Party's on for toddlers

What started as a small time business investment for two Bahrain-based expatriate housewives has now grown by leaps and bounds and developed its niche in the children's entertainment sector on the island.

Katrina Smith from Scotland and Joanne Bromyard from England launched their mobile hire business - jk softplay - in January for children four years and below and have been blown away by the response they have received so far.

Joanne, mother of two-year-old Joseph, said: "Some toddlers feel intimidated in malls with mega machines in the entertainment areas and having gone through the same experience with our children, Katrina and I thought of starting our softplay hire venture. So basically our business was borne out of our own personal need for our toddlers."

jk softplay comprises a plethora of brightly-coloured padded floor mats, a variety of shapes, puzzles, collapsible crawling tunnels, soft climbing stairs that apart from providing safe playing apparatus also stokes up the young ones' imagination and develops their motor skills.

Business partner and mother-of-four Katrina, who has a two-year-old toddler son, Ashton, and three elder children - Ellie, 10, Joshua, 17, and Kerian, 25, said: "Toddlers can tumble, crawl, and climb the equipment safely in the comfortable environment of their own house.

"Some take their first steps on the equipment and those moments are unforgettable for their parents."

The duo organise around two parties a week and do everything themselves, from sanitising the equipment before and after each event, transporting the equipment in their cars to the venue to setting it up - which takes a little less than an hour - and then collecting it later.

"It's a good physical workout as we're not just sitting in the office! I don't wobble as much," laughed Joanne. "The kids love it and are totally worn out after the party."

During the hot summer months more soft play equipment from the UK will arrive to meet the growing demand. Joanne explained: "Professional party organisers have contacted us and we have done one event together which is a huge complement. In fact, we have also been asked if we wanted to sell our business but we declined.

"This is our baby and when we get busier we will have the option to pick and choose what events we want to take on."

But, as for now, both Katrina and Joanne are enjoying their maiden foray in the business of having fun.