A new facility in Noida offers younger children an ample opportunity to learn while at play, says Mallika Sarna
Playing with expression makes the bond between children and parents even more special,” says, Prakash Vivekanand who has built a space called Play box in Noida for children to express themselves freely.
The idea for the creation of the flagship was the huge gap in the market where there were entertainment facilities like video games that cater to a varied age group but no dedicated facilities for children aged between two to nine years. Vivekanand thought that this was essential as he feels that it is this age group that would change the country. “These children are worldly aware, and whatever investment we do for them will make for a better country tomorrow,” he shares.
Another reason for starting this faciltity is that parents are not able to give full attention to their children in present times so, here they can bond seemlessly in a friendly environment.
The facility has seperate areas for two-three year olds and for those in the five-nine age group. This has been done since they possess different levels of strength which could prove to hazardous if they are clubbed together.
He decided to start his newest enterprise in Galleria Garden Mall for a reason. For Vivekanand, it’s not the huge and better malls that catch traction but rather the overall character of the place. He chose to build his innovation here because of its laid-back characteristics unlike other huge malls in Delhi-NCR. Also, he witnessed the changing shopping trends and also the tendency of people to use the malls as places to socialise in. “Retail has become a by-product of socialisation,” says, Vivekanand.
Vivekanand elaborates upon the essence of Play box. “The play activities have been carefully chosen to experience innumerable activities in one area. Workshops including Zumba dance, storytelling by Nani ma and others that would lead to community engagement. We want people from Noida particularly to express themselves to these facilities. Also, parents who wish to work on Sundays can use the wi-fi facility while their children are at play. The studio space has also been created for schools to send their students to enable them to learn while playing,” he shares.
Play box’s mascot is a fox. He says with a smile, “We chose a fox as our mascot because they are clever and are identified as explorative. Children can easily relate to them since a fox is always trying new things to do.”
The choice of Play box as the name for this faciltity was also for a reason. “As a child, what interested me the most was an empty carton which was a spaceship on one day, a rocket the next and a ship, the third day. I could express myself within that box so it had an integral meaning in my life,” he shares.
Playful kids are the life blood of the place. He believes in the idiom that, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” He says, “So, the importance of play is well defined but the category of play has changed. For example, Play Station does not lead to any exercise. Play should be a combination of mental and physical exercises and children should play together. Playful children can be fun when they are engaged in what they like doing.”
Supriya Himanshu, 39, a mother of an 11-year-old daughter iterates that, “The play zones for different age groups are perfectly articulated and the colour combinations are quite appealing. As a mother, I felt there are no edgy and sharp corners from which my child could get hurt. It seems to be an ideal place in Noida since it is a new concept over here. Also, I would like to witness some activities for mother in terms of fitness, wellness and much more.”
Other parents too agree with her. Radhika Gupta, 38, a mother of two daughters aged 5 and 8 says, “This place is very safe and secure. It provides a mesmerising environment, ideal for play. My daughters love this place since they have never seen anything like this for a toddler. The concept sounds wonderful.”
On being asked about extension of Play box, Vivekanand says, “We do plan to extend our branch. We are searching for similar malls with similar characteristics in Eastern, Southern, and Western parts of India.”
Photo: MD Meherban