Kids need their space

Mumbai, Dec. 28 -- If you visit Glenheights, the Powai building that Elsie Gabriel lives in, you will be met with towering gates that lead up to a sweeping driveway that is surrounded by lush lawns.

But ask her if there's enough space for her son to cycle around or play in, and her answer is a somewhat disgruntled 'No'. The reason: children are 'not allowed' to play in the expansive gardens.

"There is just no space for the kids to play. Cyclists are not permitted in the Glen family garden either.

And the space around which the cars drive in and out of the building is used as a play area," says Gabriel, who says she lives in fear of one of the kids being hit by a speeding car. Afreen and Aria Namdarian, who stay in a housing colony in Parel that was constructed in the early 1970s, are much luckier.

The builders of this Parsi baug ensured that the children of future generations would have enough space to play in. "Care has been taken to ensure that the flat owners not only have parking space but open garden space as well.

We have two big grounds for the children to play; one is used for games such as throwball, football and cricket, the other has swings, slides and a jungle gym for the younger children," says R Namdarian, the girls' father. Besides, he says, the pathways inside the baug are sufficient for cycling and skating.

"One ground floor flat has been converted into a club with facilities for indoor sports like pool, carrom, chess etc," he adds. kids need that play break However, not everyone is fortunate enough to live in buildings that have adequate space for children to play in.

As a result, youngsters are increasingly joining gyms and activity classes or just staying indoors. "This has resulted in many kids becoming obese and not being able to develop the kind of social skills that they pick up when they play in a group," points out Banoo Jasubhoy, who runs Fit Tot, a gym for juniors in Walkeshwar.

Adds fitness expert Leena Mogre, "Participating in fitness activities gives kids a much-needed break from their daily academic schedule. It also acts as a great stress buster while keeping them in top shape.

In addition, being involved in outdoor activities and sports keeps them away from the television and the Internet and helps them get more disciplined as well." Narendra Negandhi would agree.

He worries that his 11-year-old daughter doesn't go down to play as often as she'd like to because she simply doesn't have enough space to play in. "When she goes down, I tell her to play in the lobby.

She also plays in the car park. But how much can one play there?" asks the secretary of the newly-constructed Mayfair Sonata Green building in Vikhroli.

Like most new constructions, this building has a handkerchief-sized playground and a sandpit with a few jungle gyms. Negandhi points out that the play area is fit only for kids between one and six years.

park, don't play According to the law, builders are not supposed to sell podium space, but, says Negandhi, "Many builders use the podium area as parking space and sell it. " In other words, builders often compromise on the garden and play areas.

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