Parenting In Powai

Another New School with Raving Reviews -Nahar International School - CIE

2015-07-22T12:40:00.003+05:30

Though its new, and has no proven record but is well on its way on the right track as most of my friends whose kids go to Nahar International School are raving about it.

They definitely seem to have got the success formula of making parents happy with the school awesome spacious infrastructure in place, approachable attitude, good teachers, extra-curricular activities and making Learning FUN.

courtesy Nahar school website

In fact, its giving tough competition to other schools around Powai.

Here are the quick links to the school website with basic details about the admission process.

http://nahar-is.org/

The fee as I am told is around 3 lacs for lower classes (primary) and I did personally find it a bit steep but as long as they can justify it. Its best to confirm the exact fee from the school by visiting.

This is one school to keep a track of or check out before finalising your kid's school.

Is your kid going to Nahar International School ?? Parents In Powai would love to hear your views and feedback :)

Savings for Girls - Bank account - Sukanya Samriddhi Account

2015-01-29T11:07:00.001+05:30

Investment for Girls - A great initiative by NAMO

Details about it can be found here - You decide

A very good initiative by the government though I feel that the interest should be exempt from tax. Why is it that they always take one step forward and one back.

Drug Awareness - Help At Hand

2014-11-05T11:31:00.001+05:30

Was completely shocked to see that so many Parents In Powai are dealing with drug addiction in kids It was an eye opener to see and hear how easily it is available. Also, loved the fact that so many parents along with concerned authorities came together to resolve the problem.

Nahar Amrit Shakti is not the only housing society which has decided to take up for drug awareness programs. Around 30 to 40 societies from Hiranandani-Powai have come together after witnessing an alarming rise in number of Powai youths getting addicted to drugs like cannabis. They are receiving support from Dr LH Hiranandani hospital's psychiatry department along with the Lakers [Rotary Club] who have launched a program Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) to educate parents and bring about awareness.

According to psychiatrists as well as residents, Powai has seen increasing number of boys and girls in the age bracket of 13 to 20 smoking weed in public places.

Dr Harish Shetty, psychiatrist with the Dr LH Hiranandani hospital who is supervising the project, said, "Easy availability needs to be addressed by all the agencies responsible. Reducing supply is absolutely essential to curb use of drugs. While we expect police to start cracking whips on drug peddlers, as parents and society, we should be aware of drug addiction problem and not turn our back on it." He added that drug addiction is considered as a social taboo and people avoid talking about it. "We shouldn't be judgemental and critical about addicts. They need counselling and care and support of the society," said Dr Shetty.

Excerpt from - http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-powai-societies-grappling-with-addiction-among-kids-2031879

Also, here is another link sent by my friend 'Bhaswana'.

The key is to find out why are they going towards addiction ?? There is a lack somewhere which they are trying to fill through addiction. And mostly a lack of love, understanding and attention.

There is a very relevant episode where Sister Shivani talks very compassionately and empathetically on addiction, explaining why it happens and how should parents deal with it.

Nidhi Kaushik since you live in powai and write about these things I am sharing this with you.

Pls listen to the video if u can and do share it with people for whom it might help.
http://youtu.be/pmFExPJGymk - soul connections 18
:

Hope the links above help Parents in Powai to give our children a Drug Free environment.
Happy & Safe Parenting :)

Art of Living Announces Happiness Program

2014-06-23T16:36:00.001+05:30

Art Of Living has organised a Happiness Program with Rishi Nitya Pragyaji.
It is a course specially organized for CEO's , MD's , Professionals , Decision Makers of Society .....
Date-25-29 June
Time- Morn -6-9:30 am ( Extra hrs on Sat 6 to 11am/ Sun- 6 am to1 pm )
Venue- Hotel Beatles , Hiranandani , Powai
Note - Breakfast Included.Rs.6500/- for the repeaters( including breakfast.)
Fee is Rs. 9000/- for the freshers (including breakfast for all five days. )

New School On The Block - Podar International School - Powai

2014-06-17T17:45:00.004+05:30

There is good news for Powai Parents as another school opens in our vicinity.

With a pretty good track record at other branches Podar International School opened its doors as admissions began in full swing a couple of months ago.

Here are some helpful details for Parents in Powai looking for school options.

The school is yet to begin but here is a preview of the school.

If you have any more details please feel free to share with us :)

Infrastructure

The school building is right opposite Hiranandani Hospital at Hiranandani Knowledge Park.

Address:

Hiranandani Knowledge Park,
Opp to Dr L. N.Hiranandani Hospital,
Powai. Mumbai

Toll Free No : 1800-103-8866
Contact No : 8879621277
Email Address : admissions@podar.org
Admin Officer : Ms. Harjot Kaur
Admin Email Address : admin.powai@podar.org

ADMISSION PROCESS

1. What is the admission process?

Parents to come to the admission office and collect a registration kit for Jumbo Kids

or application form for Std 1 onwards.

A completed form along with the cheque for 1st term fees is to be returned by the parents

to the school office.

The student will only be considered a confirmed admission once the first term fees are

paid by the student.

2. What is the cost of the registration Kit?

The application form and brochure for admissions in Podar International School (Std 1 onwards) is free.

The Jumbo Kids registration kit is on a chargeable basis. The registration kit includes an Application Form,

PJK brochure and a book on Good Parenting.

3. What are the documents required at the time of admission?

For Jumbo Kids – only a Xerox copy of the child’s birth certificate required.

For School admission:

Xerox copy of birth certificate

Original school leaving certificate

Original last Report Card

4. What kind of entrance test will be taken at the time of admission?

No written test is conducted at Podar School. Admissions are taken on a first come, first serve basis.

In fact, any sort of entrance test is illegal as per law.

Parents Experience So Far -

According to a parent who has admitted his/her child in the school the infrastructure is fine but there are

some teething problems which they are facing. The fact, that Dr.Ms.Lulla is taking keen interest in this branch

is reassuring and hope that it continues.

If you have any feedback, opinion or info feel free to share by leaving your comments.

The school is scheduled to open on 19th June 2014 - So lets see how it goes.

Hope the above helps.

All the very best.

Summer Camps - Tennis Workshop - In & Around Powai

2013-05-03T12:54:00.000+05:30

P3Sports

What: Table tennis summer camp for kids

When: Starting 6th May

Duration: 10 day work shop

The camp will be of 4 hr duration , until the 17th of May.

Timings: 9:30 am - 1:30 pm; Mon - Fri

Where? Venue - Pawar Public school.

Activities included:

Table Tennis including physical training, arts n crafts .

Snacks will be provided to the kids to keep them charged up .

Fee: Rs.3500

What makes it interesting?

Its a great opportunity for the kids to learn basics of table tennis.

Contact Details:

Call: 9967669506 / 9820561166 / 9820574792

Good Touch-Bad Touch: A video by The Puppetarians for Podar Education Ne...

2013-02-05T15:04:00.001+05:30

Courtesy: puppetarians

With all the different cases of child abuse which are surfacing time and again as a parent I decided to teach my daughter about GOOD TOUCH & BAD TOUCH.

After all, It is our responsibility to teach our kids to protect their bodies.

This video (though it took some time to load) is a great way to broach the topic with your lil' one in case you don't know how or what to say/explain to your child.

In fact I think Podar School & especially Puppetarians have done an awesome job to arrange this as a topic in school to make their students more aware in a playful manner.

Please do see and share with other parents.

Parenting in Powai / Toys On Rent:: Planet Powai Article

2012-07-29T15:26:00.000+05:30

Read Article Here

Review - Pride Of Cows Milk

2012-07-07T16:39:00.001+05:30

When I was a kid, we used to get fresh milk from our farm and there really is nothing like it!!

As I grew up, life became all about instant food and packed / frozen meals so, it came as no surprise that even fresh milk was a passe and packed milk replaced it.

Three years ago, when my daughter was ready to have cow's milk; like most moms I too wanted to provide fresh milk to her, but the TV reports across news channels about contamination of milk got me really worried. Ever since I decided to say goodbye to the milkman (who just might be mixing up stuff in the milk) and got Nestle (tetra packed milk) instead.

Now recently, Pride of Cows milk came as a surprise to me. I tried it by ordering a sample and the rich & creamy taste really did remind me of my childhood days when we used to get farm fresh milk everyday. In fact, quite a few of my friends have tried it and have loved it especially for their children.

My overall rating for Pride of Cows Milk is 8 out of 10. One point reduced for the pricing - as some Parents In Powai might find it a little expensive at Rs.75/- per bottle.

The other point deducted for the fact that this has to be immediately refrigerated unlike the Nestle tetra pack which can be stored without refrigeration till the carton is opened.
But the point is that this is fresh off the farm while Nestle is not.

So, if you really love and appreciate fresh authentic milk, then Pride of cows is totally worth it; especially for kids.
I would gladly recommend it to parents to try it out. To get a free sample bottle simply send your contact details to vidhirshah@prideofcows.com or bookings@prideofcows.com and you could try Pride of Cows and judge the milk quality yourself.
More details here: http://prideofcows.com/

chicken soup for the indian soul at work

2012-06-23T15:35:00.001+05:30

Work and career are important parts of one’s life, whether one is building a business, employed in a call centre, or practicing medicine. Chicken Soup for the Indian Soul at Work has gathered a rich treasure chest of experiences and inspiring tales that share the daily courage, compassion and creativity that occur in workplaces everywhere.

The 101 stories in this book will encourage and recharge you with tales of heartwarming camaraderie, inspirational breakthroughs, courageous leadership and synergetic teamwork. This powerful book gives you new options, new ways to succeed and, above all, a new love and appreciation for yourself, your job and those around you.

Mobile Phones for Moms - According to Me

2012-02-21T12:11:00.000+05:30

A mobile phone is a luxury item to some and a necessary evil for others (especially when you want your out of control toddler to calm down in the car) ;).

While there is a plethora of mobile phones available in the market.

Here are some of the features which make my mommy heart skip a beat.

1. Smartphones - A nice on-the-go gadget is quite a multipurpose tool for moms like me. It helps me schedule all my appointments. Whether, it is the PTM or the doctor's appointment it enables me stay on the ball.

2. The camera - Any mom is aware that the most important and candid moments happen spontaenously and we need to be ever ready to capture them. So, a 5 MP camera is what I desire as a mom to get clear and crisp images / videos.

3. Browse, read and text - Multitasking is what moms do best and sometimes while putting a child to sleep I like to browse, read, catch up with my friends via sms. So, Good quick browser features in my must have list as I love to download some intelligent games, or quick easy recipes for my lil' one.

4. GPS - My direction sense is not so great and needs help especially when looking for

birthday party locations, or while exploring a new place with my kiddo..With my quick GPS, I avoid the wrong turns (well! most of the time)

5. Love the apps - I love free apps especially the ones which are useful and can help keep my little busy body occupied for a while. And Touch phones can really keep those busy hands busy without any drastic repercussions.

6. The Look - While I want the technical stuff in my phone I also like my phone to look desirable. It needs to suit my personality and my palm.

Here are some of the phones which make it to my list of desirable phones for moms:

> Samsung Galaxy S II

> Bling 2

> Nokia Lumia 710

> Apple iPhone 4

> BlackBerry

> LG KF900 Prada

Things to remember before buying...

Determine what you need and what type of main features are you looking for?

Make a budget: it’s mainly about price and convenience for the family.
Research - do a little research by reading online reviews at www.gsmarena.com or ask a friend Network: CDMA or GSM
Battery: Battery life should enable long talk time and standby time..
Operating System –

o Android: Highly competitive and very successful

o Symbian: has largest share in mobile OS market worldwide and is available on most of the high end nokia models.

o Blackberry: It suits well for business people. Windows: includes full integration of Microsoft services. Windows Phone 7 introduces a modern one that seems to have a lot of potential with minimum hardware requirements.

o IOS- The iPhone: The IOS GUI is best among all other OS in the current market.

Internet: 3.G, 4G, GPRS/2.5G,
Wi-Fi
PC Connectivity: Infrared, Bluetooth or USB/ Data cable (with PC Suite for more features )
Camera and Multimedia Features - resolution (megapixels), lens focus type (automatic / fixed), flash (LED / xenon), optical zoom and video mode(frames per second).
Touch screen Or Key pad

So, hope this post helps you become a more tech savvy mom.

Do share your thoughts to help other moms out there to choose their own special mobile.

Chicken Soup For the Indian Teenage Soul - Teens talk, Growing up

2012-01-14T12:10:00.000+05:30

They say experience is the best teacher and what better way to learn than learning from others experiences. So, here is the latest in the Chicken Soup series - Teens talk, Growing up. Something which parents can gift their young adults....share the emotions, triumphs and failures while enabling them to tackle the trials and tribulations of being a teenager. Happy Reading :)

Work at Home: Kotak - Child Development Counsellors

2011-11-30T17:16:00.001+05:30

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Looking to do something new this year?

Then, you might like to check this one out.

If you are the type of Mom who has been stuck at the crossroads of becoming a career mom or a stay at home mom then working from home might be just the middle path which you are looking to tread on.
One such opportunity which I stumbled on is from Kotak Life Insurance. Kotak Life Insurance has launched EVA; a program where women can work from home during their own timings as a Specialist in Child Development and Insurance. You can read about it here.

Though, I am still skeptical that it might be similar to becoming an insurance agent but even if it is; there is really no harm in learning about child development and insurance anyways. Making it a career or not can be a decision that one can take later. After all, there is no harm trying or learning something new. Right?

If you have tried this do share your experiences with us so other parents in Powai can make an informed decision.

Cheers :)

Music CD - 50 Greatest Children Songs - Review

2011-11-28T09:57:00.001+05:30

Since my daughter was born, like most children she loved music. So, my search began for a music CD which I wouldn't mind playing in the background all day long. I tried and tested a number of CDs but invariably I ended up with nursery rhymes sung in silly accented shrill, baby voices which was pretty irritating for me as well as my daughter.

Then one day I picked up a CD named 50 Greatest Children Songs, with a great song compilation sung in lovely soothing voices. Its been 4 years and my daughter still enjoys listening to this Music CD and thankfully I am still not tired of hearing it too.

I would rate this music CD a 10/10 - as its a soothing one to play in the background while enjoying Mommyhood.

Happy Listening :)

Dealing With Eve Teasers

2011-11-14T10:02:00.001+05:30

I always felt that Mumbai is one of the safest cities for women but the recent eve teasing and double murders of Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandes made me rethink.

Eve teasing has been a nuisance for women for quite a while but this incident really shook me up.
So, this article is for all the ladies who deal with the creeps in buses, local trains or on the road. It is high time we as women fight back and take matters in our own hands rather than just depending on the men around or on the police.

Here are a few things YOU can do:

1. Be aware and careful in crowded places
2. If you notice anyone leering at you or passing lewd remark, ignore it if you are alone. However, if you are being touched, scream loudly for help. A person is always afraid in a crowd and when you yell and people may come forward to help.
3. Carry a pepper spray / stun gun or any small item which can be handy in situations. You can buy online from here or from here and here
4. Learn Self defense
5. Form a group of volunteers from a particular area who are ready to fight for the victim and stand together against eve teasers.
6. Create awareness about anti eve teasing campaign
7. Here are some important numbers which might help women is distress:

Some of the Women helplines in Mumbai where NGO’s and Mumbai Police can help women in need.

> Helpline Number of Women: 1298 - Link here
>

> SNEHA Mumbai # 24042627 / 24086011
> MAJLIS Mumbai - Majlis is a legal and cultural resource centre working in the area of women and minority rights.
> POLICE HELPLINE FOR WOMEN # 26180394 / 26160252.
> WOMEN RIGHT INITIATIVE – MUMBAI - This is a special police helpline who takes action on crime against women through police intervention.
# 43411603 / 43411604 .
Email : wri.bombay@lawyerscollective.org,
Website : http://www.lawyerscollective.org/wri

This organization runs a pro bono (free) legal aid cell for domestic violence cases.
(Above details courtesy - http://news.inmumbai.org/2011/03/15/women-helplines-mumbai/)

Save the required numbers on your mobile.

I have just touched upon some points which might help.
If you have any information or suggestions please feel free to send an email or leave a comment. Also, do share this info. as it might help someone in need. Lets join hands and stand against eve teasers.

Cheers and Stay Safe :)

Birthday Party Venues @ Powai

2011-10-13T15:02:00.002+05:30

Mumbai has a perennial space problem but it does provide quite a variety of birthday party venues. Where as, Parents in Powai have limited options when it comes to choosing a birthday party venue for their child. Though, I must add that the options are slowly increasing in number while there is still ample room for more and better birthday party venue providers for children as
each year parents like to try out something new.

Here are a few options open to Parents in Powai:

1. Pizza Hut - This is where we celebrated our daughter's fourth birthday.
Here is my review of Pizza Hut as a party place.
More details at - http://www.pizzahut.co.in/dinein/Parties.php

Here I would like to mention that Pizza hut does offers more options / variety of food than Papa Johns.

2. Papa Johns (Powai) - I had attended my nephew's birthday party here in 2010 and it was a lovely experience. The events coordinator was great and for a change the clown was talented and funny. Unfortunately, when I went to enquire about having a party for my daughter in Apr-2011 they said that they have discontinued entertainment due to some incident which happened.

Here is my review of Papa Johns (as a guest at the party)
> The place is nice and spacious.
> The staff is pleasant and courteous
> Music was good and so was the service.
> They don't really do theme parties
> They do have a host and games arranged

The charges are approx. Rs.199 per child - inclusive of food and return present and Rs. 149 without the gift. The cake is excluded and is to be arranged by you.

Rating: I would rate this place 6/10. As they have no entertainment arrangements as well as don't allow hiring any entertainers.
Contact no. 022-25707373

Website - http://papajohnspizza.in/birthday-partymenu

3. Utsav - Attended a birthday party as guest so, don't really know all the details but understand that the food is 'value for money' as the place is not too expensive. They also have a party organiser to arrange games etc. for the kids at the birthday party.
Contact no. 022-25705356 / 7, 9819258618.

4. Meluha - The Fern - I attended a birthday party at Meluha - the Fern which was organised on the pool side terrace (which has a lovely view) or they can also arrange it indoors. I don't have all the details but here are some points to get you started and help you decide.
> Min. headcount is 20.
> They charge - R. 650/- per plate for Veg and Rs. 750/- per plate for Non veg.
> They have a few preferred party organisers which take care of entertainment.
> The decoration is taken care of by them. You can decide the theme.
Contact No. 022-25755555
Website: http://www.meluhafernhotel.com/

5. Rodas - I have not attended any parties or tried out this venue but one of my friends did and she loved it. Here are some points she mentioned:
> Min. headcount is 20.
> They charge - Rs. 900/- per plate which includes veg and non-veg.
> They have party organisers which manage the entertainment.
> The decoration is taken care of by them.
Contact no. 022-66936969
Website: http://www.rodashotel.com/about-us.htm

Hope the above info. helped.

HAPPY PARTYING :)

If you have any venues to add to the list above please feel free to share with us and other Parents in Powai.:)
If you need information on other birthday stuff - hop on to this page

Pawar Public School, Powai - Review

2011-08-26T14:26:00.000+05:30

A lot of parents in Powai are keen to know the feedback on the new school in Powai - Pawar Public School.

Well, so here it goes: a short and sweet feedback from one of the moms whose child goes to Pawar Public School - Powai.

How is the infrastructure of the school?

Currently, the school is functioning from a temporary building at Raheja Vihar but will be moving to the newly constructed building soon. (There has been a lot of debate and controversies on the temporary arrangement but that is another story) The good news is that the school is working fine and the temporary arrangement / infrastructure is great and with the new building ready by next year I think things should be just fine.

Though, there are some parents who would like to wait a year till the school settles down after dealing with these initial teething problems.

The space in the current infrastructure is nice and as the classes and washrooms are new they are very neat and tidy. Hopefully they will be maintained well as time goes by.

What are the activities your child does during school hours?

Pawar Public School follows the ICSE and X-seed curriculum which is really good as .
is quite active in terms of sports and other extra curricular activities.

The school timings are from 8:10 am to 2:35 pm during which the children have regular studies and other activities. The teachers are good, co-operative and open to suggestions from parents. For example, In the beginning the homework given to children was too much and the children were feeling pressured. So, as per parents suggestions the teachers have reduced the homework to a certain extent so the child and the parent is not too stressed by it.

They spend time and discuss the child's progress. Overall, the parent felt that it is a good new school in the vicinity.

Contact Details:

BMC Training Centre, Opposite Hillside Building, Raheja Vihar, Chandivili, Powai, Mumbai - 400076

The website does not seem to be working currently but the website add is : http://pawarpublicschool.com/

Email.: chandivali@pawarpublicschool.com

If you have any experience, opinion or information about Pawar Public School which you would like to share with other parents, please feel free to add a comment.

Other school details can be found here.

Hope the feedback helped. :)

Beauty Services @ Home : Belita

2011-08-03T17:28:00.002+05:30

Further to my previous post on beauty services @ home, here is another option which is worth a try.

Name - Belita

Review:

> Punctuality : I have tried Belita twice and (despite the fact that I am a stickler for time) both times the ladies showed up on time.

> Services Offered: The services offered range from the regular waxing, threading, facial, bleach, manicure / pedicure to special ones like mehendi, hair straightening and acupressure massage. The best part is that I like the variety of facials they give as well as the fact that they come with all the stuff required. All one needs to keep ready is 2 hand towels and some ice. I found their service hygienic and neat.

You can select individual services or a package. I personally prefer the package or the combo offers.

> Overall - I would give Belita a 8/10. 2 points as I feel certain services are best at the spa / parlour only due to the ambience that they provide. Though, if you are stuck at home and need something Belita is worth a shot.

Monkeying around with the Tumbling Monkeys Game

2011-08-03T17:12:00.004+05:30

I have not written for quite a while...and one of the main reasons is this new game which my daughter is in love with. She can't get enough of this game. So, I have to join in (not that I am complaining). In fact, here are the reasons why both of us just love this game:

My daughter helps me set it up,

Encourages colour recognition of the different coloured sticks
Enhances fine motor skills and co ordination
Once the monkeys are in - Its really funny to watch them come tumbling down.
This game also teaches and reinforces turn taking and counting (30 sticks - 10 of each colour and 30 monkeys)
The aim of the game is to tumble minimum monkeys when each player pulls out a stick of a specific colour though my daughter prefers changing it to who can tumble and collect most monkeys, This works for me too as she loves counting who's got the maximum number and Won.
All in all this is a FUN game for all ages and can guarantees loads of laughter

For a price of INR 599/- this is one of the best ways to spend rainy days at home. Surely, a great way to make the most of your time together by simply Monkeying Around. :)

I would rate this game a 10 /10. Also, makes a great birthday present. :)

Alert Citizens - Help Prevent Terrorism

2011-07-14T17:30:00.001+05:30

Its time citizens get alert. So, If you see any suspicious activity call the citizen alert cell on : 022 22633333.

Report information with complete anonymity. The caller provides a fictitious birth date, which is used as a code for identification for follow-ups on the crime and for rewards that the caller might be eligible for.

Add these nos. in your mobiles.

All calls will be analyzed by a Special Cell working under the DCP (Operations) and will be passed on to the concerned police stations for further action.

Or Call the ATS on : 022 23087336

In investigation, people can pass on valuable information to police regarding:

1. Description of the accused / suspects.

2. Registration number and description of the vehicle involved in the commission of crime and the direction in which it departed after the commission of crime.

3. Reporting that a vehicle has been abandoned in a public place for a long time Reporting information about weapons

4. Reporting information about explosives Reporting information about contrabands Reporting information about narcotic drugs, etc.

The members of the public are also advised not to handle anything which would help in collecting valuable piece of evidence against the offender; nor should they disturb the scene of offence till the arrival of police.

Here you can find the important nos. of Mumbai Police.

Other important Nos;

Some useful information,

Mumbai Blast Helplines- Police Control Room 22621855 22621983, 22625020, 22641449, 22620111

Hospitals in Mumbai:

KEM (022-24136051),

Nair (022-23085379),

Harkishandas (23855555 / 30095555),

Saifee (22 6757 0111).

Review - Treehouse PlaySchool, Panchvati, Powai

2011-06-17T13:31:00.007+05:30

When we moved to Powai from Delhi, 6 months ago my main criteria for selecting a pre school for my 3 year old daughter was its proximity to our house. So, I decided to send my daughter to Treehouse (from Roots to Wings) playschool franchise at Panchvati, Powai; which is a 10 mins drive and unlike the Raheja Vihar branch offers Jr.Kg. and Sr.Kg in addition to Play group and nursery.

My experience of the last 6 months with the school and staff there has been as follows:

The Infrastructure -

The location of this branch is really convenient as it is tucked away from the main road traffic. The space is limited but done up decently. The outside space has a slide, see saw and other toys which is a good way to make a new child explore and get comfortable in a new environment. Inside there is a hall which is divided in a common play area (where toys and other material is stacked up) and the Sr. Kg. classroom. The other three rooms are for nursery, Jr.Kg and play area. In the classroom their is a place where children can keep their bags (I know more about the Jr.Kg. classroom. The feedback on toilet that my daughter gave was that it is not very clean. Overall, the school space has a cosy feel to it.

Activities - Treehouse covers pretty much what most playschools do with emphasis on writing in Jr.Kg. They have role play where they learnt about fire fighters and supermarkets. The schedule for each day is mentioned on the notice board and they have quite a few activities like some outdoor play, some indoor role play or puppet shows, some talking, reading, some arts and crafts, and some music.

Sometimes they send the activity sheets back so you can see what your child has done. They also have a snack / lunch break. They have a morning shift and an after noon shift. The teachers in nursery are not very fluent in English but the Jr.Kg. and Sr. Kg. teachers are pretty good. All in all - my impression of the place was that it is a decent starting point considering the fact that other better schools like Just Kidding did not offer Jr.Kr. / Sr. Kg. programs.

The lady who is the branch in-charge is nice and someone you can talk to. The teachers are approachable just like any other small play school. There is an element of personal rapport but the only thing that put me off was that on their annual day the kids practiced and performed on Bollywood songs. Though, this is not the fault of the branch but the franchise head office as the theme and songs are decided by the head office. I sincerely wish schools would encourage children to perform on better songs or plays rather than Bollywood numbers.

Would definitely recommend a visit to the place if you're looking for a play school for your child. It is not the best but an OK option which is close by. Especially, if you are new to Powai it is a good back up to have till you figure out which big school you would like to send your child to.

Over all, I would rate this branch 6/10.

Approximate Fee for 2011 (this is from their pamphlet and may change in future):

- Play School - 25,000 (includes kit fee, admission fee, Tuition fee, Annual day and other events)

If you pay in installments - 30,900 (includes kit fee, admission fee, Tuition fee, Annual day and other events)

First time registration fee could be extra.

- Nursery - 27,000 (includes kit fee, admission fee, Tuition fee, Annual day and other events)

If you pay in installments - 30,900 (includes kit fee, admission fee, Tuition fee, Annual day and other events)

First time registration fee could be extra.

- Jr.Kg / Sr.Kg - 35,700 (includes kit fee, admission fee, Tuition fee, Annual day and other events)
If you pay in installments - 35,700 (includes kit fee, admission fee, Tuition fee, Annual day and other events)

First time registration fee could be extra.

Address - Shop nos 6,7,8,9, Panchvati ‘A’ near SM Shetty School, Powai, Mumbai 400076

The phone number of this branch is 022 - 65186356

School website is http://www.treehouseplaygroup.net/links/details.html.

Please do leave a comment on this space if you have an experience or opinion about this place that you can share.

Lunch Box / Tiffin Ideas

2011-06-16T13:14:00.000+05:30

Now that school has begun, I have been trying to find tiffin recipes which she can enjoy. I am not much of a cook hence, the main challenge is to give her something which is quick to prepare and easy enough for her to eat on her own as well as tastes good when cold.

Here are some of the basic ideas a few adventurous ones:

Jam Sandwich
Cucumber / Butter Sandwich
Home cooked / Maggi Pasta - with additional veggies
Paratha with Kissan spread
Stuffed Parathas
Fried Rice
Crepe
Wraps - Veggie filling
Paratha with Sabji
Spanish Omelette

Thinking of trying out some continental stuff next week. Any ideas? Please feel free to share.

Haircut for Kids - Head to Toe - Review

2011-06-06T10:32:00.003+05:30

Further to my previous post Haircut for Kids @ Powai, here is a quick review of another place that I tried -

Head to Toe -
Address: Galleria ,Central Avenue, Hiranandani Powai, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400072, Contact No.: 022 - 40597557

This place came highly recommended by a friend of mine and it sure did live up to my expectations. The salon is clean, well staffed and despite being a walk-in, there was hardly any waiting time. The guy knew how to handle a 4 year old kid he was patient, was actually careful when spraying water and most of all followed the guidelines given (which was not to give a helmet cut / katori cut). By the end of it my daughter got a nice short Bob cut.

At the cost of Rs. 150 they did a great job and I would definitely be returning for my child's next haircut. I would gladly recommend Head to Toe to other parents in Powai who are looking for a child friendly place to go to for their kid's haircut.

Beauty Services @ Home

2011-06-04T11:05:00.005+05:30

This one is for Powai Ladies Only -

Especially for the gals (like me) who find it difficult to take time out and head out to a beauty parlour or are just plain lazy sometimes and prefer getting a few basic things done in the comfort of our home.

After trying out a few ladies which were invariably late for the appointment or failed to show up, I found this lady who is good enough to recommend for quick beauty fixes as she at least shows up more or less on time.

Here are the details of some of the services:

1. Waxing - Good - Charges - Legs - Rs.150
- Arms & Under Arms - Rs. 150

2. Facial - Good - Charges - VLCC - Rs. 600
- Biotique - Rs. 350
3. Manicure - OK - Rs. 150
4. Pedicure - OK - Rs. 250
5. EyeBrows - OK - Rs. 30
6. Upper Lip - OK - Rs. 20
7. Bleach - (Face, Neck and Back) - Rs.250, Body - Rs. 700
8. Massage - OK - Rs. 500

Contact for Appointment: Ritu - 9619198858

While, I feel for a massage one should go to a spa as the ambience makes a lot of difference but for a quick waxing, eyebrows and upper lip - I found Ritu quite reliable.

Additional benefit (Though I have not tried it yet) - She also gives haircuts to kids.

Haircut for Kids @ Powai

2011-05-27T15:35:00.010+05:30

While there are quite a few hair cutting salons for adults.It is still difficult to find a good place for kids haircuts.

Till recently, I have been cutting my daughter's hair but now as she is growing up it seems like a tedious affair.
So, here I am searching for a good, child friendly 'haircut place' in Powai... and the search still continues.
I have tried two till now and here are my experiences:

Enrich:
Address: Ventura G-4 Central Avenue Rd Udyan,, Hiranandani Business Park Powai, Mumbai
Mumbai, Maharashtra 400076. Contact no. - 022 2570 8334

This is the first place I tried as it looked really professional and I thought, as long as they are good I wouldn't mind shelling out Rs.250 for a child's haircut.
The place looked neat and is mostly crowded. If you happen to be a walk in then the wait could range from 5 to 15 minutes. The staff is polite.
I wanted a simple girly short haircut for my daughter but for some reason the stylist insisted on side burns. Seriously, sideburns !!? it made my daughter look like Elvis.
To top it all, my daughter was crying halfway through the haircut so, I had to quickly jump in to salvage the situation and guide him so, the damage done to my child's look is minimal.
The experience was so not worth it, and my baby ended up with a 'katori cut' - Thank god it grows fast. So, luckily it was a quick recovery from the haircut disaster.
For children's haircut I would rate Enrich 3/10 as the final result disappointed me and I feel it was not worth it at all.

Jawed Habibs @ Galleria:
Address: Salon. 8 ,Hiranandani Galleria Market ,Powai, Mumbai, Maharashtra ( North ) - 400076. 022-9819571324.

This is the next place I tried and the experience was definitely better than the previous one. The place is small and can look a bit dingy. It is not too crowded and the wait is around 5 to 10 minutes if you are without an appointment.

The stylist who cut my daughter's hair knew his job. He started out sniping quickly and just when my daughter was about to lose her patience completely he wrapped it up.
The charges are approx. Rs. 250 but I would rate this at least a 6/10 as the person knew what he was doing, he did it quickly as well as knew when to stop.
In my experience so far, I have seen that most hair stylists; no matter how good they are with adults, don't know how to handle children. They are somehow unable to make the kid comfortable for a haircut.
Makes me wonder, if I am asking for too much?

The other places recommended to me are Head to Toe (Galleria), which I plan on trying out. Hope it lives up to its reputation.
If you know any other child friendly place please do let me know. Would love to know 'Who cuts your child's hair?'
Till then - my search continues for 'THE' place to take my child for a haircut.