Not there yet!
Well, I have shifted to Hyderabad and it is almost six months. This is my second visit to Hyderabad. I am not new to this place as I did my masters from Hyderabad Central University. But this time around I moved to Hyderabad for my job.
I am still trying to settle in this place, trying to settle in my job, and trying to remain a good, responsible mom, in addition to being a good professional. Juggling with two roles can never be a cakewalk. You must be thinking what the intent of my post here is. Well, this post is about my tryst to find a good daycare and play school for my two year old.
In an attempt to frantically search for a good play school and daycare, I have visited many a playschools. Here is my take on many such schools.
For the good of all the playschools and for the safety of my baby, I will not reveal the names of any playschool here in my post.
Most playschools, which have the word ‘INTERNATIONAL’ appended to their names, have nothing International about them. The most obvious reason being that the food that is served purely caters to people who belong to South. Not all kids like eating Sāmbhar rice, curd rice, besibhiley Baath, and so on. Few caregivers physically abuse children in order to keep them from crying. This kind of behavior is not only inhuman but can cause a permanent scar in the mind of a child. Please note that in order to become international a daycare has to offer food that can accommodate the needs of children coming from across India or globe.
Secondly, most schools cum daycare extract a huge amount of money from the parents in the name of providing air-conditioned rooms, food including in-between snacks and CCTV camera access. However, in reality they never provide access to camera footage in case something goes wrong. This daycare, which boast of being in this daycare and school business never ever inform parents if the child falls or gets hurt. In fact, as a parent if you go and ask, they would come up with hundred stories instead of admitting their fault. Instead of maintaining a good child is to teacher or caregiver ratio, 10 toddlers are stuffed in a small room where they have to spend close to nine hours a day. How the kids who need ample air and sunshine to grow stay in a closed, suffocated room? Not many parents are bothered to question the school authority any way.
Most people these days step out of their homes for job and hence a secured daycare is all the more in demand. Nevertheless, few people just use this as a business and do not really operate the school from an educational point of view. In an attempt to ape the West, such schools do not give any books or sheets for the parents or kids to look at. In addition, these schools make outings and trips outside the schools a must. The school authorities make these field trips important from an educational perspective, which may not be true.
My point here is who should we complain in case there is something wrong happening in daycare cum school. The only option left with parents is to change the daycare and look for a new school yet again. However, this does not mean the new school or daycare will turn out to be a good. It is again left to the parents to continue or look for a yet another daycare or school. Well, all I will say is be very sure of what you choose for your child, because schools and daycare at an early age form a long-lasting impression on a child’s mind. Investigate about the school thoroughly; ask friends, neighbors, people staying near the schools to make an informed decision before you take the plunge. Check if the schools are reluctant to show you the school on your first visit or they welcome you and your question. Try to see if they are trying to be very goody goody and make false promises or they really keep up their promises. Talk to other parents and ask them about their experience. If these things still do not work, follow your gut, instinct and then make a choice. After all, we don’t trust our maids with a bag full of money, then why trust them with our most precious valuables (our children) with them.
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