The summer break is almost here, which means most parents will need to spend a little extra time with their children. While free of homework and obligations, kids will still need someone to encourage them to read and stay active instead of spending all their free time in front of the computers and video games. In Dubai, outdoor activities aren’t the best solution as the temperatures stay between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius. However, summertime fun can be found everywhere and a little planning will help parents stop worrying about the lack of time.
Book a Summer Camp
This summer, there are more summer camps in Dubai, and of course most of them are more expensive in comparison to last year. GEMS English Language School offers children aged 4-14 to improve their English language proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing. The Summer Brain Camp will be available at Jumeirah 1, Jumeirah Terrace Building and will keep children busy with brain training to enhance their thinking and learning skills. And Dubai Holiday Camps (AED 140 per day/AED595 per week) will have classes for all ages that will feature sports (football, swimming, basketball, tennis, martial arts, yoga, dodgeball, climbing), painting, cooking, dancing, games and excursions. Their camps will be at the Dubai International Academy in Emirates Hills, the Raffles International School, South Campus in Umm Suqeim, and Deira International School in Festival City.
The Little Gym summer camp at Ibn Battuta Mall will be open to all children aged 3 to 12 years and will offer Sunday activities such as sports and gymnastics, games, rides, and arts and crafts. The Creche Out at Pyramids at Wafi will also have summer caps with lots of games, fun science, crafts, treasure hunts, and so on.
If you want to encourage your children to be more physically active, you can book a sports camp. One of them is the Gulf Star Sports Holiday Camps, which will be held at Jebel Ali Primary School and Repton School Nad Al Sheba. They will also have a Toddler Camp at Dovecote Nursery and a Kartdrome Karting Camp with activities taking place at the Dubai Autodrome. You can find dance classes in ballet, tap and jazz at Lisa Dance Dubai or check the M&S Sports Camps, which will offer a multi activity and nursery camp, as well as a holiday swim school camp at SAFA Private School, and a football camp at Dubai World Trade Centre.
Generally, parents can also book summer classes and activities across Dubai’s shopping malls and nurseries for the little ones. Most summer camps begin at the end of June, but some are available even now. Don’t expect them to be cheap – on average prices are around AED170-200 per day and AED500 for the whole week.
Join in a Summer Reading Program
This is a great way to inspire reading in little kids. You can select books from their reading lists or add some fun titles that will ensure your child isn’t just learning, but also entertaining himself.
Take Them to a Water Amusement Park
Dubai may be built in the desert, but it doesn’t prevent it from offering some of the most amazing water adventures. The Marine & Water Park and the Aquadventure at Atlantis is a great summer destination for both parents and children, offering water roller coasters, speed slides, diving and even swimming with dolphins. The Wild Wadi Waterpark is an outdoor, themed water park, near the Burj Al Arab and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
Cook Together
Cooking with the kids is educational, fun and useful, but it can also be very messy. You can teach the little ones how to make their own sandwiches, while the bigger kids can help you bake cookies. Home-made ice cream is also a great option.
Plan a Family Vacation
Vacations are quite expensive, but are absolutely worth it. You can book a group pre-paid package, so you can save from the listed prices. Hilton’s summer sale also offers opportunities to book great holidays for less this summer. A road trip to near city is also a great, yet affordable alternative, unless you are with a baby or with more than three kids.
There are a lot of other things you can do with the children during the school break. The only bad thing is that they all require time, which most parents don’t seem to have in excess even during the summer. Just don’t let them spend too much time playing online and video games or watching TV. Instead, try to make it easier for them to be active.
