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Computers and splash pools

In this age of nuclear families, it makes sense for today's yuppie parents to send their children to such playschools that offer a more conducive environment and also meet the needs of today's tech-savvy toddlers. Especially when money isn't an issue. With a monthly fee ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,000, not to speak of high registration fee, students kit, bus and other expenses, the New Age playschools charge a neat sum which is much higher than what normal schools charge. While the teaching modules may vary, it is clear that they have been prepared with a lot of thought.

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Help educate pre-schoolers

Elitist as some of these playschools may seem, those who run them beg to differ. "We are not exclusive," says Catherine Rustomji, who along with Nina Kanjirat, both experienced educators, set up Gintara, one of the first playschools in Bangalore that meets international standards. "There is a good mix of expats as well as well-travelled Indians in Bangalore." So one can't blame playschools like Gintara if the children of ceos, highly paid foreign executives and well-travelled Indians go there. But at Rs 2,000-Rs 4,000 a month and a non-refundable deposit that varies from Rs 8,000 to Rs 14,000, it is also true that a wonderful experience like Gintara, which follows the Italian Reggio Emilia system of pre-school education, is beyond the reach of most middle-class parents.

Kavitha Gupta Sabharwal, an MBA from Harvard and founder of Neev, that is the talk of Bangalore, justifies the high fees at her recently set-up pre-school. "We have to meet overheads," she says. At Rs 30,000-50,000 a year, Neev offers more than the regular splash pool 'n' sand pit props. It has a studio where a trained faculty teaches the young ones to dance, play instruments and sing, a creative workshop with imported equipment and well-designed interiors by Ray and Keshavan, one of the best design studios in the country. Also, safety norms are strictly adhered to in these schools with the staff undergoing fire drills every week, safety nets provided at crucial areas and even the sand used in pits is cleaned regularly.

At Gintara, a trained Labrador assists children with special needs like autism and stories and games are specially researched and created to enhance the overall development of children and to wean them away from cartoon channels. The idea is to constantly pander to the creative and intellectual needs of today's children. This means frequently updating teaching modules.

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THE TINY TAUGHT: At Gintara in Bangalore, a trained Labrador assists children with special needs

It's a fact acknowledged by Peekaboo's Darshini Shah. Shah and her two sisters trained in child education before setting up the chocolate house-shaped playschool in Mumbai. Besides bright colours and pictures on walls, it has a castle shaped amphitheatre and a creative splash pool. "Children need variety and excitement," says Shah. So at Peekaboo, story books have been replaced by children's films, educational CDs, charts and puppet theatre.

While some of these independent playschools plan to branch out sooner or later, there are already established business franchise modules like the Zee Group-owned Kidzee, Euro Kids, Orange and Kangaroo Kids. Not to speak of the garage variety of playschools that are popping up everywhere to cater to the burgeoning demand. It is the reason why educators feel it has now become imperative to regulate pre-schools. Says Sabharwal: "Pre-schools in India have no clear directives. No one is interested in the safety of the child. Some schools even cook on the premises."

Whatever the debate, the New Age playschools have clearly shown that pre-school education is no child's play. As research shows, 50 per cent of a person's ability to learn is developed in the first four years of life. These playschools are not only following it by the book, but, in the process, are also cashing in on it.

-with Aditi Pai