THANE: Instead of watching TV, loafing around with friends or dangerously performing stunts on trains, about 30-odd children living in the Mariay Nagar chawl in Kolshet here are getting a chance to experience the true joy of childhood — playing.From 4-6pm everyday, a one room and kitchen space is thrown open for the children to do as they please. They settle down on the clean, tiled floor with the board games and toys, while in the narrow space outside, some start playing badminton or ping-pong. Happy laughter and shrieks of joy ring out throughout the afternoon.“Our children have been given a chance to explore their skills in a way that they could not have before, as we could not afford such expensive learning-centric games or send them to schools that focus on extra-curricular activities. I’m really glad to see them so excited about learning through games and more so, that Sonali ma’am takes time out of her schedule for them,” said Shobha Mahabale, a resident of the chawl whose 12-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter have been regulars at the centre since it started last December.Sonali Vaishya , a 44-year-old housewife with two children, is the moving force behind the free games centre. From renting the space and organising a toy donation in her residential society, she has stepped beyond her family duties to help these children. “I came across the idea to create this game room or centre when I was packing up some of my son’s old toys, and my maid casually mentioned that these toys would mean a lot to the children living in her area,” she said.Vaishya spends over Rs 3,000 on the games room every month. “It’s a simple and affordable space, and my husband, who has a gynaecology nursing home in Thane (West), fully supports it,” she said.“As the children have school during the day, I keep the games room open from 4pm to 6pm. I go there through the week and my maid opens and shuts the centre on the weekends. I was pleasantly surprised that these games were coming of use to children from five to 15. I have seen these extracurricular activities and games positively influence my children’s personalities, and hope they benefit these children in the same way,” said Vaishya.Be it working on their vocabulary and concentration through games like Scrabble chess and carrom to building team spirit through badminton, these games have already begun influencing the lives of the youngsters. “My son gets really competitive and so didn’t get along with many people here. However, he has been going to this centre since it opened on Christmas and has managed to make a few friends. He has also started going online and learning new English words to be better at some word game at the centre,” said another resident here.The centre focuses on providing a safe zone for children to discover their hobbies and talents, but Vaishya also lets their mothers use it for yoga and other such activities thereafter. “These women work all day and have no space or time for their own recreation, so this space gives them a way to de-stress. Some of the residents in my society have begun conducting yoga and dance sessions for these women on a pro bono basis. I have been thinking of making the most of this space and have even decided to start storytelling and language sessions for the youngsters soon,” said Vaishya.

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