Getting Started

Here is a list of 3 things you need before setting up a playgroup

• 2 large rooms with an attached bathroom if you are living in a flat and if you live in a bungalow at least two spacious rooms preferably attached to an open or closed compound.
   
• A basic teachers' training degree
  
  
• An investment of about 25,000 for the equipment such as toys, books, games, stationary etc and approximately 1 to 1.5 lakh for the infrastructure.

Pre- Planning

Setting up the Space

You need to do up the kiddie area with a lot of care. Fairytale wall papers, colourful chairs, lots of educational posters, stuffed toys and other kiddie things are essential to make the place look attractive and lively.

If you are setting up the place in a bungalow and have access to a compound, you could put up small slides, tyres etc for activities.

Domestic Help

One of the most essential things that you need to run a play school is domestic help. You could begin with one maid who agrees to stay from morning till afternoon and then hire more depending upon the number of kids you have to tend to.

You will be taking care of kids from the age of two to four so they are most likely to spill things and create a mess.

There are lot of other odd jobs such as taking the child to the loo, arranging the toys and books, helping the children eat if you are providing food etc.

Professional Help

If you think you will not be able to manage so many children together maybe hiring an assistant will help you manage better.

Preparing for School

Although you are running a playgroup where the kids are supposed to enjoy and learn simple things, you need to understand that the child will be going to a regular school after playgroup.

So, you need to teach the kids basic things such as alphabets, colours, numbers, vehicles, nursery rhymes etc that will help him to get admission in a regular school.

Plan everything that you need to teach the children in advance.

Come up with interesting ways of teaching so that you could buy your props and toys accordingly.

You could also search the internet to know more about few basic things kids need to know and some of the new ways in which you could teach them.

Things You Need to Buy

Here is a list of few basic things you will need to invest in:

• Teaching aid including books, toys, charts, posters, board games, drawing books, etc. A set of educational toys such as building blocks.You could pick up a lot of other interesting new equipment for the children.
  
• All the infrastructural requirements that will be required to do up the place.

Money Matters

If you are providing the children with good quality snacks and equipment you could charge somewhere between Rs. 700 - 1100 per month for a child.

So with a bare minimum of 15 children your monthly turn over is about Rs. 10,500 - 16,500 Even if you manage to have 30-40 children over a period of time, the income will be double the initial amount.

If the place is yours then your monthly expenses are not much.

Make efforts to keep the parents informed about the child's progress and try to build a contact list that will help you expand the number of children.

If the parents are satisfied with your service they will recommend the playgroup to their friends and family.

You need to build a strong network of parents in order to expand business.

(With Inputs from Mansi Kelkar, the owner of Happy House Playgroup, established in 1989)