A Guide to Juggling child’s Schooling, Work, and Family in the City of Dreams

GURUGRAM parents -  BALANCING LIFE’S CIRCUS

Gurugram, with its vibrant energy and endless opportunities, can feel like a high-wire act.

Balancing school, work, and family in this bustling metropolis is difficult. Let’s dive into some creative strategies to make your juggling act a masterpiece, with a focus on your child’s schooling/development.

HOW SHOULD I PLAN & PRIORITIZE?

THE RINGMASTER’S SECRET: PRIORITIZE AND PLAN

  • Create a Circus Schedule: Instead of a traditional calendar, visualize your week as a circus ring – like multiple Olympic rings – and be at peace with juggling many rings daily. Each act represents a different aspect of your life – including your child’s education. See this as a part of your development, not a bother – it will help you in the long run, including your career.
  • The Big Top Goal: Set clear educational & developmental goals for your child, considering their interests and strengths. Partner with your school teachers to take appropriate actions/steps – don’t try to impose your interests on your child – who may well be different from you – and it’s OK for them to pursue their path, albeit with your support & some directional guidance.
  • The Flying Trapeze of Delegation: Don’t be afraid to seek support. Sometimes or even regularly delegate tasks related to your child’s education, such as homework assistance or sports or extracurricular activities. But track and try to be there – when you can – to encourage & emotionally support them.

HOW SHOULD I MANAGE TIME WITH SO MUCH?

THE CLOWN’S CORNER 😊: EFFICIENT TIME MANAGEMENT

  • The Juggling Act of Multitasking: While it’s tempting, focus on one task at a time for better results, especially regarding your child’s education.
  • The Tightrope of Breaks: Short breaks can help you recharge and stay focused, even when dealing with school-related matters.
  • Wellness: give yourself time to recharge; try to exercise/walk/yoga/meditate daily & try to have a positive mindset. Eat healthy by and large –  it impacts your wellness and overall manageability.

HOW SHOULD I MANAGE FAMILY COMMITMENTS TOO?

THE FAMILY ACROBATICS:

  • The Lion Tamer of Quality Time: Make quality time with your family a top priority, even if it means incorporating educational activities into your family outings.
  • The Trapeze Artists of Shared Experiences: Create family traditions or activities that involve your child’s education, such as visiting museums or science centers or doing regular holidays/travel together.
  • The Clowns of Household Chores: Involve your children in age-appropriate chores to teach them life skills, responsibility and time management skills. It’s OK to encourage them to help you with household chores; these life skills can help tremendously in the future.

AND HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF MYSELF?

THE STRONGMAN OF SELF-CARE

  • The Balancing Act of Health: Prioritize exercise, healthy eating, and sufficient sleep to ensure you have the energy and mental clarity to support your child’s education.
  • The Mindful Magician: Practice mindfulness techniques to reduce stress and improve focus, which can be especially helpful when dealing with school-related challenges.
  • The Acrobatic Support System: Don’t hesitate to contact friends, family, or professionals for support, especially regarding your child’s education.

THE PARADE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • The Ringmaster’s Network: Connect with other parents in your community to share tips and experiences, especially regarding schools and education.
  • The Circus of Community Events: Explore local activities and festivals that offer educational opportunities for your child.
  • The Big Top of Volunteering: Consider volunteering at your child’s school or a local educational organization to get involved and support your child’s learning.

GIVE: IS RELAXING & GUARANTEED TO HELP YOU FEEL BETTER. GOOD KARMA WORKS! It helps teach good values to your children, too.

IMPORTANT – NOTE ON TRANSPORTATION TO SCHOOL: when choosing a school for your child, consider the distance and the transportation time carefully – as wasted time is a daily waste for you and your child.

Long commute times can be stressful for you and your child, leading to daily early morning stress and juggling the late afternoon/evening child pick up/drop, impacting your and your children’s overall well-being. look for schools that are conveniently located or offer reliable & shorter transportation services.

BUS transportation for your child to a relatively far off – although fancy school – may not be best for you and your child, as the bus can take from an hour to two to fill up children across colonies/societies and then take them to school/disembark, etc. in Gurgaon’s now much busier traffic – whew?! …waiting outside your apartment block can be tiring daily…..and also quite a chore for your child … and then redoing the route all over (in reverse order) in the afternoon/evening. 

If you carefully add up all hours wasted, the aggregate is considerable every year, and there is needless daily stress for you as well.

Many of the above can be done better – if your child’s school is nearby – ideally within 15-20 minutes or less of your home.

Your child can better utilize the time saved to practice, study, and play – all important.

Remember, balancing life in Gurugram is like performing in a circus. It requires skill, flexibility, and a touch of magic. By following these tips and considering your child’s education, you can create a harmonious and fulfilling life for yourself and your loved ones.

What are your circus tricks for balancing life in Gurugram, especially regarding your child’s education? Share your experiences in the comments below – we want to hear them!

celebrate your good days

And don’t forget to celebrate your good days & it’s OK to have a few occasional not-so-great days……part of life!

CONCLUSION

By taking the right calls – such as not sending your child on arduous bus journeys daily to far-off schools – and enlisting your children & family to support you  – being at peace with multi-tasking & delegation, taking care of ourselves – we can all handle the circus of life better at Gurgaon – dear parent.

All of the above are reinforced at the sixth element school and are part of our school culture.

In our evolving world, it’s essential to supplement the efforts of school & equip our children with more than just academics. So they become curious, confident, and values-led, well-rounded individuals. At the Sixth Element the best school in Gurgaon, we have a child-centric policy of not using bus transportation. We use PEGGY RIDE air conditioned vans – which are unique, safe transportation for transporting children to and from our school(only a few children at a time- in shorter, far more efficient,  safer mode)

 the Sixth Element School values & encourages all of the above

why – the Sixth Element?

The Sixth Element was a phrase coined by the school founders 20 years back to illustrate igniting the joy of learning – crucial for children’s development – as we nurture and prepare them for the future.

How to Foster a Well-Rounded Child?

While there is lots of operating structure and detailed SOPs in the school’s daily /weekly/monthly/annual – schedules – “how” the same is executed is unique – i.e., the Sixth element way of incorporating co-curricular & scientific & artistic activities, project work etc – leading to children enjoy learning & look forward to coming to school each day (and interestingly they do miss school on holidays 😊 ! )

confident responsible

Some examples of what’s done to instill values & character building:

  • Instill values: Understanding differences between right and wrong is often discussed in its many facets. Discussing environmental issues, volunteering for community activities, clean-ups, and respecting all living beings.
  • Values as a Compass: Values are the moral principles that guide our actions. The Cambridge International Curriculum emphasizes global citizenship and community service and fosters values like respect, empathy, and responsibility.
  • Embrace sustainability: Reduce waste, conserve energy, and grow your food together. Encouraging minimalism (BTW, we are a uniform school), up-cycling, gardening, and exploring green technologies like rainwater harvesting, recycling, etc.
  • Building Confidence: The curriculum’s focus on individual & team achievement (over experiential projects in small groups) and overcoming difficulties – and making progress, encouraged by the teacher, helps build self-esteem. Students develop a strong sense of confidence and resilience by setting and achieving goals.
  • Life Skills for Real World: The curriculum’s focus on independent learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving equips students with essential life skills. These skills are invaluable in navigating challenges and opportunities- building confidence.

THE SIXTH Element’s commitment to sustainability?

As the Sixth Element, education should go beyond classrooms. Our green, airy, spacious campuses are a living laboratory where children learn experimentally about sustainable practices. From solar panels to rainwater harvesting, recycling & near no plastics usage.

Our curriculum integrates sustainability into every subject, fostering a deep appreciation for nature, science, commerce & the arts – while instilling a desire to protect our planet.

By igniting the joy of learning and nurturing curiosity, confidence, values, and environmental consciousness – we empower children to become successful individuals and equally responsible members of society and global citizens.

Does a unique International Curriculum School like the Sixth Element help?

A progressive, holistic school following Cambridge International Curriculum significantly contributes to lots of experiential learning and project-based work.

The Sixth Element School: Where Cambridge International meets India- in an exclusive, low-density, impactful format

The reason why we chose the Cambridge International curriculum is that the blend of teacher-directed as well as learner-self-driven learning & research seems to be relevant for aspirational kids from Indian families, keen on preparing their kids to be global citizens of the future – whether based in India or overseas.

Is the Sixth Element School duly registered with Cambridge International?

Yes, The Sixth Element School – is duly registered as one of over 10,000 schools globally – as a Cambridge International school with a global registration number IA 892

Are you keen to see what a unique school like The Sixth Element School offers? Schedule a visit and see why it could be the perfect launchpad for your child’s bright, global future!

We started the first sixth element school 20 years back in 2004 @ Gurgaon.

Our schools & afternoon extended school & afternoon’ activities enriched’ daycare centers are unique, exclusive, compact neighborhood green campuses – where many outdoor activities & experiential learning (physical – not digital) occur with children on most days.

Our unique Smaller campus – with only two sections per class grade – and minimal children on campus allow us to focus on each child’s growth & development properly.

We are proud of our high-quality, committed teachers – the backbone of any good learning environment.

We raise well-rounded, future-ready individuals who are prepared to face the world’s challenges with confidence and integrity, using the proper methods and practices.  For example, our foundational fitness program, delivered in partnership with Fit Kids, our gym, green playgrounds, and great coaches, gives our school kids a tremendous foundational fitness start.

A good understanding and partnership between parents and schools are vital to nurturing the future leaders of Gurugram, our great nation and planet.

THE SIXTH ELEMENT SCHOOL WE BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF CATALYZING & ENSURING “THE SIXTH ELEMENT – i.e. THE JOY OF LEARNING” FOR EVERY CHILD. OUR CURRICULUM IS  BENCHMARKED WITH THE BEST INTERNATIONALLY WHILE DRAWING FROM OUR  VERY OWN CORE ANCIENT INDIAN BEST PRACTICES SUCH AS THE GURU SHISHYA PARAMPARA) & VALUES. THANKS TO ITS 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND ITS CORE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES DRAWN FROM PIAGET, VYGOSTKY AND BRUNER  – WHICH IS INCIDENTALLY THE RESOURCE POOL – FOR THE FOUNDATIONAL YEARS SCHOOL CURRICULUM OF THE UPGRADED NEW EDUCATION (NEP) UNDER ROLLOUT IN INDIA NOW. 

So, in line with some of India’s top and globally the very best, we are now a unique 100% Cambridge International School.

www.sixthelment.edu.in

 the Sixth Element School

the school children love

SOUTH CITY 1. TATA PRIMANTI (sector 72)

85272-74695 or 97736-32626

since 2004(20 years)

Limited enrollment available in pre-NURSERY, NURSERY, KG & DAYCARE, grade 1 now – in our prenursery to K12 school programs.

@ Gurgaon’s only single section “exclusive” boutique VENTILATED, AIRY, SPACIOUS. GREEN SCHOOL CAMPUSES

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