Our very own Hyderabad-based, child care and activity centre Play2Grow is spreading its wings and setting up new centres in Pune, Nagpur and Raipur. Though details are yet to be finalised, the excitement is palpable in Ankit Kalantri's voice. The 25-year-old architect, who had started this as a family business in August last year, is already set to test new waters.
Such quick growth in less than a year? No wonder they are ecstatic. A lot of research went into setting up this 17,000 square feet, two-floored space in Abids, Hyderabad. This haven for children, who wish to learn, sees a footfall of over 400 kids per day. It also aims at fostering the bond between a parent and their child, as Kalantri puts it, "Even when parents are rushing in to pick up or drop their child, we politely ask if they have a few minutes to spare and make sure they indulge in an activity together."
While the first floor consists of all the essentials of a day-care centre, fully-loaded with slides, swings, ball pools, a large play area and more, the second floor is where most of the fun happens. With a DIY circuit, a pottery corner and a feedback wall — this space is a one-stop-shop for several activities. They even organise unique events on special days like on Earth Day this year, children learnt to make their own paper. And did we mention that the space also has its own VR and 7D theatre?
The definition of a play centre ("and also my love for travelling," Kalantri adds sheepishly) is what took him to Singapore, China and Japan, where he made it a point to visit child activity centres. And only after understanding its components did he initiate the design here. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you build a child activity centre! We, for one, are glad that they are taking this model to other cities as well.
Because Play2Grow receives as many as 400 children a day, they have an all-women army of 30 instructors who are always on their toes and attentive to the needs of the children. We ask the Marwadi lad what's the best thing about children and pat comes the reply, "They will never do what you expect and will always surprise you with their outcomes."
At the age of 25, Kalantri is a visiting faculty at Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, Masab Tank, where he teaches landscape architecture.
And as if this wasn't enough, Kalantri, who did his master's at CEPT University in Ahmedabad, is also on the consultant team that is working with the Government of Amravati to design the de facto capital city. And though he spends most of his days there, he unsurprisingly remains tight-lipped about the details. All he says is, "Wait for it!", leaving us with no choice, but to do just that.
To find out more about them, check out play2grow.in
