Guest blog from youngest daughter Rebecca – en route to The Lake District via Dubai. If you are visiting Singapore, Santa Fe, Lisbon or any of the other KidZania locations, KidZania is a must to experience.
You can spend a full day there watching your kids come alive in terms of Responsibility, Imagination, Achievement and living the concept of working hard and winning big. Here’s Bex’s report!
On our way to The Lakes to visit Dad, we made a four-day stopover in Dubai.
First on our list was the incredibly impressive KidZania, an interactive and educational entertainment concept for children aged 1-14 years old. KidZania is a miniature city, an indoor facility designed as a scaled-down replica of a fully functioning city, complete with buildings, streets, and various establishments. All activities involve role-play, and children can explore over 60 real-life adventures, trying out different professions and activities in a realistic setting, while earning KidZos (KidZania currency).
As a mother of two girls, Tilly (10) and Winnie (6), we were thrilled about our trip to KidZania. I had heard great things, but I was completely blown away once inside. My childrens’ eyes lit up. The miniature city was bustling with activity, and they couldn’t wait to explore. After getting their passport photos taken and opening their own bank accounts, they were ready to start earning money! Our fashion lover, Tilly, headed straight for the catwalk to do a fashion shoot, while our animal-loving Winnie went directly to the vet’s surgery.
Throughout the day, we watched the girls try various professions. Tilly delivered parcels as a courier, worked as a dentist, and served as a maternity nurse. Winnie fought a (simulated) fire and learned to fly a plane in a realistic cockpit simulator. Both girls loved working at McDonald’s and eating their own burgers! They even learned how to properly make a bed in a hotel room, which could come in handy!
What impressed me most was how the activities fostered teamwork and decision-making skills. I saw Winnie collaborate with other children to solve a crime at the police station, while Tilly had to decide how to spend her hard-earned KidZos on a perfume-making experience and even a degree in architecture at the university. KidZania is all about independence – parents are not allowed in the activity zones, but we can watch from the windows while staff guide the children in their professions.
After seven hours and many careers, it was time to check the bank balance and spend their hard-earned money in the KidZania department store. Welcome to the real world, girls!
There are 30 KidZania locations around the world – an absolute must-visit when touring with kids!
