New School On The Block - Podar International School - Powai

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. 

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

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.

Review - Pride Of Cows Milk

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

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

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. 

Dealing With Eve Teasers

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 :)

Beauty Services @ Home : Belita

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. 

Lunch Box / Tiffin Ideas

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: 

1. Jam Sandwich
2. Cucumber / Butter Sandwich
3. Home cooked / Maggi Pasta - with additional veggies
4. Paratha with Kissan spread
5. Stuffed Parathas
6. Fried Rice
7. Crepe
8. Wraps - Veggie filling
9. Paratha with Sabji
10. 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

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

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

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.

One of the Best Gynacs in Powai: Dr. Anita Soni

All women need to go to a Gynac sooner or later. So, if you are searching for a Gynac in Powai, one of them is Dr. Anita Soni (M.D., D.N.B., F.C.P.S., D.G.O.) ; Full time Obseteterics & Gynaecology Consultant at Hiranandani Hospital. 

After trying others, I personally decided to go to her. 

I have been going to her for quite some time now and have found her to be a thorough professional and one of the best gynecologist  in Powai. 

Below are the reviews from some of Parenting in Powai readers to help you take a more prudent decision. 

Contact: 

Dr.Hiranandani Hospital - Hiranandani Gardens, Powai

Contact No: 022-25763333, Ext: 3211

Timings: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Some of the articles featuring her: 

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=9&contentid=2009051520090515022050807a8e2189e

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/aug/200810-scalpel-vasectomy-upper-middle-class-bmc-private-doctors.htm

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_teen-pregnancies-on-the-rise-in-mumbai_1093616

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/may/100510-dan-goldberg-israeli-gay-man-twins-surrogate-mother-paternity-test-denied.htm

PS: Feel Free to share your views and inputs. Stay Well. :)

Two best Pre Schools in Powai - according to me

While there are many pre schools available in Powai there are just a few rare ones which are exceptionally good. 


As parents we want the best for our child and while searching for pre schools for my daughter the most highly recommended pre schools were Vivero and Just Kiddin' So I decided to check them out and they really did not disappoint. 


Vivero International - This is a relatively new institution which has quickly become popular due to its lovely infrastructure, teachers and method of teaching. 


Facts: 


Vivero offers programs for children from 18 months to 6 years of age and follows an inquiry based learning curriculum. 


It is one of the few pre schools in Powai with ample outdoor and indoor space. The place has lots of natural light, is open and the staff is a pleasure to interact with. In fact, this is the most child friendly pre school that I have seen so far. 


The best part I liked about the school is the detailed report that they give parents which mentions the special talents as well as focus areas specifically for your child and how much the child has learnt with them. Pre schooling cannot get more personalised than this. 


Though, some parents may find the school fee a bit expensive hence I would give them a rating of 9/10. 


Please feel free to share your thoughts. 


Contact Details: El–Tara, Off Orchard Avenue, Opposite Odyssey II, Behind Vodafone Gallery, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai, Mumbai – 400 076. Phone No:-9930708484

Website: http://www.viverointernational.com/


Just Kiddin'  - is another exceptional pre school run by Mrs Sangita Sharma which has become the talk of the town for parents looking for a perfect school to lay a strong foundation for their child. This is one school which not only has ample play area but also ensures a complete personality development for your child. 


Currently they conduct classes only till Nursery but are planning to begin Jr.Kg. in 2012. 


I would rate them a perfect 10 as this one is also easy on the wallet. Hope they keep up their standards and grow as an institution - Powai really needs more schools like these. 


Contact Details: Hiranandani Gardens Near Hiranandani Hospital, 
Near Swami Narayan Temple Off Main Street 
Powai Mumbai 400076 

Phone No: 022 - 32505955,  +91 9820093745 

Website: http://www.myjustkiddin.com/index/index.php

Review - Child Specialist - Dr. Ramesh V. Iyer

Whenever parents move to a new city, one of the most important things to do is to find a good doctor for your child. Hiranandani Hospital is one such place where you would find a number of doctors available for any of your needs.


As parents we always want to find that one special trustworthy doctor whom you and your child are comfortable and happy to go to, especially when you are not in the best state of health.


One such doctor whom I would gladly recommend is Dr. Ramesh V. Iyer - M.D. (Paed), D.C.H. He is a child and newborn specialist and is one of the few doctors in Powai who is not only a thorough professional but also a great doctor because of the effort he takes to understand and communicate with the child. Hence,  making the child and the parent feel comfortable.


As a parent to a 4 year old daughter, I have always found him relaxed and ready to explain the problem, the prescribed medication along with other insightful healthy tips. He believes in a two way communication with the parents and puts all worries to rest with empathy and patience.


Here are the timings and the locations where he is available for consultation:


Dr.Iyer's clinic - 13, Cypress, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai.
Contact No: 022-25706948
Timings: 9:00 am - 10:00 am
             7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Deshmukh Clinic - Opp. IIT Main Gate, Powai. 

Contact No: 022-25787326

Timings: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Dr.Hiranandani Hospital - Hiranandani Gardens, Powai
Contact No: 022-25763333, Ext: 3211
Timings: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Darshana Nursing Home - Opp. IIT Market Gate, Chaitanya Nagar, Powai. 

Contact No. 022-25787824

Timings: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

PS: Feel Free to share your views and inputs. Stay Well. :)