viyan | The Roads I Go

Our kids have created pongal greetings cards and send to friends, relatives for the third year.

Viyan, Iyal and their friends drew many cards.

When I asked for post cards in bulk at post office, they scared at me and denied as no stock. Then, nearby shop owner donated all his cards.

It has been a good event for all the kids to sit and draw together. Viyan has grown from scrapping to good drawings.

Iyal saw the postbox for the first time. They both wondered to know the process and happy to drop the cards on the box.

Its our pleasure the fill their childhood with good events and great memories.

If you need a postcard next year, drop me an email with your address ( tshrinivasan@gmail.com )

Try to create a card and send to someone dear for you. It is so wonderful.

Play Groups are the good concept practiced across UK for many decades. Play Group is a community driven Playschool for kids. An internet search will give the playgroups details around any place in UK.

Play group is a weekly once, two hour fun activities for kids, rub by major Churches. There is a big hall, filled with many toys, books for kids to play. Parent/care taker should be with the kid. They can sit on the chair around the hall and monitor the kids. The parents meet regularly and become friends here.

The PlayGroup team provides fruits, biscuits and drink for the kids. Kids sit together and the parents feed them. There is a kitchen where we can buy Tea/Coffee/Bread toast for low cost (40 Penny).

After some play time, the grandmas here teaches kids to sing and dance.

Every week, there will be some activity like painting, clay modelling, play with sand etc.

They charge 1 Pound and it is really worth for the facilities they provide for the kids and parents.

After the time is over, all parents clean the area together.

In Nottingham, near city center, there are 2 play groups run by two churches and one play group run by Central Library.

In UK, we can send kids to playschools, after 2 years only. Govt runs the playschools. The private schools are so costly.

I enjoy taking Viyan to the playgroup activities and he enjoys playing with other kids and huge toys there.

I dont know, why this system is not implemented in chennai.
I am thinking of creating playgroups in Tambaram once we are back.

The following are needed to create a play group:

1. A safer place, like huge hall in a home, a temple with facilities to keep the toys
2. It is good to have rest rooms, kitchen
3. A team of volunteers to manage the playgroup
4. Initial fund to buy good toys, books
5. A small amount like 10 Rs can be charged for every session
6. Weekly two hours is enough to start with
7. Publicise the Playgroup in local newspapers
8. Share your playgroup details in a blog so that search engines can find you.

This can be done anywhere in chennai, even anywhere in India.

There are govt kids schools in rural areas. But not in chennai.

But, running a community driven play group can give more facilities, more toys, more books, more activities, great collaboration with parents etc.

If you are interested in starting a playgroup, share your details here. Let us work together.

Start a playgroup in your area and share your experience.

Few snaps from the Play group at Life at the Center, Nottingam.