‘My son can write three-letter words & blend them too’

Every parent wants the best that there is for their child. For this, they go out of their way to provide for their children. And this can be seen from the long lines outside the schools come December each year. But the truth is that all parents go into a tizzy the minute their child turns a year old. From looking for a preschool that will help the child learn the school structure to looking for a formal school that will set the child on formal schooling, parents leave no stone unturned.

For Ravneet Kaur and her husband Amanveer Singh Sehgal when it came to the admission of their son, Iktaj Singh Sehgal, who is in the nursery at Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park, the fact that the school was right opposite their house clinched the deal.

In an interview, Kaur talks about the changes that have taken place in the school and the great teachers.

What has been the improvement in your son?

My son never went to a preschool. Given the fact that he had no idea of what a school was, he has done great since he started going to the school. He knows phonics. He can write three-letter words; he can blend the words as well. I am very satisfied with his progress.

How are the teachers at Apeejay?

They are excellent. I have no complaints about them. I appreciate the way they handle these toddlers. More so since most of the kids in the nursery have not seen the inside of the school let alone sit in the class and have structured learning. Despite this, Iktaj loves Minnie Khurana and even Jyoti ma’am and loves going to school. Of course, he has mood swings too, and doesn’t want to go and that is fine by us. We don’t force him as he is very young.

Did you have any issues in the admission process?

It is smooth and easy. We had to fill up the form online. The form itself was not very complicated and easy to fill. Once all the formalities were completed online, we submitted the form offline at the school.

How is the parent-teacher interaction?

As I said, the teachers at Apeejay are very good. I get regular updates at parent-teacher meetings which I attend. Most of the time, the teachers have good things to say about Iktaj but once in a while, he had problems. This is because initially, he had no idea what a school is or the discipline that comes with going to one. So the teacher would tell me to be a little strict but as a mother, it is impossible given that he is only four.

My son never went to a preschool. Given the fact that he had no idea of what a school was, he has done great since he started going to the school. He knows phonics and can write as well

–Ravneet Kaur, Mother of Iktaj Singh Sehgal, Student of nursery at Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park

Should teachers be the only ones to inculcate values in kids?

Not at all. Teaching a child values and manners is a task for both the parents and the teachers. Teachers teach the kids how to greet and behave with elders; after all the toddler is starting from zero. Parents need to reiterate what the teachers have taught. The parents and teachers must be in sync with each other. Giving conflicting messages will only confuse the child and that is not good for the kid.

A lot of parents want their children to excel right from the start. Do you agree with this?

Not at all. I am a mother; my priority is my son. I left my job at the bank to be with him. I am happy that he is comfortable going to school. While the teachers may want to complete the syllabus, I don’t put any pressure on Iktaj. I am content with the progress he has made to date.

Did you have any safety concerns?

No. Not only are the teachers good, but even the didis are good. They ensure that the child doesn’t loiter or go in the wrong direction. The guards make sure that the toddlers are handed over to the right person and not just anybody claiming to be a relative. As parents, it is a huge load off our minds.

Would you recommend Apeejay to others?

Definitely. It is a good school and what is even better is that it has brilliant teachers. A school can have all the facilities but if the teachers are not good, the facilities have no meaning to me. Iktaj has a younger sibling and will also go to this school when she is old enough.