When my son turned two, I wanted to enroll him in a playgroup where he could interact with other children his age, have fun, and learn about the world through experience.

I intended for my son to explore the world, not to focus on learning the alphabets, numbers, or theories at this stage. Today, preschools are offering a variety of programs for young children, such as the Nido Baby Program, Mother-Toddler Program, and many others.

Considering my child’s age, I began looking for preschools in my area. After speaking with other moms, I learned that many primary schools also offer playgroups. Keeping in mind the tedious process of admitting a kid to a school,

Standing in line for hours just to grab an admission form, only to finish the day with a foot cramp as a bonus.

The freight of spending hours fighting traffic to reach the school, only to show up after the bell has rung and everyone’s already left for break.

Switching school boards feels like hitting “restart” on life.

In Search of School

After all of the above, I have realized that instead of putting my kid in preschool and then making the dramatic switch to a main school later, it’s probably smarter to just go straight to primary school. Less chaos, more sanity.

Now that I have decided what type of school he should go to, the next question is, which board should I choose? It was so much simpler when I was a kid. I am pretty sure my parents didn’t have to deal with this much confusion. Now we’ve got CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, and IB in every metro city.


The area I live in has almost every school board available. It seemed like having options would make things easier, but it’s the opposite. With more than two choices, it gets complicated, it’s like being stuck between “this one” or “that one.” The comparisons keep piling up, and it makes deciding even harder.

After chatting with other parents and scrolling through the internet, I managed to gather a teeny tiny bit of information.

CBSE

CBSE, the oldest board that’s been around since I was a kid and was once considered the top choice, always made me think that CBSE kids were super studious and that the exams were impossible to crack. But now, it seems like just one of many options, and the hype around CBSE is slowly fading out.

The curriculum takes a solid theoretical approach, aiming to provide students with a deep understanding of core concepts.

CBSE has a structured curriculum. They emphasise core subjects like Science, Maths, Social Studies and Languages, making it suitable for the kids writing competitive exams like JEE and NEET.

ICSE

The ICSE has a balanced curriculum that focuses on the basics and foundations of concepts. It encourages critical thinking and creativity and ensures a deep understanding of subjects.

Besides focusing on concepts in Maths and Science. ICSE also offers an equal weightage to languages, arts and humanities.

This provides a more well-rounded, complete, and holistic education. A strong foundation in English also gives ICSE students an advantage in language exams like TOEFL and IELTS.

IGCSE

The IGCSE is designed to support children’s overall development. Its curriculum fosters independent thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills that are essential in today’s world.

IGCSE offers a broad selection of subjects and combinations, with no limitations on streams.

IGCSE is globally recognized by universities and colleges, making it a great option for students planning to study abroad.

IB

The IB curriculum encourages students to develop critical thinking and research skills that are key to succeeding in college and beyond. It provides them with the knowledge and abilities to tackle real-world challenges and come up with solutions with an open mind.

Attending an IB-accredited school can also be a turning point when applying to colleges or universities abroad.

Which Board did I Choose

To get straight to the point, I wanted my kid to learn practically and didn’t want to overwhelm him with education at such a young age. Instead of focusing solely on the board, I considered factors like the school’s infrastructure, facilities, location, and quality of education.

My husband and I had differing views on this. I didn’t want our kid to feel pressured and preferred a learn-as-you-go approach. On the other hand, my husband argued that if he didn’t face some pressure at school, how would he handle the challenges of the real world? How would he manage pressure when it hits unexpectedly?

I think both of us had valid points. I wanted to visit several schools to understand what they had to offer parents about their education system, but my husband felt that visiting too many schools would only lead to more confusion without any clear conclusion.

Above all, the biggest factor that weighed on us was the DISTANCE. With Chennai’s traffic, it’s tough to take a kid to school during the morning rush hours.

We Chose

One of the best schools in our area was just 2 kilometres away from our house.

Finally, we made our choice. It’s a CBSE board, a well-known school where getting an admission mid-year is like winning a lottery. Interviews, exams, the whole ordeal. So, enrolling my kid in a playgroup was the perfect hack to skip all those hurdles and avoid the stress of interviews and exams.

We visited the campus and got a glimpse of the education they offer and we were impressed. They blend academics with social, practical, and creative skills in a way that feels refreshing. On top of that, their range of extracurricular activities totally caught my attention.

The students are hands-on in everything happening at the school. They take on roles like photographers, organizers, little gardeners, and even teachers. It’s like a mini world where they get to try it all and wear a million hats.

We thought that no matter which school or board the kids were from, they would all end up in the same pool of colleges. But I realized, that the education system we give them shapes how they see the world, tackle problems, their confidence, and pretty much everything else. It’s not just about the destination, but how they get there.

At the tender age of 3, we just wanted our son to wake up peacefully, get ready calmly, and head off to school happily, making friends, not scrambling out of bed at the crack of dawn, eating half a breakfast, and racing to catch the school bus like a tiny, stressed-out adult.

Today, my son wakes up at 8, gets ready, and we leave the house by 8:50 to reach school by 9, always on time. Time is a luxury I want to give him at this age, no rush, no stress.

I know that tomorrow, the decision we made today might need to change as we discover more about his personality, his interests, and what he truly wants in life. We are ready for that shift. But for now, I just want him to enjoy a peaceful breakfast, a restful sleep, and a tension-free drive to school. That’s the gift I want to give him today.

xoxo,

Mita