Last week has gone in visiting pre-schools in Gurgaon and getting confused. When it comes to your kid, everyone wants the best. Last time round in Bombay, I got her admitted to a Pre-school and thankfully the outcome was very good. But before that when she was just two, we didn’t have a very good experience with Kangaroo Kids. The teachers used to call me saying that your kid is crying and disturbing the class, take her away please. And we didn’t like the overall approach.

So, this time round we were quite apprehensive and the responsibility of her admission was taken over by my hubby. And then we started going round in circles. The first pre-school we visited was Fastrackids, an American pre-school. The director was very warm but way too outspoken. Having stayed 12 long years in US, she wanted it all the American way. I was just about shocked when I saw a projected touch screen which would be used to teach the kids. We tried and made an early exit. I don’t want any technology for her at two years ten months. I guess TV is enough.

Next was iBambini where we were greeted warmly and the co-ordinator told us about the methodology and approach used which we found interesting. It was more towards building confidence and social interaction. But as hubby had shortlisted more, this was not the end of the road.

We visited iDiscoveri the next day and I must say I was pretty impressed by the building and infrastructure. In addition, their approach seemed quite nice. We saw children studying/playing in the class and I almost made up my mind for it. But there was no end in sight as hubby dear wanted to visit more.

So we landed up at Pallavan, a huge premises which I somehow found unfit for a pre-schoolar.  There were lot of staircases involved which I didn’t appreciate. Teaching method was fine.

Shallom Hills was the closest to our premises and has a huge building and premises. The co-ordinator was polite. But on entering itself I saw a teacher shouting at the small students. Well thats not the way it is. My child can’t take a no. She starts crying. To this, she said that it is required that we discipline the children from early stage. I was not convinced though. She took us through the classrooms and I found dirty soft toys lying around. An absolute no no, i told hubby.

After much thought, and considering the fee structure too (ranged from 70 k to 90k per annum), we decided to visit ibambini once again. This time, we thought that we will have a look at the school when the children were around. But when we reached there, the director didn’t allow us to do that. She said children feel uncomfortable when outsiders are around. My take was that every school is doing that. But she said no. She sat with us and understood our concerns. But I guess my husband was pleased with the no.

And me too. I guess our daughter would be going to iBambini. The admission is due to happen day after tommorow.