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A haven for tiny tots

Small Wonders is the place every stressed out young working mother wishes for

STARTING YOUNG Small Wonders takes in children between the ages of four months to four years

It has been spoken about endlessly. It now sounds clichéd, but that has not made balancing home and work any easier for career women. There are a host of domestic responsibilities from cooking to cleaning that even the most enlightened of the world continue to see as "work of the women folk". At least when it comes to one's own family, taking care of children is a task high up on the list.

Having elders at home is usually a relief, with the mother or mother-in-law taking care of the child when the woman is at work. But what if there are no elders at home or when the elders cannot take care of infants and toddlers? Today, day care centres are a convenient option, and a boon to the stressed out working mother. Small Wonders is the first professionally run play home in the city. It was started a year back by two sisters, Sunaina Rai and Suhana Rai. They started the crèche and play home after completing a four-month nursery training programme.

Here, children are taught through a method that combines elements of Montessori training and traditional nursery training. There are other play homes in the city, but most are run at home by housewives who attend to other household chores even as they take care of the children.

"For us, it is a full time commitment. It is just like any other job, and we try to do it as professionally as possible. Matters of home are kept away in the hours we spend here," says Sunaina Rai.

The centre is spread over 4,000 sq. ft. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and a host of cartoon characters adorn the walls. But the animation is not overdone to ensure the ambience is homey. Colourful balls, tricycles, centipede-shaped alphabet boards, coloured clay, flash cards, and pebbles stored on different shelves make learning fun, and the games are a learning experience.

Small Wonders takes in children between the ages of four months to four years. Different schedules are followed for children of different age groups. Up to the age of three, children are fed and allowed to play at will. They then rest for about an hour in the afternoon. For children under two, no classes are held. But they pick up some rhymes listening to what is taught to the older children," says Sunaina.

An hour-long class is held for kids between three and four. They are taught rhymes, alphabets, numbers, fruits and different tastes. They are also taught simple skills like folding handkerchiefs, tying shoelaces and pouring water from a jug into a glass.

"Most of the activities are meant to improve hand-eye co-ordination and motor co-ordination, and prepare them for writing. Writing is not advised till the age of four. But many of these activities help them in writing once they join kindergarten. Social behaviour is another area that we focus on, by teaching children simple things like introducing themselves."

Supriya, a dentist, sends her daughter Gayatri to Small Wonders and she says her daughter has become more comfortable with people now. "She used to be shy and hardly spoke to anyone. But after a year of attending the play home, she has become sociable with a lot of friends."

Savitha, who works with telecom service provider and the first parent to leave her daughter with Small Wonders, says she is very happy with the place. "My daughter likes it so much that she asks to go there even on Sundays too."

Good for the child and convenient it might be, but there are parents wary of leaving their children at play homes. They fear that a child might feel neglected which might adversely affect her or his development.

"These fears are understandable but seem to be unfounded. Attending a play home seems to in fact benefit a child in many ways. It helps both parents and children prepare her for entering school," says Sunaina. "As children are used to being away from parents, there are not many tantrums on the first day at school. Most children who attend play homes also become more confident, independent and self-reliant. The difference it makes to the child is reflected in the fact that quite a few homemakers have also started sending their children to the play home for at least for half a day."

For more details, call Small Wonders on 98443-07767.

SAVITHA SURESH BABU

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