Mumbai for kids: Zig Zag Zoo in Vashi

With the rains lashing the city, it was time to explore some indoor spaces. If you look for play zones in Navi Mumbai, chances are Zig Zag Zoo will pop up. Because my children have outgrown these spaces, I cajole my classmate to bring along her seven-year-old daughter, Naysa, to review it.

Housed in a mall on Palm Beach Road, there are no indicators for the play zone, but once you are on the second floor, it is hard to miss Zig Zag Zoo. A cheerful, well-equipped space welcomes us. You are required to register your in-time, and you can do as you please for the next hour.

The first 10 minutes are about exploring all that the space offers. And there is a lot. There are piano keys to walk on, where notes play according to what your feet touch. There is a sand-play area, and silicon starfish props and foam cushions that you can walk on. But the lighting is poor and there is a sense of disarray with the props. Naysa does not want to play here. There is a car ride you can take through an undulating path, and a beautiful water bed for toddlers. However, it looks overused. A trampoline that has been cleverly turned into a boxing rink of sorts is also part of the play zone.

If you are in a group, kids can split up into teams and play shooting games with pressure guns and foam balls. Slightly older ones can throw plastic balls into a horse's wide open mouth, where the horse neighs in pleasure if the aim is right. The regular soft play equipment is all there -- giant plastic slides that land in soft crash mats, tunnels and bridges to cross, a ball pool, fine-motor games on the walls, and a giant jeep dashboard perched atop a stairway where you can reach and pretend-drive. There is also a notched wall to climb and a room dedicated to birthday parties.

It is 11.30 am when we step in, with just one mother-son duo for company. Naysa tries most of the activities, but only a few suit her age -- the merry-go-round is too slow for her (it's meant for toddlers), the wall climbing area is perhaps meant for older kids as the distance between the notches is a bit too wide for her tiny legs. The water bed and the sand play area are badly maintained and thus, not tried out. The ball pool is shallow. Finally, she settles for the ball shooting area. My classmate and I join in, and have a great time. The other mother toddles behind her child, minus the mandatory socks.

ZZZ was launched with good intention, and can still be a lovely place to take kids to, provided the owners invest some emotion in the place and hire more staff.

Safety tip: Kids of all ages need supervision. Stay close even if everything seems safe.

Where: Second floor, Satra Plaza, Sector 19 D, Vashi. Best for: Boys and girls, six months to 10 years
How to reach: Get off at Vashi station and take an auto to Satra Plaza.
Timings: 11 am to 8 pm, open all days of the week
Budget: '350 per hour from Monday to Thursday and '450 from Friday to Sunday.
Food: ZZZ has a cafeteria, but when we were there, it was closed. You are allowed to bring in food.
Water: No
Rest Room facilities: Yes
Where else to go: The Mini Seashore is close by as are Central Park and Wonder Park. Among indoor places, Inorbit Mall has a play zone.

What's Good: Range of activities and good quality equipment.
What's Not So Good: Barely visible staff.