A Honest Review After 8 Months of PlanetSpark Classes – From a Parent from Varanasi Now Living in Noida
I usually don’t write reviews this long, but this one is coming from a place of honesty, personal experience, and, most importantly, as a parent who genuinely wanted to help his child adapt and grow in a completely new environment. This is for those parents who are currently confused, frustrated, or hopeful about online classes like PlanetSpark. Please read this till the end if you’re seriously considering it.
Let me start from the beginning.
Background – Why We Chose PlanetSpark
I am originally from Varanasi. A proud two-tier city, where life is a bit slower, values are traditional, and exposure is limited compared to metro cities. My son was born in Varanasi, did his initial schooling there, and everything was going well. But then I got transferred to Noida, and obviously, we all moved together.
Now here’s where the problem started.
We admitted our son into Vishwa Bharati Public School in Noida. A well-known school with good faculty and infrastructure. But as expected, the environment was fast-paced. Kids were smart, outspoken, competitive—and my son, who was already shy, became even more reserved. He started feeling left out. He barely spoke in class and would come back home quiet. As a parent, it was heartbreaking to see that transformation.
That’s when I started looking for ways to help him gain confidence.
Discovering PlanetSpark
One evening while scrolling through Instagram, I saw an ad from PlanetSpark. “Build Public Speaking Skills in Kids” — it said. That line caught my eye.
I filled in my details out of curiosity, not commitment. The next day, a counselor from PlanetSpark called. They spoke nicely and scheduled a free demo class with a teacher named Mrs. Sharmila Nahate.
The Demo Experience
We were all seated in front of the laptop. My son was super nervous. He barely spoke in the class, and at one point, he almost cried because he couldn’t read something out loud. But I noticed something else. Mrs. Sharmila was patient. She didn’t scold him or push him unnecessarily. She kept encouraging and made the session lighthearted.
After the session ended, I asked my son if he wanted to continue. His answer was a straight "No." Honestly, I expected that. But something in me told me that this program could help.
I discussed with my wife, and we decided to take a small course – a trial pack kind of thing – just to see how it goes. We thought: “At least he doesn’t have to go anywhere. If he opens up even a little, it’s worth it.”
The First Few Sessions – Not Impressive
The first 5-6 classes didn’t go well. He stayed quiet. No energy. No excitement. It felt like I was dragging him to the laptop.
So I messaged the teacher directly. I told her I was thinking of discontinuing because my child was clearly not interested.
That’s when Sharmila Mam replied with confidence: “Sir, give me a few more classes. Let me try my way. Your child will enjoy, I promise.”
The Turning Point
From the 7th session, the teacher completely changed her method. She started using real-life examples, stories, and fun games. She began with small speaking exercises like “Tell me what you did today, ” or “If you were a superhero, what power would you want?”
Suddenly, my son started smiling during sessions. Then, he started opening up. By the 17th class, he looked forward to them! That day, he told me, “Papa, aaj Sharmila mam ne mujhe hero banaya.” That one sentence made me feel like we had made the right choice.
He began telling us what he learned after every class. He started using English words more confidently. One day during a family gathering, he narrated a short story confidently in front of everyone. That was our moment of happiness. Everyone was shocked!
Honest Feedback for Other Parents
Here are some real, practical insights for parents like us:
? Pros of PlanetSpark:
Experienced Teachers
In our case, Sharmila Mam was brilliant. She understood our child’s personality and adjusted her teaching style. And yes, you can ask for a teacher change if needed.
Gradual But Sure Improvement
Don’t expect magic in 2-3 sessions. This is not school tutoring—it’s a skill-building process. Give it time. For us, it took 15-17 sessions before visible results.
Interactive Learning Tools
The LMS(Learning Management System) has various activities like SparkX, quizzes, games, etc. My son loves SparkX challenges and even competes to be on top of the leaderboard.
Practice Classes
These are like group classes where kids from different cities join in. My son made friends from Hyderabad and Mumbai! They do fun activities like storytelling debates even after the class, etc.
Support Team Response
We raised a ticket once when there was a login issue(Ticket No. 287643), and they called back the next day. That showed me that they do care.
? Cons of PlanetSpark:
Initial Sessions Can Be Dull
The first 5-6 classes may feel slow. Some kids(like mine) take time to adapt.
A Bit Expensive
Yes, the course is slightly on the higher side, especially if you go for long-term plans. But it depends on how you value communication skills.
Technical Glitches
Sometimes the LMS has bugs, and the voice or video doesn’t work properly. But the support team usually fixes it within a day or two.
Curriculum Can Improve
I feel some topics are too repetitive. More variety in creative writing topics would be great.
Key Moments I’ll Never Forget:
The first time he introduced himself in English in school assembly.
When he asked me to buy a notebook just for creative writing practice.
When his school teacher praised his improved vocabulary.
My Final Verdict(After 8 Months)
If you are a parent like me—coming from a smaller city, trying to give your child the confidence to match with metro kids—PlanetSpark can be a great platform. But only if you:
Stay patient in the first few weeks.
Don’t expect overnight results.
Allow the child to build a bond with the teacher.
Talk to the teacher regularly.
Give space for your child to enjoy the learning.
My Rating: 4 out of 5
I’m not giving 5 stars because of the price and a few glitches, but I’m happy. My son, who once hesitated to even speak to neighbors, now participates in group storytelling sessions online. He’s more expressive, more confident, and more curious.
To PlanetSpark and especially to Sharmila Mam – thank you. You’ve put a spark in my child’s life(pun intended). And to fellow parents – take the first step. Give it time. You’ll thank yourself later.