All to PLAY for at Seef

An indoor entertainment and educational activity centre for children is scheduled to open in May at the Seef Mall's new extension.

Spanning an area of 811 square metres, PLAY will feature a variety of specialised areas for toddlers, children and teenagers.

Mother-of-two Sama Yateem, managing director of SY Enterprises, came up with the idea when she was searching for suitable play environments for her children, Faisal, six, and Jade, two.

She said: "Most malls have entertainment areas but are mostly arcade style. From my travels abroad and having visited several children's museums I thought it would be great to do something like that in Bahrain, a place where children could play and use their imagination.

"I have been really inspired by visits to the Children's Museums in Atlanta, Manhattan and Brooklyn in the US.

"Many children nowadays are so keen on video games like PlayStation and XBox that they appear to have really lost their ability to just play away from a screen and explore. In fact, research shows that more creative play leads to emotional development."

At PLAY she hopes to offer activities for children at every age level from infant through to early adolescence, from a soft play area to stimulate the early walker to a pirate ship equipped with climbing nets for older, more active children.

"I am also planning on offering after-school activities for older children like drama, cooking and cheer leading," she added.

PLAY will have its own mini town where children can 'role play' shopping at a supermarket, sending letters at the post office, gearing up at the fire station, laying bricks at a construction site and learning public safety at the police station.

At the water works children can learn measuring techniques and the art pod will help them to create their own artistic masterpieces.

Ms Yateem, 35, from Adliya, worked as a teacher for 10 years in the US and Bahrain before setting up her company.

She said: "I have always wanted to be a teacher, since I was a child. I would have my friends sit in front of me and come up with all sorts of lessons.

"So I thought that with my passion for education it would be a natural transition for me to open an indoor play centre for kids."

Belonging to a prominent business family in Bahrain, Ms Yateem has enjoyed a multi-cultural upbringing being born in London, living in the US and the kingdom.

She completed her bachelor's degree in English at the George Washington University and Masters in Secondary Education before taking up a teaching position at the DC Public School. She returned to Bahrain in 1998 and took up the post of English teacher at the Ibn Khuldoon National School and later with the Shaikha Hessa Girls' School.

She said: "I really wanted to bring something new and exciting to Bahrain for the children. I chose the word PLAY because it encompasses all the different types of activities I wanted to offer from dramatic play to active play.

"I think it is very important for every child to enjoy such play experiences. During the summer Bahrain is so hot that most outdoor activities are limited. So here is an alternative and a golden opportunity to play."

PLAY is currently actively seeking qualified candidates to join its team. She said: "We are looking for local and international recruits. I am planning to approach universities that offer a degree in education for possible interns.

"Safety is one of our prime concerns and we are looking into different systems to keep a track on the children."

PLAY will offer day passes for guests and tourists and membership packages for locals.

Ms Yateem explained that Seef Mall was the chosen location because of its family oriention and central location. She said: "I wanted to open PLAY in an area I felt had good traffic. I like Seef Mall because it is pleasant and cheery.

"The mall is enhancing its services and there are many new outlets. I am looking forward to also serving some healthy and delicious treats at the PLAY."

The facility is being constructed and designed by Bahrain company 3Di, utilising specialist equipment sourced locally and internationally.