The season every parent dreads is almost upon us. Yes, if just the thought of the little darlings being off school and stuck indoors for almost three whole months is giving you panic attacks and palpitations, then hyperventilate no more. There’s plenty going on in town to keep the whole family occupied. From play options galore at Summer in Abu Dhabi to the fab Cartoonival stage show to an abundance of summer camps and programmes that are sure to gee them up (and wear them out), you’ll banish the boredom once and for all. And should you find yourself stuck at home on the occasional day, then don’t panic, we’ve come up with some top tips to keep you sane, so you’ll all survive the summer, marbles intact…
Adventure World
Unleash all their pent up energy at Adventure World – an interactive educational zone with 11 activities to keep the kids occupied and stimulated. Jumping, bouncing, running, spinning and the Make it or Break it challenge will keep them busy – at least for an hour or two.
Bumper World
Slightly surreal, Bumper Ball participants don huge inflatable ball suits and have to score goals against the opposing team. It’s rather like football, only you are absolutely required to bump yourself – and everyone else – silly in the process. Requires a large intake of e-numbers to ensure success.
Career World
These days kids have so many wonderful options open to them career wise – but making a decision isn’t always easy. Thankfully, Kidz Wannabe is a mini city where your brood can try their hands at all sorts of different jobs and get a taste of life as a grown up. Of course, it’s all good fun, but with an educational slant too. Sprogs get to be doctors, firemen, policemen, bakers, artists, TV presenters and even airline pilots!
Cartoonival!
Musical, magical mayhem will be the order of the day when the Cartoonival, with its lively cast of all the cuddliest – and zaniest – characters on Cartoon Network, hits town. Meet naughty Mojo Jojo, who is trying to steal the key to Cartoonival by outwitting Bloo and Barnaby. In the end, amid lots of singing, dancing and adventures, the Cartoon network gang (Dexter and Dee Dee, the Powerpuff Girls, Coco, Eduardo and Yumi) prevail. This 70 minute live stage show, in two parts, is the big draw of the festival.
Pin Ball World
If you fancy an activity that includes all the family, check out the giant pinball maze, where teams use their ears and not their eyes to tilt and guide the ball through the maze to find the winning hole. A fun and strategic family pursuit.
Play World
Fulla’s House
A dream come true for girlie girls, they can join their favourite doll, Fulla, in her own, full-sized playhouse. A girl of many talents, Fulla has arranged loads of fun activities for all her friends who visit. Get ready to celebrate all things pink and fluffy!
Ben 10 Boot Camp
Not to be outdone by Fulla’s fantastic fun house next door, pint-sized alien morpher Ben 10 has a few tricks of his own to stave off the summer boredom. Beat the nasty ‘Ultimate Aliens’ the Ben 10 way – by picking a team of friends, choosing your oozie and blasting those critters to kingdom come. With all sorts of sandbags, strategic bushes and obstacles the extra terrestrial mutants can hide behind, this is boisterous, un-PC fun at its very best.
Show World
Dora the Explorer
Our favourite Latina is back with a fantastic entourage and lots of fun singing, dancing and learning for tots to enjoy. Yes, Dora and Boots will be putting on a stellar performance in her live stage show, entitled Vamonos! Expect to be singing the songs in your head for weeks afterwards…
Looney Tunes
Get active and boogie on down with Tweety, Bugs, Daffy, Sylvester and others at the Move It dance workshop and showcase. Little ones will love bopping away loads of energy with their fave cartoon characters..
Thor
A superhero-tastic show, Thor will wow little boys as they come face to face with an impressive cast of life-size comic heroes. The stage show tells the story of the evil Green Goblin and his mission to steal Thor’s magic hammer so he can take over the world. But Thor isn’t having any of it and calls his best mates – Spider-Man and Captain America – to help him foil the dastardly plot. Real tiny ones may find the Green Goblin rather scary, but ages five and up will go bonkers for it.
SpongeBob SquarePants
It’s a mystery why this bizarre character is so popular (to parents at least) but SpongeBob and his band of blobby, seafaring mates drive our kids wild with excitement. So, when the short-clad, tie-wearing phylum porifera (that’s his Latin classification) takes to the stage this summer with the equally unattractive Patrick the starfish, Squidward Tenticles and Krabby Patty, just take it on the chin and make sure you’ve booked the sprogs a front row seat. We know he looks unnervingly like great auntie Mabel in her baggy t-shirt and leggings – but it’s the kids that matter.
Justice League Batman
Another superhero live show which will no doubt enthrall the nippers, Justice League Batman tells the tale of how Gotham City is stripped of its husky-voiced superhero. Batman is captured by the Joker and his evil female side-kick, Star Sapphire, who plan to release laughing gas all over the city (doesn’t sound too dastardly to us.) But Batman manages to get a message to hot-pant clad Wonder Woman, who helps set things to rights with her super twirly gold whip work. Lots of fun and action, and probably worth watching for the costumes alone.
Smurf World
Oh how we love those adorable little fellas in blue. Go completely Smurf mad in this magical village where little people with squeaky voices (who always look cold but never wear jumpers) will charm your kids while you nip off for a well-deserved coffee. The cute comic and TV characters have loads of activities lined up to keep the nippers busy.
A-Maze-Ing World
Get lost! Basically, this is a large natural history exhibition, laid out like a maze, so that you can explore a range of different educational areas while you try and locate the exit. Perfect if your nippers like leading you up blind alleys full of dinosaurs, dolphins and tigers.
Cirque World
Roll up, roll up! Children are natural clowns – so why not harness their performance abilities and enroll them in a circus summer school? Little ones will learn how laugh like a clown, juggle (brilliant for improving hand to eye coordination) perform impressive tricks like an acrobat (wonderful exercise and great for their street cred) or even learn how to ride a unicycle…
Fun World
Fun fair rides and games
An indoor funfair packed with all sorts of tummy turning rides guaranteed to make mum and dad go green with nausea – and junior squeal in delight. A word of warning – go easy on the doughnuts and popcorn…
Gyroscopes and adventure playgrounds
Strap the little tykes into the gyroscope – a ride actually designed to train astronauts, and let them twirl themselves silly. Afterwards, they can burn off even more calories in the adventure playground jungle gym – a hamster’s rota stack-style facility with bouncy soft play stuff.
Summer in Abu Dhabi runs June 30-July 31 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). For more information, visit www.summerinabudhabi.ae.
