A pony to look after Amedea: the story behind Rainbow Pony
Every child who comes to LariDea meets 2 ponies at the entrance, by the rainbow arch. One is Rainbow Pony. The other is Astro Pony.
Rainbow Pony began as a gift. A big sister chose it for her newborn sister, with one job in mind: to look after her.
A gift from a big sister
Amedea was born in Pattaya in 2024. In her first days, she stayed in an incubator, because she needed help with her breathing.
Her big sister, Ilaria, was 3 years old. When Ilaria came to the hospital to meet Amedea for the first time, she had one request, and she insisted on it: her sister needed a gift. Ilaria wanted a pony, a pony that would look after Amedea and help her get well quickly, so the 2 sisters could be together.
So the family bought a pony, and Ilaria gave it to her sister.
From a gift to a mascot
Later, that pony became Rainbow Pony, one of our 2 mascots. Rainbow Pony stands for that first gift from one sister to the other, and for the warmth behind it.
A 3-year-old didn't have many ways to help a baby in an incubator. She found one anyway. That's the feeling we want in every corner of LariDea: small people looking out for each other, and grown-ups looking out for all of them.
Rainbow Pony also gives its name to our 30-day unlimited membership.
Rainbow Pony's floor
Rainbow Pony is the mascot of our ground floor, the floor for ages 1 to 3.
It suits a pony that was meant to look after a baby. Here, the youngest children find:
- soft shapes to climb, and low slides
- a ball pit
- a pony carousel
- building blocks and pretend play
- the activity corner, with free craft sessions at 11:00, 15:00 and 18:00
Reception and the café counter are on the same floor, so a parent is never more than a few steps from a toddler who decides the slide is too big afterall.
Our team keeps this floor for ages 1 to 3, all day, busy weekends included. Bigger children play upstairs. Several of our free crafts at the activity corner feature animals, such as paper bag puppets with animal faces and cups decorated as animal plant pots. Small children can glue and color, with a parent next to them and a host at the table.
Astro Pony, upstairs
Rainbow Pony has a companion: Astro Pony, the mascot of our upper floor, for ages 4 to 10.
Astro Pony's floor is for climbing, bouncing and speed: trampolines, a zipline, foam and ball pits, climbing walls and tunnels, a spiral slide, a suspended net with yoga balls and an interactive wall. We designed it with a specialist who works with children. Parents can join in on almost everything; the spiral slide is for children only, for safety. Older brothers and sisters aged 8 to 10 play up heretoo.
Astro Pony gives its name to our 60-day membership with 16 entries.
Children learn which pony belongs to their age long before they learn the floor number. "I'm going to Astro today" means something to a 5-year-old. So does moving up from Rainbow Pony to Astro Pony, the day a child turns 4.
A first visit to Rainbow Pony's floor
If your child is between 1 and 3, a few simple things help the first visit go well:
- Come after a nap, when your little one is rested.
- Bring socks for your child and for you. LariDea grip socks are sold at reception if you forget.
- Formula and baby food are fine to bring. Other food and drinks come from our café and stay in the café.
- Start with 1 hour. You'll see how your child likes it, and you can stay longer next time.
- Stay close and join in. Parents are welcome on the ground-floor equipment with their toddler.
What Rainbow Pony means for your child
A pony to look after a small child: that's the idea behind Rainbow Pony, and it's also the idea behind our house rules.
- 3 matching stickers at check-in: 1 on your child's clothes, 1 for you, 1 for our entry log. A child can only leave with the adult holding the matchingsticker.
- Ages kept apart: toddlers play on their own floor, away from bigger children.
- Clean all day: high-touch surfaces wiped every hour, toys rotating through sanitation, and a deep clean every day.
- People who watch: play supervisors on both floors, CCTV cameras in the play areas, and parents who stay close.
- 1 nanny for 1 child: if you'd like help, a nanny can look after your child. Our nannies are trained in first aid, AEDand CPR.
The rules at LariDea are the rules used at home with Ilaria and Amedea. Our Warm Stories about safety and about the nanny service explain them in full.
When a new baby arrives
If a new brother or sister is on the way in your family, Ilaria's idea is an easy one to borrow. Let the older child choose a small gift for the baby. It gives them a job from the first day, and a way to say "I'm your big sister" or "I'm your big brother" before they can play together.
Later, when the baby is big enough, bring them both to LariDea. The little one can start on Rainbow Pony's floor, and the older one can show them around. If your older child is 4 or more, they'll play upstairs on Astro Pony's floor, and you can all meet at a café table between rounds of play.
Come and meet the ponies
You'll find Rainbow Pony and Astro Pony at our entrance, every day from 11:00 to 20:00, public holidays included, at the Again Project next to Terminal 21 Pattaya.
Say hello to them on your way in, and again on your way out. Then ask your child which pony is theirs.
Questions before your visit? Message us on LINE or WhatsApp at +66 81 110 1713.
