Last year, the Department of Social Services opened a "wait room" for kids to help take some stress off families entering the shelter system.

On Thursday, the Wait Space room at the Path Intake Center celebrated its first anniversary.

The room was designed to give kids a place to just be kids, while their parents go through the sometimes stressful and emotional process of entering the shelter system.

While the adults handle the paperwork, the children can play games, watch TV, read books and keep each other company.

"When we first started, we were serving 14 children a week and now we're serving 87 children a week. Once they drop their child off, they feel like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders and the children are just excited to be here. They're excited to be children again and explore the room and explore all the different activities we provide,” says Claudette Jordan, the Wait Space manager.

All city residents going through the shelter system must go through this center, so the room has eased stress on families from the Bronx and beyond.