Play Schools

Down here in Ariyalur, we have this play school setup. It’s not a big chain or anything, just a local spot for the toddlers. The address is just listed as Ariyalur because everyone around here knows where it is anyway. It’s a small house that we converted so the kids have space to run around and do their things. The front yard has a bit of sand and some plastic toys that have faded a bit from being out in the sun. Inside, the floors are covered with those foam mats so nobody gets hurt when they fall over. It’s always a bit chaotic with toys being thrown around and someone always needing a snack or a nap. We spend a good portion of our day just making sure everyone is safe and has had their milk. The neighbors are used to the noise by now. Sometimes we take the kids outside when the weather isn’t too bad, but usually, we stay in where it’s shaded. We don’t have a fancy website or a glossy brochure to show people. Usually, a parent just hears about us from a neighbor and drops by to see if we have space for their child. It’s a very informal way of doing things, but it works for our town. The walls are covered in finger paintings that the kids did last month. We try to keep things tidy, but with twenty toddlers, that’s a bit of a losing battle most days. It’s just life in a small school.