Are you ready to dive into a world of wonder and creativity at the newly opened imaginative Play Centre in Meadow Lane, Portadown?
Play Away a new enchanting play haven, owned by the talented Rebekah Martin , officially opened its doors on Monday 19th August marking a new chapter in imaginative play experiences.
Before finding its home in Meadow Lane, the play centre had its beginnings in the vibrant setting of Brownlow Hub in Craigavon, where Rebekah curated engaging messy play sessions that captivated young minds.
Rebekah’s journey from the bustling streets of China to the picturesque landscapes of Holland, where she dedicated herself to teaching in private schools, adds a touch of international flair to the centre’s story.
Speaking to UrbanABC Rebekah said; “I have always been passionate about play based learning. In my experience a lot of schools stop it too early. In China teachers were given the freedom to change formal learning to more play based learning in P2. I left China in 2020 and moved to Holland and basically done the same again. So this was really where the idea came from. I loved working with children but it can be admin heavy with staff meetings, parent-teacher meetings and classroom planning, when actually it should be about the growth and development of children”.
Returning home
Upon returning to her native Armagh in 2022, Rebekah’s keen eye for opportunity led her to seize a chance to acquire all the essential equipment through a serendipitous Facebook post, setting the stage for the birth of Play Away.
“I noticed a post on Facebook by a lady who had a ran a similar business in Banbridge, it was basically sitting in her garage, so I bought it all. At that point that was all I had, equipment and an idea. So I’ve been on the search for a premises ever since”.
The new premises not only offers captivating play areas but also feature a cosy cafe space where parents can unwind while their little ones embark on thrilling adventures of imagination.
Play Sessions
Play Away offers three exciting sessions per day, starting at 9:30am, 11:30am, and 2:00pm, each lasting 90 minutes are designed to spark creativity and joy in young minds. The themed role play centre, has meticulously crafted by an Early Years Teacher with a decade of experience in child development.
“Our goal is to foster your child’s growth through child-led play-based learning, ensuring that each visit is filled with exploration and discovery”.
Inclusive Space
All staff are vetted through Access NI checks and possess extensive experience with children and will be on hand in the playroom to engage, support, and play alongside your little ones.
“While the parents ultimately are responsible for supervising their kids we aim to have staff on the floor at all times, just to allow the parents to be able to step back and relax also. This is aimed at being an inclusive space and somewhere that parents can also look forward to coming to”.
Experience the magic of a child’s imagination – where learning meets fun and imagination knows no bounds right in the centre of Portadown. Explaining the idea of theme role play Rebekah adds; “We have 12 different themes to keep things exciting and engaging for your little ones, allowing them to enter into different worlds and role-play many different characters, jobs and experiences. So every month we will change our graphic wall and toys to match the theme”.
Concluding Rebekah affirms; “There shouldn’t be barriers in children’s learning and development and I want to ensure that this environment breaks down any of those barriers. The center is aimed a 0 – 6 year old’s but if your child is still exploring play based learning at 7 then of course we won’t turn them away based on age.
Play Away is the latest business to join the growing hub of activity in one of Portadown’s busiest thoroughfares joining recently opened Chatsworth’s Carpets.
While parents are encouraged to book a play session on the website, which you can do by clicking here, walk-ins will be accommodated if capacity allows.