These children’s centres are not just play areas, they also host parties, martial arts lessons and arts and craft activities, writes Ewe Paik Leong
The Parenthood, Sunway Pyramid, PJ
TOUTED as the largest family park in the country, this place offers a retail centre with gifts, baby products and educational toys, amongst others, from over 30 brands. A preschool here offers the British curriculum. The Parenthood also has an indoor playground and offers personal enrichment classes like kickboxing, dance, and speech and drama, a kids’ gym, services for mothers and youngsters (manicure, pedicure, facial, makeover and post-natal slimming programme) and a family cafe. Children below 7 need to be accompanied by an adult.
Star Light Kids, Avenue K Shopping Mall, KL
TARGETED at children aged below 12, this playcentre houses a space-themed playground, a mini trampoline field, a soft play area, a ball-blasting arena and a cafe. For kids above 4 years, per-entry tickets are priced at RM45 (weekdays) and RM55 (weekends). For kids below 4, admission rates are RM20 and RM30 on weekdays and weekends respectively.
J Kids, Publika Shopping Gallery, KL
CATERING to children aged from 6 months to 13 years, this cheerfully decorated spot incorporates a playground and party facilities. Popular rides include the Spinning Palm Tree, Dancing Balloons, Sky Rider and Air Ball Pool. Party packages with entertainment by professional clowns are available. Both kids and adults have to wear socks while inside the playground and party room. J Kids outposts are also found in Gamuda Walk, Mitsui Outlet Park and elsewhere.
Kid’s E World, The Gardens Mall, KL
THIS place is dominated by a massive play structure with slides, ball pits, climbing frames and other obstacles. Complementing these are giant building blocks, toys-in-motion, a trampoline, a palm tree carousel, a wind-room filled with huge balloons, and other play stations. Kids can attend classes on arts and crafts, music and rhymes. Music therapy for children with special needs is available. Opens daily from 10 am to 10 pm.
Kidzania, Curve NX, Mutiara Damansara, PJ
THIS is housed in a total area that is bigger than a soccer field. Kids can role-play 100 professions (from judge, pilot and banker to bricklayer) at different stations. Such activities are suited for kids aged 3 to 14 years. Upon admission, they receive a 50-kidzo “cheque” which can be cashed to make purchases. Facilities in the centre include free wifi, a parents’ lounge, ATMs, a surau, a nappy-changing room and toilets. Food and drinks are not allowed but can be bought in-house.
Jungle Gym Playland, Atria Shopping Mall, PJ
THE facilities here are designed for toddlers below 2 years and for kids aged 2-12. Babyland allows lots of crawling activities, while older kids can play in Funland which has a ball pit, slides, crawling tunnels, trampolines and air guns. For more relaxing moments, there are arts and craft activities. Jungle Cafe serves Western food, and there are party packages. Children aged below 7 must be accompanied by an adult and socks must be worn at all times.
Kiz Sportz & Gym, Great Eastern Mall, KL
MORE than just a play centre, Kiz Sportz & Gym positions itself as a “one-stop total child development centre”. Its play structure features a multi-level maze outfitted with slides, tunnels, scramble nets and a ball pit. Many crew members are on duty to ensure the safety of your child. This centre runs classes on karate, taekwondo, arts and crafts, jazz dance, speech and drama, music and ballet.
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Funtopia, Courtyard Mall, Subang Jaya
CLIMBING walls, climbing ropes, a maze and a giant slide are among the main attractions but there are also interactive games and other activities. Kids can climb a tall dinosaur, giraffe, castle, spider wall and race with their friends on a speed-climbing wall. All attractions are internationally certified to the highest possible level of safety. Admission rates per hour are RM24 on weekdays and RM34 on weekends, schoolholidays and public holidays.
Let Me Go, Great Eastern Mall, KL
THIS is a playhouse where kids can indulge in creative learning with Lego bricks, models and construction toys. Part of a Lego build is sharing a building strategy and assigning roles. This process boosts problem-solving and communications skills. Other benefits include strengthening a child’s fine motor skills and developing patience and perseverance.
Smaland, Ikea, Mutiara Damansara, PJ
IT describes itself as “a forest perfect for jumping, climbing, running and bouncing”. There’s a spider web so strong that kids can climb on, clogs so huge they can hide inside them and berries so big they can’t hold one in their hands. They can also watch a movie or a cartoon in the theatre. All children 3-10 years old are welcome to play here. Best of all, it’s free for one hour!
Pictures by Ewe Paik Leong