“PLAY stands for ‘Purposeful Learning and Activities for the Young.’
It is Okada Manila’s family- friendly indoor fun facility where child’s play is elevated to an engaging and enriching experience,” says Ivaylo Ivanov, Vice President for Hotel Operations.
PLAY, Okada Manila's highly innovative and incredibly exciting kids' play and games facilities was unveiled last Saturday, Feb. 10.
We all know that creative, sporty, exploring activities provide a positive outlet for children (and adults) to express their emotions, and this starts at a very young age.
When inspired learning is all fun and games and will set the children up as a creative thinker in all walks of life.
Parents are often told that the best way to help their kids learn is by allowing their little warriors to explore and experience things first hand through play. Learning starts from the moment kids are born, so it’s very important for parents to be able to provide them with tools and platforms that will allow them to unleash their potential.
Play is one, if not the most effective way for children to learn more about themselves and the world around them.1 It is through play that kids start building a sense of self-worth and where they begin to learn the ability to concentrate and let their imaginations run free. Drawing, doodling, or even playing with dough or dolls, for example, encourage children to become more creative and express themselves more freely. Letting them build their own structures through blocks, shapes, and puzzles, on the other hand, help them organize things and develop their sense of logic.
Allowing them to interact with other kids through free play help them polish their social and motor skills while also improving their strength and immunity.
Allowing them to interact with other kids through free play help them polish their social and motor skills while also improving their strength and immunity.
These are just a few of the things inspired learning through fun and games can do to children. Interestingly, this is also the very same approach Okada Manila is taking as it promotes the holistic development of kids of all ages with the opening of the latest inclusive and multi- functional entertainment and leisure facility within their expansive location: PLAY at Okada Manila.
Inspired approach to creative learning
Just when you thought you’ve seen and experienced basically everything that established play spaces in the metro can offer, along comes a new “play arena” that promises a lot more for your children than just a fun-filled playday.
Kids, toddlers can move around the cushioned play space, they all have great fun as they slide down mini and giant chutes, conquer padded obstacle courses, put basketballs through a hoop, play pretend grocery shopping with other kids their age, and sing and dance to their hearts delight at PLAY, Okada Manila’s latest play space and multi- functional learning arena.
Kids, toddlers can move around the cushioned play space, they all have great fun as they slide down mini and giant chutes, conquer padded obstacle courses, put basketballs through a hoop, play pretend grocery shopping with other kids their age, and sing and dance to their hearts delight at PLAY, Okada Manila’s latest play space and multi- functional learning arena.
PLAY’s management team is led by certified expert coaches and licensed teachers trained to provide guests the highest standard of care and fun learning.
The facility offers dedicated learning programs designed to address the developmental needs of children, which include:
(1) Colors and Creations, An arts and crafts program designed to develop creativity and imagination by improving the use of fine motor skills through detailing, color coordination and artistic impression plus work behavior like sitting tolerance, focus and concentration;
(2) Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, a program aimed at enhancing the child’s development as they explore the world around them. This also includes sessions for caregivers to stay updated and improve their communication, child-minding and domestic engineering skills, as well as one-on-one sessions for specific academic tutorial (e.g., math, science, and reading) and special needs therapy (i.e., occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy);
(3) Music and Movement, which help harness and showcase the natural talent of kids through group sessions focused on dance, music, and the performing arts; and
(4) Life Skills, where kids are trained on classes that focus on practical matters, such as social graces, good housekeeping, creative writing skills, anti-bullying, natural remedies, aromatherapy, and personal nutrition.
(1) Colors and Creations, An arts and crafts program designed to develop creativity and imagination by improving the use of fine motor skills through detailing, color coordination and artistic impression plus work behavior like sitting tolerance, focus and concentration;
(2) Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, a program aimed at enhancing the child’s development as they explore the world around them. This also includes sessions for caregivers to stay updated and improve their communication, child-minding and domestic engineering skills, as well as one-on-one sessions for specific academic tutorial (e.g., math, science, and reading) and special needs therapy (i.e., occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy);
(3) Music and Movement, which help harness and showcase the natural talent of kids through group sessions focused on dance, music, and the performing arts; and
(4) Life Skills, where kids are trained on classes that focus on practical matters, such as social graces, good housekeeping, creative writing skills, anti-bullying, natural remedies, aromatherapy, and personal nutrition.
PLAY is an All-out fun for kids, tweenies, and teens
“We know for a fact that allowing children to play, explore, and interact with other children, either in a free or structured manner, rewards them with a lot more beyond just a few moments of fun,” adds Vikki Aquino, Director of Spa, Fitness and Recreation. “That’s basically the idea we had for PLAY. We want to have a space where they can learn, grow, and understand more of the world around them, all while they are having fun and simply being the kids that they are.”
PLAY is designed to become a multi-functional platform that addresses the recreation and learning needs of kids aged 1-16 years old. PLAY boasts of eight (8) purpose-built play areas that will reward kids with the fun and adventure they crave for, no matter what age they are in.
At Okada Manila, there's :
- Wizard’s Den, an interactive video game space where kids use gestures to defeat mythical creatures;
- Mini Steps & Mini Me, a dedicated play and learning space for children aged 0-3 years old;
- Little Town, which allows children hands-on play in a banking, postal, school, grocery and home environment to gain valuable learning and practical experience of every day grown-up life;
- Little Park, a two-level playground and maze where toddlers can spend their limitless energy and explore their physical strength;
- Sports Zone, an active zone with artificial grass court for sports games;
- Janguru, a multi-level playground and maze for kids over 110 centimeters
- The Stage, where kids can unleash their inner performer and cultivate their singing, dancing, acting, and public speaking skills;
- My Party Place, a gaming and events space that can host birthday parties, corporate events, team-building activities, or any special occasion.
The facility, which can be accessed via the Coral Wing lobby of Okada Manila, can accommodate up to 300 guests at a given time. It will also have several other features, like child-friendly comfort rooms, an emergency response team composed of first-aid qualified PLAY coaches and marshals, a snack bar, a kiddie gift shop, and over 30 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to ensure that kids will have all the fun they want within a convenient, safe, and secure environment.
Every child grows and develops at a pace that’s uniquely their own. See them fulfill early life milestones while they slide down giant chutes, conquer padded obstacle courses, put basketballs through a hoop, play pretend grocery shopping with other kids their age, and sing and dance to their hearts delight at PLAY, Okada Manila’s latest play space and multi- functional learning arena.
PLAY is at Coral Wing lobby of Okada Manila., open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday to Thursday and from 10a.m. to 12 midnight, Friday and Saturday.
Visit Okada Manila’s official website at http://www.okadamanila.com and take the first big step towards enjoying purposeful learning and activities for your young warriors at PLAY.