What Makes A Great Preschool, Play-School, Nursery, Kindergarten Or Montessori School?

Happy smiles on children's faces as they look forward to a new day, eager to know more and have fun? Or lots of homework and big school bags loaded with books? Prior to 1993, some of the best preschools, play schools, nursery schools and kindergarten spaces in India were focussed on making kids memorise as much information as they could. The purpose of such schools, for children below the age of 6 years, was to make them rote learners who would be ready for a similar process, once they enrolled into a formal school. Back to India from Australia in 1993, our founder Ms.Lina Ashar saw the lacuna that existed in India, and felt compelled to "be the change". She believed that the children deserved much more. She dreamed of play schools, preschools, nursery schools and kindergartens where fun would be a key element in the learning process.

"It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them" - Leo Buscaglia

The Kangaroo Kids Story

India, Dubai, Maldives, Qatar "I set out on a journey to build a preschool that would be proof of the concept that children can achieve great academic outcomes, enjoy school and learning. In 1993, Kangaroo Kids was born - a haven where learning would be fun. Our goal was to change the mental model of schooling (rote-learning, unhealthy competition, stressful examinations). In the process, we changed the teaching-learning cycle by allowing children to be thinkers, innovators, lifelong learners and problem solvers. I believe that in the real world, Emotional Quotient (EQ) is more important than Intelligence Quotient (IQ), to be a successful human being. With all the support and conviction, what started out as a journey in a 600 square feet space in Bandra is now a story that has touched more than 1,00,000 children's lives, and has created 80 plus entrepreneurs as franchise partners of this vision. Many of our partners are parents who joined our journey after experiencing the impact that Kangaroo Kids had on their own children." - Ms. Lina Ashar, Founder

This journey became the game changer, and eventually became the benchmark for other preschools, play schools, nurseries, kindergartens and Montessori schools in India to follow. Over the years, many other small and big brands have tried to replicate the Kangaroo Kids teaching-learning model which, instead of being treated as competition, is treated as a compliment and a motivation to up the game even more. The curriculum at Kangaroo Kids has been curated and designed keeping in mind research based on neuroscience studies, as well as some of the finest international learning systems.

Here, your children are encouraged to be their own unique selves, while teachers kindle the fire of learning within them. Everything your child experiences in the preschool, play school, nursery and kindergarten years, will help to 'wire' his/her brain - for thinking, feeling, moving and learning. These are the years when we can make a big difference in your child's development and future. When the brain is engaged and excited (having fun), it releases a chemical called 'dopamine'. When dopamine levels are high in the brain we are more likely to remember and recall what is learned (long term memory); so making learning novel, exciting and rewarding is based on neuroscience. Dopamine release is also addictive, and that is another good reason as we want our children to be addicted to learning.

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge" - Albert Einstein

Every child is destined for a special purpose on this planet, and our role as parents, teachers and mentors, should be to help them unlock this life-purpose.

The future demands we become lifelong learners, and that is why we insist on learning being fun.

100+ instructional designers, 20+ years of experience in creating research based learning opportunities.

"One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child" - Carl Jung