Here's why you should take your kids at Hungry Minds in Andheri

Biniya Ki Chatri by The Secret Passages of Geetanjali Kaul is being staged at Hungry Minds, and kids, accompanied by their parents, are hanging on to every word of the interactive theatre performance unfolding in front of them

The space has a zone for activities. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Parent Poll: An engaging space where you can keep your kids for a few hours.
Rating: ***
Kids' Poll: Toddlers loved the play area.
Rating: ***

What's Good: Plenty of options for kids to pick from. The staff is gentle and hands-on.
What's Not So Good: It has an apartment-like vibe.

'Biniya Ki Chatri' by The Secret Passages of Geetanjali Kaul is being staged at Hungry Minds, and kids, accompanied by their parents, are hanging on to every word of the interactive theatre performance unfolding in front of them.

The space has a zone for activities

Hungry Minds is many things rolled into one. It is one of those places where you can leave your kids and can be rest assured that they will not complain of boredom. The space, situated in the middle of the buzzing JB Nagar, began as a toy and book library. In a few months' time, it opened its play zone and within a year, launched its daycare centre, proving that good things always grow. This multi-room space has a soft-play area, rooms that double up as pre-primary classrooms, a toy and book library and a zone for extra-curricular activities, children's events, and workshops.

The soft-play area is like many other similar spaces across Mumbai — padded flooring, a giant toy house, ball pool, easy obstacle course, jungle gym and places to slide and crawl in and out of. However, it was a refreshing departure to spot plenty of props for kids to role-play: wicker baskets with pots and pans for kitchen play, and many hand puppets.

A soft play area

When it comes to milestones for children, hand puppets can be perfect tools to develop multiple skills. Children who are shy or unable to communicate confidently often find it easier to express their feelings with puppets. The brains behind Hungry Minds seem to be aware that playing with puppets, especially role-play, provides countless opportunities for children to try on new personalities and take them off again.

A toy and book library

The range of puppets available here is huge, with different sizes and types of hand and finger puppets. We watch as kids slip their fingers into a hand puppet and instantly become zebras and snakes, without any steering from the adults accompanying them. Going by the scenes played out before us, it was obvious that hand puppets play a key part in propelling imagination and creativity, and are wonderful tools for learning and broadening spheres. These props also seem to help them gain some control over their world by working out fears and frustrations.

Everything in the well-lit space is child-friendly and theme-driven. On the weekend we dropped by, most kids were absorbed in the Binya Ki Chatri performance. When it ended, toddlers spilled into the soft-play area, some grabbed hand puppets and crawled into toy houses, while the older ones stepped into the book and toy library. The space has toys to return, and those that can be taken back home. The range of books in the library caters to children from one to 16 years, while toys are available for all kids up to the age of 10.

Fact File
Where: Third floor, A Wing, Silver Astra, JB Nagar Circle, Andheri (E).
Best for: Girls and boys between one and 16 years
How to reach: Take a train (Western or Harbour line) to Andheri station; hail an auto from the east side to JB Nagar circle. The landmark is PMCâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088Bank.
Timings: 10 am to 7 pm
Budget: Access to the Play Zone costs Rs 200 per hour (adults free). Toy and book library packages start at R500 a month. To access just the book library, the package starts at Rs 170 a month.
Food: Kids may carry their own food if they plan on staying for long; food is not allowed inside the play space or the library.
Water: Yes
Rest Room facilities: Yes
Where else to go: Play Around and Planet Infinity at Andheri (W), and Kidz Town at Vile Parle (W).

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