Chetan Balwadi:
The chetan balwadi is a laboratory nursery school of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Faculty of Family & Community Sciences, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.
Since its inception in 1949, it has served as a premier institution in the field of early child development.
The main facets of Chetan Balwadi include providing a quality early child development program for children, training of students, professional and paraprofessional personnel and research in the area of development, education, parenting and related aspects.
GOALS
Designing and implementing a developmentally appropriate program for children. Providing on field experiences and training to the undergraduate and post graduate students of the department. Advocating principles and practices of early child development.
PHILOSOPHY
Follows Progressive Philosophy of John Dewey & also integrated curriculum. The curriculum is based on children’s experiences, interest and need felt by the teachers. The approach is child centered. The program is activity based, encouraging exploration of the environment, opportunities for self expression, hands on concrete experiences. The emphasis is on the process rather than the product.
ADMISSIONS
Eligibility- 3 to 4 years
Population representing different socio-economic groups, occupations, religions, languages spoken at home. Open only at entry point. Process for admission takes place in the month of December-January.
PROGRAM
The content is flexible and contextual. The teacher designs a flexible program based on children's interest, perceived needs in terms of time, content and strategies. Developmental goals and areas provide guidelines for planning appropriate experiences. The program has scope for meeting individual needs of children. It is an integrated curriculum consisting of Language, Maths, Science, Social Studies, Creative Arts, Music and Story.
Through first hand experiences that move from simple to complex, concrete to abstract, familiar to unfamiliar.
In small group, large group and individually. l Through field trips, active play, variety of activities, exploration and discovery which are interwoven into the program.
The teaching - learning strategies are designed to promote child-child, child-material and teacherchild interaction.
CENTRAL FACILITIES
• Garden - Children’s play area
• Lunch room
• Library
• Resource room
• Music room
• Washrooms
• Story room
• Each class is equipped with doll house, block corner, manipulative corner & language corner
• Observatory for visitors
Balwadi booklet