod. She is still under the impression that the jellybean will be back any day. This is the silence before the storm though. My sister(not the jellybean's mom) is expecting a baby this month(12th Dec). Hopefully she will find some amusement soon. Waiting with fingures crossed for the next baby in the family.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
All girls/boys v/s co-ed
I had been planning to do this post in a couple of weeks, but chandni and Sporadic blogger brought it up today and that forces me to do a post immediately so here I go.
Why have I been thinking about this? The peapod is just 2 years and 4 months now, and I need not worry about her school for an another 2 years. But every time I meet a parent the conversation drifts to school. There are these schools perceived as the best in every area, lets say in a 10-15km radius. The one that happens to be in ours, is a girls school. Also the second best and the third best. So now I deliberately try to find out if there are any co-eds nearby.
I was in a co-ed right from kindergarten untill graduation. I think my concept of equality for gender comes in from there and probably also from the fact that I have no brothers. And I fiercely perceive the gender equality balance. Before you label me a blind feminist, I also accept that I might not be able to lift weights or change tyres like the boys, but I know where I can match and what I can out-do them. This acceptance of my strength and weaknesses, I believe comes from the fact that I have been among them.
Like chandni said, our school too had 2 posts for every administrative office, a head girl and a head boy, 2 vice captains and so on. But for anything that needs to be based on merit, you need to compete and be the best to get there. Which is similar to real life. I have been there, have worked after class with a whole lot of others on various projects or just dance practise or the drill or carol practise or cleaning the premises or whatever it is. We have also run pillar to post getting sponsorship for a funfest we organised when I was in the tenth to raise fund for the new school building. We have roamed the entire town of Billimora, a small town in Gujarat, on cycles, after school, getting into one shop or the other, begging for sponsorships. OK, Agreed the roaming was more for fun but then we got the sponsorships we needed and I am told the school building today is nothing close to anything we studied in. I hope to make it there someday with hubby and the peapod. During my 10th, we were a gang of 3-4 girls and 2-3 boys who used to study togather in each other's place. OK, the hidden agenda was only to eat the stuff the mom's made and push off. This is getting very nostalgic. Anyway, friends came home, boys and girls, spent time with the parents or sisters if I wasn't around and so on. In short we had no mental partition between boys and girls, they were all just friends with a name.
Co-ed boys and girls in my opinion learn early to accept each other just as fellow beings destined to share the space on earth. Friends who came in from a all-girls or all-boys were generally very reserved and shy with the other gender around. Also I believe a lot of unassisted sex education happens in all-girls/all-boys school from what you hear and see. I am not sure if I can vouch for all, but I don't remember a single instance of any such talks. Not that it was a tabboo but it just never came up as something interesting. While I am not against imparting sex education(which did not happen during our times), but kids should know only age-appropriate things. Sex is good to know about but not something they should be very interested or yapping away in school.
We have atleast 5 school-going kids in the apartment complex where I live. Boys and girls who go to all-girls school and all-boys school because like I told you that is the best school around. I have seen them all play and I don't see any kind of awkwardness. Having said all the above things I believe, I was actually very surprised. When I was talking about this to a colleague, she said that maybe its because families earlier used to create huge issues around the boys n girls thing and so it was imbibed in small minds. These days, families are more open about it and hence the kids are more comfortable. Good point.
While I would like a co-ed for the peapod, in all probability I might still have to send her to a all-girls school. Maybe she will have a different kind of fun and experience than I had. Maybe it is not a issue. You tell me.
Why have I been thinking about this? The peapod is just 2 years and 4 months now, and I need not worry about her school for an another 2 years. But every time I meet a parent the conversation drifts to school. There are these schools perceived as the best in every area, lets say in a 10-15km radius. The one that happens to be in ours, is a girls school. Also the second best and the third best. So now I deliberately try to find out if there are any co-eds nearby.
I was in a co-ed right from kindergarten untill graduation. I think my concept of equality for gender comes in from there and probably also from the fact that I have no brothers. And I fiercely perceive the gender equality balance. Before you label me a blind feminist, I also accept that I might not be able to lift weights or change tyres like the boys, but I know where I can match and what I can out-do them. This acceptance of my strength and weaknesses, I believe comes from the fact that I have been among them.
Like chandni said, our school too had 2 posts for every administrative office, a head girl and a head boy, 2 vice captains and so on. But for anything that needs to be based on merit, you need to compete and be the best to get there. Which is similar to real life. I have been there, have worked after class with a whole lot of others on various projects or just dance practise or the drill or carol practise or cleaning the premises or whatever it is. We have also run pillar to post getting sponsorship for a funfest we organised when I was in the tenth to raise fund for the new school building. We have roamed the entire town of Billimora, a small town in Gujarat, on cycles, after school, getting into one shop or the other, begging for sponsorships. OK, Agreed the roaming was more for fun but then we got the sponsorships we needed and I am told the school building today is nothing close to anything we studied in. I hope to make it there someday with hubby and the peapod. During my 10th, we were a gang of 3-4 girls and 2-3 boys who used to study togather in each other's place. OK, the hidden agenda was only to eat the stuff the mom's made and push off. This is getting very nostalgic. Anyway, friends came home, boys and girls, spent time with the parents or sisters if I wasn't around and so on. In short we had no mental partition between boys and girls, they were all just friends with a name.
Co-ed boys and girls in my opinion learn early to accept each other just as fellow beings destined to share the space on earth. Friends who came in from a all-girls or all-boys were generally very reserved and shy with the other gender around. Also I believe a lot of unassisted sex education happens in all-girls/all-boys school from what you hear and see. I am not sure if I can vouch for all, but I don't remember a single instance of any such talks. Not that it was a tabboo but it just never came up as something interesting. While I am not against imparting sex education(which did not happen during our times), but kids should know only age-appropriate things. Sex is good to know about but not something they should be very interested or yapping away in school.
We have atleast 5 school-going kids in the apartment complex where I live. Boys and girls who go to all-girls school and all-boys school because like I told you that is the best school around. I have seen them all play and I don't see any kind of awkwardness. Having said all the above things I believe, I was actually very surprised. When I was talking about this to a colleague, she said that maybe its because families earlier used to create huge issues around the boys n girls thing and so it was imbibed in small minds. These days, families are more open about it and hence the kids are more comfortable. Good point.
While I would like a co-ed for the peapod, in all probability I might still have to send her to a all-girls school. Maybe she will have a different kind of fun and experience than I had. Maybe it is not a issue. You tell me.
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