Todden Pre School

Todden Pre School is over at 5 Shiv Kripa Society on Vasna Road. Vadodara is a busy city, but this little pocket of the 390007 area is mostly houses and quiet streets. The school is basically a converted house, which gives it a different feel than those big purpose-built centers. We have a few rooms set up for the different age groups, and there’s usually a lot of noise coming from the back where the play area is. The walls are painted with different colors, but you can see where the little hands have left smudges over the years. We spend a lot of our time just watching the clock and making sure the schedule stays more or less on track. It’s a bit chaotic when the rain starts, as everyone has to pile into the main room. We don't have any polished receptionists; it’s usually just one of us who happens to be free that answers the door. The furniture is a mix of small chairs and low tables that have seen better days. It’s a very local operation. Most of the parents live just a few blocks away, so there’s a lot of chatting at the gate during pickup time. We don't use any fancy systems, just a lot of patience and some basic supplies like crayons and paper to get through the day.