Kidzee Play School Tupudana

Out here in Aayush Vihar, Tonko, the air is a bit clearer than in the main Ranchi city. Kidzee Play School Tupudana is situated in a residential pocket, so it's mostly surrounded by houses and a few small shops. The school is basically a place for the little kids in the neighborhood to get used to being away from their parents. We have brightly painted walls with cartoons, though some of the paint is peeling a little at the bottom. The rooms are filled with the sound of rhymes and the occasional tantrum. We have a few cupboards full of blocks and puzzles that have missing pieces here and there. It’s not a perfect, shiny facility, but it’s clean and the kids are looked after. The staff comes in early to sweep the porch and get the water bottles ready. We don't have fancy buses, so most kids arrive on their parents' scooters or in local rickshaws. During the winter, it gets quite cold in Ranchi, so we make sure the kids stay inside the classrooms where it's a bit warmer. We have a small gate that leads out to the street, and we stay careful about who comes in and out. It’s just a normal part of life in Tupudana. We don't try to be anything we aren't. It's just a space for children to play and learn their basics before they move on to big schools.