Wordless Wednesday :: Dancing in the road

Taken from the road side of one of the busiest area, the IT hub of Hyderabad... On our way back to home, during our search for preschools... we were waiting for Pappa to return from office... This is how she spent nearly an hour!

 

   

Book of the Week ~ Maisy Dresses Up

Welcome back to another Book of the Week issue. It's been long time since a book review and so here we go. Like I said here, we were working on FABRICs theme as a part of our homeschooling adventures and hence we were reading many books related to fabrics and clothing.

Today we're gonna share with you a wonderful book from the very popular Maisy series – Maisy Dresses Up by Lucy Cousins.

Gaza Crisis Appeal

The facts of life are that a child who has seen war cannot be compared with a child who doesn't know what war is except from television. - Sophia Loren.

I am sure that everyone is aware of the dreading situations in Gaza. Orphans in need (orphansinneed.org) is appealing to support to the orphaned children of Gaza. Anybody interested in helping, may please head over to this website..

Let's do our tiny bit to give them back the colors of their life...

Special thanks for Foz for letting me know about this website.

You may also visit this or this to extend your donations.

Friday Wisdom

Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.

- Robert Louis Stevenson

Joining Foz, with our tiny bit of learning...

Response from KinderKare Gachibowli for my review : Disgusting!

Today, early in the morning I was more than happy to see that KinderKare, Gachibowli has sent a response to the post I made after my bad experience at their school. However, as I read through,  I seriously thought if they wouldn't have sent this mail. The only word I could express my feeling is SHOCK... SHOCK... I am pasting the mail as it's below, adding my comments in BLUE highlight. I would really appreciate if my readers could take a moment and tell me if this is something you expect from a respected school management? Would you send your child to this school, after reading this mail. I would expect to read with a neutral mindset and share your honest opinions. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Mother of Liya,

I am Lt Col Rajasekhar Reddy and I am the Director and part of the management of Kinderkare Day care and preschool.

Homeschooling Adventures : We're there!!

Now that Liya's school encourages parents to reinforce the learning at home, we are finally thinking to plan some learning activities at home. She has a lot of time after 1.00 noon, and wouldn't it be a good idea to plan it creatively? Parallel homeschooling has been in my wish-list since long. Finally, we're actually doing some planned homeschooling, yay!!

This school, like most of them, picks a theme for two weeks and learning (absolutely no teaching and no textbooks) happens around it. They recommend parent to contribute by helping kids identify and understand the 'theme' from home, vicinity and surroundings. The school has many different activities planned across the theme and those would help identify the real learning path and need of every child.

Considering that I may not be able to stick to schedules, we will update our homeschooling adventures as in when time permits, but not less than one post in a week. In Sha Allah (If God Wills)

For week 19th Nov 2012 to 02nd Dec 2012, we are following same theme as her school- FABRIC! We have many activities planned at home, for maximum an hour a day. Let's see how it turns out!!

We're all excited, to learn about FABRICs. 

...and Liya goes to Nursery!

On 14th Nov, Liya started her official pre-schooling! Yay, Liya goes to nursery. I still can not believe how fast time flies by... my tiny bug has grown into a little woman!!!

In her school uniform

After a lot of searches, researches, analysis, thinking and rethinking, we have finally decided upon Globe Toter, Gachibowli, Hyderabad. Liya absolutely loved the school. On her first day, she was all excited to go to new school. On the way she threw up and lost her mood. So, she cried when J left for office. Even so, according to her teacher, she did a great job. Her teacher certified her "Brave Girl"!!!!  Thank God!

3 years:: Where does she stand?

On 11th Oct 2012, Liya completed 3 years on planet earth. Needless to say, it's been an awesome journey, parenting a little girl, by learning, unlearning and re-learning, everyday. Thank God for each and every moment!! And today, we complete 5 years of our married life!! How awesome is that! Thank God!

It's been such a long since my last Liya update. So much had happened since then. Given the fact that pre schoolers learn quickly, last few months have been rapid 'development' time for her too.

Drawing/Coloring: 

She has always been crazy fan of drawing and coloring and the same goes on. Now, she can color almost neatly and inside the picture. She draws many pictures and all coming from her imagination.

Dated august 2012 

3 Years :: Pics

Lumbini Park, Hyderabad

Hyderabad Preschools: Strawberry fields - Review

We did not see a chance for a quick move from Hyderabad, so we began looking for preschools. The very first school to check was Strawberry fields.
SF is another popular network in Hyderabad. I just learned that they have started a new school in Paradise circle.

Why Strawberry Fields? 

KinderKare Gachibowli: Bad Experience

KinderKare is one of the popular daycare cum preschools in Hyderabad, located in Gachibowli. But, we had a really bad experience with them and chose not to go ahead with the school.

Don't forget to read the follow up-  Response from KinderKare Gachibowli for my review : Disgusting!

Why did we shortlist? 

Hyderabad Preschools : Sunshine Begumpet -review

Sunshine, Begumpet

This is where Liya went for nearly 1.5 months. Soon after we landed in Hyderabad, we just had to find a daycare and this one was closer to the place where we stay as of now. Moreover, it was on my way to office so was convenient for me to drop and pick her.
We opted for Sunshine, without a second thought because I had received an awesome feedback from an ex-colleague plus we did not get time to go and search for schools. Hence opted this as a temporary set up until we find a good school to put her in nursery.

Momma doesn't know to drive!!

"Momma, don't you know to 'ride' this car?"
Asked Liya when the car turned off twice in the traffic, on my first day drive in Hyderabad.
"I do know sweetie, just that it's been such a long since I drove in such a heavy traffic"- said Momma and drove.

After 2 days, when she was traveling with J, the issue was brought into his attention. Momma doesn't know to ride this car, Let's bring our car from the US. (That's the thing.)

Image- Hyd traffic

Search for Pre schools in Hyderabad...

I have heard so much and so much about the difficulties in finding a pre school in Indian metros. It's not that India has got very less options but we have more schools than the no. of kids in the entire city, I guess...lol! At every corner of cities, you will be bombarded with millions of billboards, advertisements, fake promises and some sugar coated words like 'holistic approach, child friendly, learning through fun, credibility, vast experience, excellent teachers etc etc. But the more you enquire you will know how far they live from their promises...

Vacation in Kerala :: A flash back

It was pouring season in Kerala. Liya was all excited to see rain pouring and badly wanted to play in the rain. In fact, she played too..:)

A view from our sit out area

 Climate was too bad when we both were traveling to Hyd. Almost all flights were delayed due to torrential rain. I was afraid that they would even cancel the flight. Liya was not ready to sit in the waiting area, she just wanted to play in the water. She was shouting at me and was pleading that "look momma all uncles (the staff cleaning the runway) and planes are getting wet and playing in the water... why not me?"

Look who is back...!!

Yes, I am back to PL, my fav place in the cyber world. There are so much to say... just too much! Regarding my regular posts, yes bucket list updates from June onwards are in my highest priority list..:)

So, what's up with little girl and us? We had spent 2 weeks in Kerala- one week with my family and another with my in laws... We had no breathing time there. Though Liya was enjoying all pampering, she was badly missing her Pappa. J had to leave to Hyderabad after 2 days and most of our vacation Liya and I spent with family. It was more like her first time without Pappa around for such a long gap. Indeed it was a nightmare. She behaved more like the 'bride' whose husband left for abroad after a week of wedding..:) So desperate and gloomy!! Believe me, she didn't eat anything in these two weeks except one MAC cheese in every morning and needless to say she was more than happy to gobble all the ice creams and chocolates, despite all her tensions and gloominess.