Metro Plus
Chennai
Hyderabad
All work and more play
MAC
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Kanti Rajan's childcare centre lays emphasis on the joy of learning. By combining learning with play, the centre introduces children and parents to the fun aspect of education.
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STORY TIME: Tiny tots are encouraged to read.
WHEN KANTI RAJAN volunteered at a Day Care centre in Austin, Texas, she was struck by the usefulness of the concept and determined to start one in Hyderabad. She set the ball rolling after her retirement from Hyderabad Public School in April `96 with the setting up of the Kanti Child Care & Education Centre in September `96.
Kanti has taught primary school children for over 25 years (six years in Little Flower and 19 at HPS). "I enjoy teaching children below the age of five as those are the formative years when the brain is growing. When I applied in HPS, I was to teach fourth standard children but I asked to be put in charge of first standard children," Kanti says.
SAND `N' SMILES : Kanti Rajan with the little ones.
The centre offers a variety of services including after school service, day care and LKG and UKG. The after school service offers a "safe place" for children to come to from school. They change out of their uniform, do their homework and play till their parents come to pick them up.
"Early childhood education is important as the child forms attitudes that are fixed for life. Here we teach them the joy of learning, that learning can be play. The fear and dread that children have for maths is usually due to wrong orientation. Once the concept of numbers is established, they have no trouble with maths."
PLAYING GROUND: A project by UKG children on forests.
Kanti also encourages reading among the children. "If they finish their tasks, I give them books. While they are too young to read, just going through the books and looking at the pictures familiarises children to books." The centre has introduced flexitime for UKG and LKG. "From June we are introducing three sessions - 8.30 to 11.30, 11.30 to 2.30 and 3.30 to 6.30. So parents can bring their children according their convenience."
Kanti has also been organising summer camps for children in the age group of four to fourteen years. And the children have created some amazing stuff - paintings, sketches and interesting craft pieces made out of ice cream sticks and chaat containers.
The dominant motif on the tile decorations this year was a plane flying over high-rise buildings. It is nothing to do with the collective unconscious of 9/11; however, it is just that "one of the children brought a pamphlet with a host of planes flying over buildings."
COOL ITOFF: Children have fun at the paddling pool.
The children bring food from home as Kanti is "against standardised food. Parents should bond with the children over what they need. And children are so happy to talk about `what my mummy made for me.' The mother's touch is very important."
"My biggest concern is that the children are happy," Kanti says and there is no doubt of that what with the sand pit to mess about in, the paddling pool to splash in, books, and a warm caring environment. Admissions will be taken from June 10. For further details, call 7761579.
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Metro Plus
Chennai
Hyderabad
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