Catch them young’ is the apt phrase that fits best to express the intentions of siblings Vinothini and Sindhu. They wanted to give the best to the future generation which they missed and wished they had. The duo has started a pre-school that follows an interesting principle — learning with a twist. Located in a neighbourhood in Kilpauk, we visited A Aah preschool on a balmy morning and got to meet the students, teachers and caretakers. While we were entering the premises, the children were feeding the rabbits and doves that the school owns. Seeing us, a toddler, who was petting a rabbit, tried to hand over the animal to us.    

“Feeding the pets is the first activity the kids do after coming to the school. A few were scared to even touch them in the beginning. But now, they have befriended the pets,” says Vinothini. She showed us around the school — a beautiful old house that is aesthetically transformed into a pre-school setting. What makes this institute stand apart from other pre-schools in the city is their holistic and practical approach to learning.

“We are not against the theory-based education system. But we need an education system that excites and stimulates children. Through A Aah we are trying to introduce practical life education and concept-based learning to children. By the time they are five years old, they learn to calmly go about many things in life,” shares Vinothini.

The farm project is one among the many projects the kids like, where they get a hands-on experience with the farm animals. “We bring in a cow and a calf, chicken and chicks and horses and the kids get to learn about  farm and farm animals. They milk the cows, pet the chicks and go for a horse ride near the school premises,” she adds. The kids also have baking, art and crafts, yoga sessions every week.

Recently, they had a field trip in the neighbourhood, where they were taken to the K4 Anna Nagar Police Station. “It was a truly memorable day for them and even the teachers. The police officers were so friendly — the kids were taken on a tour to see the prison, the weapons room, were taught how to use a walkie-talkie, showed a gun and why the police use it. Usually, parents teach their kids to be scared of police; but this helped them overcome their fear of police,” the centre head, Navitha Porutselvar says.

While we were leaving the school, we spotted a couple of kids playing in a sand pit and wondered whether the sand might spread infection. “We have mixed a branded baby powder and cinnamon powder in the sand. So that insects stay away and children can freely play as they wish,” Vinothini assures.