Music CD - 50 Greatest Children Songs - Review

Since my daughter was born, like most children she loved music. So, my search began for a music CD which  I wouldn't mind playing in the background all day long. I tried and tested a number of CDs but invariably I ended up with nursery rhymes sung in silly accented shrill, baby voices which was pretty irritating for me as well as my daughter.

Then one day I picked up a CD named 50 Greatest Children Songs, with a great song compilation sung in lovely soothing voices. Its been 4 years and my daughter still enjoys listening to this Music CD and thankfully I am still not tired of hearing it too.

I would rate this music CD a 10/10 - as its a soothing one to play in the background while enjoying Mommyhood.

Happy Listening :)

Pawar Public School, Powai - Review

A lot of parents in Powai are keen to know the feedback on the new school in Powai - Pawar Public School. 

Well, so here it goes: a short and sweet feedback from one of the moms whose child goes to Pawar Public School - Powai.

How is the infrastructure of the school? 

Currently, the school is functioning from a temporary building at Raheja Vihar but will be moving to the newly constructed building soon. (There has been a lot of debate and controversies on the temporary arrangement but that is another story) The good news is that the school is working fine and the temporary arrangement / infrastructure is great and with the new building ready by next year I think things should be just fine. 

Though, there are some parents who would like to wait a year till the school settles down after dealing with these initial teething problems. 

The space in the current infrastructure is nice and as the classes and washrooms are new they are very neat and tidy. Hopefully they will be maintained well as time goes by.

What are the activities your child does during school hours? 


Pawar Public School follows the ICSE and X-seed curriculum which is really good as . 
is quite active in terms of sports and other extra curricular activities. 

The school timings are from 8:10 am to 2:35 pm during which the children have regular studies and other activities. The teachers are good, co-operative and open to suggestions from parents. For example, In the beginning the homework given to children was too much and the children were feeling pressured. So, as per parents suggestions the teachers have reduced the homework to a certain extent so the child and the parent is not too stressed by it. 

They spend time and discuss the child's progress. Overall, the parent felt that it is a good new school in the vicinity. 

Contact Details: 

BMC Training Centre, Opposite Hillside Building, Raheja Vihar, Chandivili, Powai, Mumbai - 400076 

The website does not seem to be working currently but the website add is : http://pawarpublicschool.com/

Email.: chandivali@pawarpublicschool.com

If you have any experience, opinion or information about Pawar Public School which you would like to share with other parents, please feel free to add a comment.

Other school details can be found here.

Hope the feedback helped. :)

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. 

Monkeying around with the Tumbling Monkeys Game

I have not written for quite a while...and one of the main reasons is this new game which my daughter is in love with. She can't get enough of this game. So, I have to join in (not that I am complaining). In fact, here are the reasons why both of us just love this game:



My daughter helps me set it up,

1. Encourages colour recognition of the different coloured sticks
2. Enhances fine motor skills and co ordination
3. Once the monkeys are in - Its really funny to watch them come tumbling down.
4. This game also teaches and reinforces turn taking and counting (30 sticks - 10 of each colour and 30 monkeys)
5. The aim of the game is to tumble minimum monkeys when each player pulls out a stick of a specific colour though my daughter prefers changing it to who can tumble and collect most monkeys,  This works for me too as she loves counting who's got the maximum number and Won. 
6. All in all this is a FUN game for all ages and can guarantees loads of laughter

For a price of INR 599/- this is one of the best ways to spend rainy days at home. Surely, a great way to make the most of your time together by simply Monkeying Around. :)

I would rate this game a 10 /10. Also, makes a great birthday present. :)

Review - Treehouse PlaySchool, Panchvati, Powai

When we moved to Powai  from Delhi, 6 months ago my main criteria for selecting a pre school  for my 3 year old daughter was its proximity to our house. So, I decided to send my daughter to Treehouse (from Roots to Wings) playschool franchise at Panchvati, Powai; which is a 10 mins drive and unlike the Raheja Vihar branch offers Jr.Kg. and Sr.Kg in addition to Play group and nursery.

My experience of the last 6 months with the school and staff there has been as follows:

The Infrastructure -

The location of this branch is really convenient as it is tucked away from the main road traffic. The space is limited but done up decently. The outside space has a slide, see saw and other toys which is a good way to make a new child explore and get comfortable in a new environment. Inside there is a hall which is divided in a common play area (where toys and other material is stacked up) and the Sr. Kg. classroom. The other three rooms are for nursery, Jr.Kg and play area. In the classroom their is a place where children can keep their bags (I know more about the Jr.Kg. classroom. The feedback on toilet that my daughter gave was that it is not very clean. Overall, the school space has a cosy feel to it. 

Activities -  Treehouse covers pretty much what most playschools do with emphasis on writing in Jr.Kg. They have role play where they learnt about fire fighters and supermarkets. The schedule for each day is mentioned on the notice board and they have quite a few activities like some outdoor play, some indoor role play or puppet shows, some talking, reading, some arts and crafts, and some music.

Sometimes they send the activity sheets back so you can see what your child has done. They also have a snack / lunch break. They have a morning shift and an after noon shift. The teachers in nursery are not very fluent in English but the Jr.Kg. and Sr. Kg. teachers are pretty good. All in all - my impression of the place was that it is a decent starting point considering the fact that other better schools like Just Kidding did not offer Jr.Kr. / Sr. Kg. programs. 

The lady who is the branch in-charge is nice and someone you can talk to. The teachers are approachable just like any other small play school. There is an element of personal rapport but the only thing that put me off was that on their annual day the kids practiced and performed on Bollywood songs. Though, this is not the fault of the branch but the franchise head office as the theme and songs are decided by the head office. I sincerely wish schools would encourage children to perform on better songs or plays rather than Bollywood numbers. 

Would definitely recommend a visit to the place if you're looking for a play school for your child. It is not the best but an OK option which is close by. Especially, if you are new to Powai it is a good back up to have till you figure out which big school you would like to send your child to. 

Over all, I would rate this branch 6/10.

Approximate Fee for 2011 (this is from their pamphlet and may change in future):

- Play School - 25,000 (includes kit fee, admission fee, Tuition fee, Annual day and other events) 

If you pay in installments - 30,900 (includes kit fee, admission fee, Tuition fee, Annual day and other events) 

First time registration fee could be extra. 

- Nursery - 27,000 (includes kit fee, admission fee, Tuition fee, Annual day and other events) 

If you pay in installments - 30,900 (includes kit fee, admission fee, Tuition fee, Annual day and other events) 

First time registration fee could be extra. 

- Jr.Kg / Sr.Kg -  35,700 (includes kit fee, admission fee, Tuition fee, Annual day and other events) 
If you pay in installments - 35,700 (includes kit fee, admission fee, Tuition fee, Annual day and other events) 

First time registration fee could be extra. 

Address - Shop nos 6,7,8,9, Panchvati ‘A’ near SM Shetty School, Powai, Mumbai 400076

The phone number of this branch is 022 - 65186356 

School website is http://www.treehouseplaygroup.net/links/details.html. 

Please do leave a comment on this space if you have an experience or opinion about this place that you can 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. 

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.

No Mess Painting with Crayola

While my daughter loves painting but its really no wonder that till now, I dreaded painting time.  Every time she wanted to paint either I tried to avoid it by distracting her with something less messy or had to cover up everything possible with newspaper. 


Then, one fine day I hit a jackpot!!! 


While browsing through books at Crosswords - something really interesting caught my eye - Crayola Mess - Free Color Wonder Paints and Paper. 


These amazing paints are truly magical and god sent (even though they are man made of course) for parents like me. Crayola Wonder Paints work only on special paper sheets - so there are no messy hands to wash up or cleaning up required.  Can you imagine ? Finally, parents can enjoy the joys of painting without any worries. 


Costing in the range of Rs. 500 - Rs. 700 these wonderful mess free wonder paints and the special sheets which go along with them is truly worth the peace of mind which it gives to any parent while enjoying their child creating his / her own special masterpiece.   


I would give this product a 10/ 10. Full marks for helping me enjoy the Little Picasso my daughter is growing into. 


Crayola Wonder Paints and Sheets are available at most stationary shops but in case you don't find it - try at Crosswords (I bought mine from there).



HAPPY PAINTING !!! :)

Review - Pizza Hut as a Birthday Party Venue

Pizza Hut - This seems like a favourite of parents in Powai as most birthday parties are held here. 

Not really surprising, as this venue is really a no fuss no mess arrangement. 

The staff at Pizza Hut arrange everything from the party theme (Ben 10 for boys and Power Puff Girls for girls), decor, food - Pizza / Pasta, tattoo artist, mascot (though I did not really like the mickey mouse mascot as it looked more like a scrawny rat - but that's my personal opinion). The best part is that they also arrange 2 - 3 games. The host is a warm and friendly girl who manages the kids pretty well especially during the games and the general commotion. 

Charges:  

The minimum number of kids invited needs to be 15 - as they have a minimum requirement. The charges are approx. 100 - 120 per child - inclusive of food and the game prizes.
The cake is excluded and is to be arranged by you.
They also arrange a number of other entertaining activities like the tattoo artist, mascot, juggler or any other act at an additional charge.

Rating: I would rate this place 7/10. One point less for the mascot - I think they can get a better costume and a healthier 'Mickey Mouse'. The other point less for the clause of minimum 15 children - younger children might not have 15 friends. The third point less is for space - I found their party area a bit small but hey !!! We are in Mumbai after all. So, guess I should expect and accept it. 

Overall - a great place to have a kids party without any after effects of cleaning up.


Contact No. - 022 - 39883988
Website - http://www.pizzahut.co.in/dinein/Parties.php

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. :)

Mainland China: Review

Mainland China has been my all time favourite no matter which city.


So, if you have that insatiable craving to eat the best Indian Chinese Cuisine, which is clean yet tasty that even your child can enjoy it; Mainland China is the place to go.  

Besides the friendly staff, they have arrangements like a high chair where your tyke can comfortably sit. The menu offers some lovely non-spicy dishes like the like the vegetable dimsums platter (which my 3 year old daughter loves), stir fried vegetable hakka noodles and an array of deserts to choose from.to suit your child's pallette, The ambience is great and relaxing especially when I see my little one enjoying herself while digging into her noodles. 

Most of all, you know that the food is hygenic and there won't be any after effects to deal with later which makes the place totally worth it. The pricing is not too expensive and it's value for money. They also serve lunch buffet.

Location: 1st Floor, City Park, close to D-mart at Hiranandani;  022 25708800


I would give it a 9/10 - one point less because I think that they could add a little something for entertainment.

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