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This is an archive article published on November 25, 2008

Step By Step

Every Tuesday, Gurgaon-based Sanjeev Munjal takes his eleven-month-old son Avi to IntelliTots Early Learning Centre for a session of the specially designed Infant-Parent programme.

Special parent-infant programmes at schools help parents and toddlers bond over lessons

Every Tuesday, Gurgaon-based Sanjeev Munjal takes his eleven-month-old son Avi to IntelliTots Early Learning Centre for a session of the specially designed Infant-Parent programme. 8220;It gives him an opportunity to interact with children of his age,8221; notes the doting father. From across the room, coordinator Jimmy Eappen smiles. He, along with Pooja Goyal and Shivani Kapoor, introduced the programme in October, where children aged between six to 17 months are engaged, along with their parents, in activities that combine learning with fun, twice a week.

Once upon a time, storytelling happened at bedtime, when parents tucked toddlers in bed and introduced them to Goldilocks and her three bears or Cinderella in her pumpkin carriage. But with the changing pace of life, this ritual has now undergone a slight change. The bedroom has been replaced by a more sophisticated classroom and the time, from night to early morning. If you don8217;t find enough time on hand to spend with your kids, schools are ready with some specially designed parent-infant bonding programmes meant to rid you of your guilt and help you understand your toddler better.

At the Julia Gabriel Centre for Learning at Saket, Seema Kumar, marketing manager, is busy finalising the details of the PlayNest programme, which will be introduced at the centre in December. Meant for children between six to 18 months and their parents, the twelve-week programme will be an addition to the current prospectus, which already includes a mother-toddler programme. 8220;The child gains from the feeling of security that comes with the presence of parents. We involve them in singing rhymes, putting away the toys appropriately, dramatic play and story time. The parent enjoy moments of watching their little ones grow, which they will miss when the child goes to the big school,8221; says Kumar.

Farah Khan, mother of 17-month-old Aarav, who attends a similar programme at Kangaroo Kids in Greater Kailash, agrees. nbsp;8220;There are things that one tends to ignore at home. For instance, he has already begun to recognise colours and we even share the same social circle,8221; laughs Khan. The programme, meant for 10 months to one-and-a-half-year olds, focuses on three core areas: motor skills, creative skills and language skills, through colouring, building blocks, puppet shows and storytelling sessions. 8220;The environment is not competitive and the child is merely exposed to different concepts,8221; notes Anu Malhotra, director, Kangaroo Kids. In Mumbai, a research and development team of her school is constantly working towards improving the curriculum. 8220;We seek feedback from parents and the team incorporates features that add value to the class,8221; adds Malholtra, pointing out to the 8216;magic box8217;, which is the latest prop in the class and introduces children to everyday utilities.

When Deepali Khilnani of Kkosh was designing the 8216;Mom n Me8217; programme, held at Little Footprints school, for 10 months to two-and-a-half-year olds, the research undertaken included sifting through books and running through similar programmesnbsp;held the world over. 8220;After every class, parents note down their experience in an observation book that enables them to look at the class in retrospective. It helps them learn from it,8221; she says Of course, such programmes also serve as a stepping stone for the big admission rush that follows. At Shemrock School, Pitampura, parents are informed about the admission procedures, apart from other aspects related to parenting. 8220;We guide them about the best schools, deadlines and the procedure,8221; says Minal Arora, director of education and research.

All these come at a hefty price though. While Little Footprints charges Rs 1,200 per month, at Kangaroo Kids the per month fee for tri-weekly classes is Rs 1,800. IntelliTots charges Rs 6,600 for a three-month term. Is the investment justifiable? A nod of approval comes from relationship councellor Dr Gitanjali Sharma. Says she, 8220;The classes could be useful in guiding parents on how to understand and handle the child better.8221;

Vandana Kalra

Vandana Kalra is an art critic and Deputy Associate Editor with The Indian Express. She has spent more than two decades chronicling arts, culture and everyday life, with modern and contemporary art at the heart of her practice. With a sustained engagement in the arts and a deep understanding of India’s cultural ecosystem, she is regarded as a distinctive and authoritative voice in contemporary art journalism in India. Vandana Kalra's career has unfolded in step with the shifting contours of India’s cultural landscape, from the rise of the Indian art market to the growing prominence of global biennales and fairs. Closely tracking its ebbs and surges, she reports from studios, galleries, museums and exhibition spaces and has covered major Indian and international art fairs, museum exhibitions and biennales, including the Venice Biennale, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Documenta, Islamic Arts Biennale. She has also been invited to cover landmark moments in modern Indian art, including SH Raza’s exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the opening of the MF Husain Museum in Doha, reflecting her long engagement with the legacies of India’s modern masters. Alongside her writing, she applies a keen editorial sensibility, shaping and editing art and cultural coverage into informed, cohesive narratives. Through incisive features, interviews and critical reviews, she brings clarity to complex artistic conversations, foregrounding questions of process, patronage, craft, identity and cultural memory. The Global Art Circuit: She provides extensive coverage of major events like the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Serendipity Arts Festival, and high-profile international auctions. Artist Spotlights: She writes in-depth features on modern masters (like M.F. Husain) and contemporary performance artists (like Marina Abramović). Art and Labor: A recurring theme in her writing is how art reflects the lives of the marginalized, including migrants, farmers, and labourers. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent portfolio is dominated by the coverage of the 2025 art season in India: 1. Kochi-Muziris Biennale & Serendipity Arts Festival "At Serendipity Arts Festival, a 'Shark Tank' of sorts for art and crafts startups" (Dec 20, 2025): On how a new incubator is helping artisans pitch products to investors. "Artist Birender Yadav's work gives voice to the migrant self" (Dec 17, 2025): A profile of an artist whose decade-long practice focuses on brick kiln workers. "At Kochi-Muziris Biennale, a farmer’s son from Patiala uses his art to draw attention to Delhi’s polluted air" (Dec 16, 2025). "Kochi Biennale showstopper Marina Abramović, a pioneer in performance art" (Dec 7, 2025): An interview with the world-renowned artist on the power of reinvention. 2. M.F. Husain & Modernism "Inside the new MF Husain Museum in Qatar" (Nov 29, 2025): A three-part series on the opening of Lawh Wa Qalam in Doha, exploring how a 2008 sketch became the architectural core of the museum. "Doha opens Lawh Wa Qalam: Celebrating the modernist's global legacy" (Nov 29, 2025). 3. Art Market & Records "Frida Kahlo sets record for the most expensive work by a female artist" (Nov 21, 2025): On Kahlo's canvas The Dream (The Bed) selling for $54.7 million. "All you need to know about Klimt’s canvas that is now the most expensive modern artwork" (Nov 19, 2025). "What’s special about a $12.1 million gold toilet?" (Nov 19, 2025): A quirky look at a flushable 18-karat gold artwork. 4. Art Education & History "Art as play: How process-driven activities are changing the way children learn art in India" (Nov 23, 2025). "A glimpse of Goa's layered history at Serendipity Arts Festival" (Dec 9, 2025): Exploring historical landmarks as venues for contemporary art. Signature Beats Vandana is known for her investigative approach to the art economy, having recently written about "Who funds the Kochi-Muziris Biennale?" (Dec 11, 2025), detailing the role of "Platinum Benefactors." She also explores the spiritual and geometric aspects of art, as seen in her retrospective on artist Akkitham Narayanan and the history of the Cholamandal Artists' Village (Nov 22, 2025). ... Read More

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