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Child's Play

Playtime at the mall

November 14th, 2007 issue

By Cecilia Sanchez Beltran

NOVÝ SMÍCHOV
Price: 29 Kč/hour
Open: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Tel.: 251 101 062

PALÁC FLÓRA
Price: 35 Kč/hour
Open: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Tel.: 736 678 932

METROPOLE
Price: 35 Kč/hour
Open: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Tel.: 257 952 720

PALLADIUM
Open: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Tel.: 225 770 250

For the Post

If grandma can’t babysit while you shop for the holidays, head to a Prague mall. Many of the bigger malls have a special corner for the little ones to play while you shop for Santa’s presents unobserved.

On the second level of Nový Smíchov in Anděl, near the Sacré Coeur Park exit, you’ll find a safe haven for children called Dětský koutek (Children’s Corner). Look for the door painted with colorful flowers opening to a hallway where a row of strollers are parked.  
If your child is 3 years or older, you can leave him or her with trained adult supervisors. Younger children must be accompanied by a guardian at least 18 years old. Some mothers with babies come to breastfeed here while their older toddlers play with other children.
Kids here usually run to slide into a pool filled with balls first. Plastic cars parked nearby grab their attention next. For a little quiet time, some watch cartoons.
Be sure to feed your child beforehand, as food is not allowed inside. But if hunger calls, head for the Sports Café on the third floor. A large carousel spins slowly out front, a big attraction for children of all ages. You’ll also find more rides one floor below, where children love the train and the bus.
Looking for a kid-friendly mall in Prague 3? Take the Green Line to Palác Flóra, where you’ll find a smaller version of Nový Smíchov’s Dětský koutek on the top floor, next to the food court. Little girls love to pile up dishes on the plastic kitchen sink here, and play with baby dolls in little strollers. The boys are happy assembling railways for toy trains and testing the limits of their bodies on the slide.
One recent afternoon, a mother from England left her young son to play in the enclosed area while she lunched with her sister at a nearby table.
“It’s so convenient to be able to sit and eat while he plays,” she said.  “My son would never stay still at the table.”         
Children must be 3 or older to be left without a guardian.
Metropole at Zličín has a Dětský koutek called Time Out, accessible via an elevator that goes to an isolated second level. Here, two stories of fun make time fly by for children while you shop. The dolphin and fish paintings on the wall, sea creatures hanging as mobiles and a giant fish slide at the center that falls into a pool of white and blue plastic balls are sure to inspire imaginative play. Children can bring their snacks and eat them here.
For family dining, try the Človíčkov café at the other end of the mall. It has a play area with a tree house, a ramp and some tricycles. On any given day, the place will be packed with children of all ages. A sign warns parents that the restaurant does not take care of children, and requires an adult to be present at all times. It’s still a deal: Človíčkov offers unlimited use of the facilities for only 39 Kč ($2.15).
At Palladium, the glitzy new mall on náměstí Republiky, a bookstore and café on the lowest level called Neo-Palladium has a small spot for little children beside the cascading fountain. It  includes a table with colored pencils and paper for little people who want to make a drawing while their moms and dads enjoy coffee and cake. Complimentary lollipops are on the coffee bar right under the staircase. At the uppermost level, you’ll find another spot for children at Tretter’s café. Though as tiny as a walk-in closet, it’s still a space where children can be children in a mall clearly designed to be an adult shopping haven.
All these facilities are open daily. For more information, call them directly.
Cecilia Sanchez Beltran can be reached at features@praguepost.com


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