‘It’s important to pamper a preschooler with love and patience’

Getting an education is every child’s fundamental right. Therefore, every parent ensures that their child gets the best schooling that they can afford. Choosing a good school doesn’t mean it’s reputed; as a parent, you must identify your child’s likes, dislikes, potentialities, and know-how the school can nurture your ward for the next 13-14 years.

Pankaj Sharma, the father of Viraj Sharma, a nursery student, studying at Apeejay Svran Global School – Faridabad Sec 21-D reflects on how easily his son is coping with his academics.

Excerpts from the interview

Why did you choose this school?

I heard a lot about the branches of Apeejay. I also went through the website and social media platforms of Apeejay Education. I researched thoroughly about the school and its teaching techniques. The reviews were positive. That was when I decided that my son needed a holistic education and Apeejay fit the bill to a T.

What are the positives since he joined the school?

He is still a toddler and joined the school this year. If I talk about his progress in the last six months, I would say that he has grown for the better. He is responding well in terms of academics. His writing and vocabulary skills have drastically improved.

Is he active in any extracurricular activities?

Yes. Viraj loves dancing and singing. He is also keen to play tennis. Once he is a little older, I will enroll him in the classes.

How do you spend quality time with your child?

My wife and I are working. This gives us very little time to spend with our son. But that doesn’t mean we don’t know what is happening in his life – at school or home. Once we are home, we both ensure that we spend as much time as possible with Viraj. We reach home by 6 pm most days. Post-office hours, we spend three hours playing or interacting with him.

How do you encourage your child to study at home?

As I mentioned earlier, since we are working parents, we don’t get time to teach him. Having said that, my mother is always there with him and motivates him to finish his homework before we reach home. At times, we often motivate him in a rewarding way. For example, if he has completed his work, we allow him to watch his favourite cartoon or give a candy.

What strategy does the school use to help your child develop good study habits?

The school follows a proper methodology to teach students. Moreover, the teachers keep sending educational videos to all parents which helps their child to learn better via visuals. His class teacher has introduced me to an application named Jolly Phonics. Browsing the app with Viraj helps him to gain more information.

Are PTMs held regularly?

Yes. My wife and I are always active when it comes to our son’s progress in the class and the status of his improvement. The feedback that we get from his teachers has been super positive and encouraging. We are very satisfied with the school.

How do you manage his screen time?

We prefer that he spend time with us once we are home. When it comes to managing his screen time, he watches TV rather than using a smartphone once he has completed his schoolwork. Even while watching TV, he watches it for a specific time only.

What’s your parenting mantra?

There is no hard and fast rule as Viraj is a toddler. We are friendly in our approach. It’s important to love and nurture him with care. At this age, it is not right to push him to do things. Children are very sensitive and fragile. It’s essential to treat him well. Once he is older and understands how things work, we can start being a little strict with him.