TLC day care club: Babies, here’s where it’s at

TLC day care centre is fully equipped to develop creative young minds with tender love and care.

ISLAMABAD:

Following the success of its main campus in Sector F-6/3, Islamabad, the TLC day care club launched its latest branch at the Kuch Khaas Centre for Arts and Culture on September 19. The new venue has expanded TLC’s enrolment quota — good news for working parents having a hard time juggling the demands of child rearing and their respective jobs.

The interior is bright and engaging; visitors enter the centre through a well stocked library (they aim to develop book worms early). The lounge and activities area ahead is modern and appealing — the interior, designed entirely by TLC reminds one of day cares abroad. A large, flat screen broadcasts TLC’s service message, flanked on either side by an impressive line-up of toys, unicorns and action figures. The baby blue and white walls are dotted with handmade decorations, block alphabets and the endearing scrawl of student artwork. And like the decor, TLC has a list of colorful activities: everything from ballet to taekwondo, cooking to robotics.

“There’s nothing like this in Islamabad or even in Pakistan,” says Director of TLC Bina S Zafar. She explains that the majority of day care options in the city tend to be initiatives spearheaded by either housewives (and therefore remain uncertified) or women who’ve had prior teaching experience. Yet, a lot more goes into early childhood development and TLC is aware of this, offering a curriculum and services that are at par with international standards, fully customisable for the diverse age bracket given admission in their centre (“from tots to twelve year olds”). The academic and activities plan is modelled after the directives and curriculums laid out by internationally recognised educational publishers the likes of McGraw-Hill, Scott Foresman and Dorling Kindersley.

“My son was in TLC for three years,” says Dr Lubna Shahnaz. “When we moved to Australia, my kid had no issues with adjusting to the programmes there.” And because TLC caters to a wide range of age groups, and the centre takes a ‘need based’ approach to drafting individual schedules and activities, targeting each child’s specific aptitude and requirements. This is especially conducive for children with expressive and receptive language delay, language disorders, autism, Attention Deficit Disorder and even for those who are slow learners.

This approach is also considered for the specific needs of infants admitted. “We start taking infants at six weeks and are currently the only ones in Pakistan doing this,” Zafar adds. The infant’s area, a cosy rectangular room — equipped with cots, baby chairs, tables and trinkets — is cordoned off from the colourful and spacious lounge, activities area and library, providing a quiet and conducive environment for babies and toddlers.

Another key attraction here is the ‘Drop in Care Service’, where parents, hankering for a night out on the town can leave their kids from 7:30 pm to midnight. “We see ourselves as a home away from home for a lot of our kids,” adds Zafar.

Similarly, the activities and cafe at Kuch Khaas attract their share of adults, many of whom have kids they can leave at TLC while  they enjoy brunch or a round of salsa dancing. Hence, Kuch Khaas’ strategic value comes as an undeniable asset for the fast growing day care centre. “It’s a join initiative,” asserts Reena Faisal, Chief Operating Officer of Kuch Khaas. “We’re very much involved in TLC’s programs and admissions.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2011.