Not every kid wants to play sports or be competitive. These arts, craft and cooking classes and camps for kids are sure to excite more creative little souls.
Art Explorers Summer Camps
Children and teenagers are invited to explore the Louvre Abu Dhabi and learn about world history and culture during their Art Explorers Summer Camps. Kicking off this month, Art Explorers for Children (ages six-11) and Teenagers (ages 12-16) will offer hands-on activities, workshops, film and interactive games, plus they can document adventures throughout Ancient Egypt, Africa and Europe in their own travel scrapbook.
Dhs280 for one day, Dhs1,000 for four days. Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island (600 565 566).
ArtistPals
All you need to do at an ArtistPals event is show up and take your seat – they’ll provide all the materials you need including a canvas, colours, brushes and an apron. Each event follows a painting theme and a trained artist will guide you and your child (from seven years) through each step while encouraging you to get creative in your own way. Parents are encouraged to attend art parties with their kids and after two hours, you’ll take home two painted canvases of your own creation. ArtistPals host events in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ruwais at weekends.
Dhs120 per ticket. For more information, visit www.artistpals.com
Café Ceramique
Part café, part art studio, Café Ceramique has been helping kids discover art and design through pottery painting for more than 15 years. Its locations across the UAE are open seven days a week, offering pottery and art classes and workshops for kids, groups and parties. Kids (from four years) can paint a white ceramic piece, an animal or a mug for example, and the item can be picked up after one week when it’s dry.
Dhs39-65. Various locations, www.cafeceramique.ae.
Candylicious
Ever made your own lollipop? Family classes at Candylicious (opposite the Aquarium, Dubai Mall) teach you and your kids to work together to design your very own lollipops. Led by a master candy maker, the two-hour workshop will start with an introduction to candy-making and the ingredients used, followed by a demonstration before you and your group are let loose to get your hands sticky in designing your own.
Prices vary. The Dubai Mall (04 330 8700)
Carluccio’s
Take your mini-me on a tour of Italy with a cooking class at Carluccio’s where a chef will teach them the basics of pasta and pizza making. Kids are introduced to the ingredients, cooking steps, hygiene and safety before getting to the juicy stage of making and then eating their own pasta. Classes are 90 minutes and each child will take home a chef’s hat, certificate and group photograph. Dhs49 per child (from three years) on Thursdays and Saturdays, phone your nearest Carluccio’s to book. They will host a class anytime for more than five to seven kids.
Various locations, www.carlucciosme.com
thejamjar
Dubai community arts space thejamjar is hosting a summer camp from 10.30am-12.30pm daily until July 11 and from August 18-29. Designed to give young art enthusiasts the chance to learn about different artists and art forms in a fun, interactive environment, with artistic projects, puzzles and games each day, the camp will be divided into two age groups, three to five years and six to 14 years.
Dhs180 per day, Dhs855 for one week, Dhs1,600 for two weeks. Al Quoz (04 341 7303)
Tanuki
If you dream of having a junior sushi chef at home, Asian restaurant Tanuki will make your dream a reality. Their one-hour sushi master class takes place every Saturday from 4pm-5pm for children from ten years where a chef will teach them how to make perfect sushi and nigiri rolls for Dhs49.
The Dubai Mall (04 580 8228)
The Chef’s Palette
Aspiring junior chefs aged from eight to 14 years have the opportunity to spend two hours of interactive fun with a Michelin trained chef at The Chef’s Palette. From September, Chef Romain Van Durmen will conduct a two-hour interactive class every week (Monday and Tuesday from 4pm-6pm) or enroll your child in a ten-week workshop for the ultimate culinary adventure.
Fairmont The Palm (04 457 3457).
