Got kids in different age groups and dread having to find different camps to suit their requirements? Or have a little bundle of energy who needs to let off some steam in a super fun way? Then this camp from FitRepublik for kids aged 5-14 will be the perfect place for them to enjoy activities and games beyond the norm. Yup, this is one of those camps that’ll have your kids not wanting to leave at the end of the day!

Whether you’re keen to take a mix-and-match approach with a variety of one-day or one-week camps, or prefer to go for the full camp experience, one thing’s for sure – there’ll be plenty of activities to suit every interest. From music, dance and arty stuff to waterplay in the pool’s ‘Wibit’ obstacle course, trampolining, parkour, graffiti, lip sync battles, shoe customization, jewellery making and SO much more (in case we haven’t said it already, kids these days are soooo lucky!).

And the best bit about this camp is that kids will get to have a go at so many different activities and sports with plenty of encouragement but zero pressure. The FitRepublik team know that giving children options and choices is hugely exciting – while making them feel safe and supported too – so they’ve opened up their entire venue as well as the Dubai Sports City indoor dome to combine aquatics, fitness, sports, music and more to help young campers build their confidence throughout the programme. Perfect!

Running from 8 July to 30 August, there are flexible weekly and daily packages available between 8am and 3.30pm so that you can opt for full days, half days, a full week or a day here and there – anything’s possible. Oh, and as a Sassy Reader you’ll also get 20% off if you book before 30 June. We’re also loving that there’s a discount for siblings – applicable after 30 June (who doesn’t love a discount?); you can receive 15% off the camp fee for your second child who signs up and reduced rates for booking the larger weekly packages too, hooray!

Whether they’re water babies or little disco divas, wannabe Olympians or aspiring artists – at FitRepublik you’ll find the perfect programme for your littles to spend their summer learning new skills. Get them ready for an exciting summer hols, mamas!

Movin & Groovin Summer Camp is run at FitRepublik daily from 8 Jul to 30 Aug.

To book visit FitRepublik or contact us at camps@fitrepublik.com or call 04 556 1800

Price and Package Details as Below

1 week of full-day packages – AED 1,313 per week | AED 1,050 per week after 20% early bird discount
2 weeks of full-day packages – AED 1,260 per week | AED1,008 per week after 20% early bird discount
3 weeks of full-day packages – AED 1,208 per week | AED 966 per week after 20% early bird discount
4 weeks of full-day packages – AED 1,155 per week | AED924 per week after 20% early bird discount
1 week of half-day packages – AED 1,103 per week | AED 882 per week after 20% early bird discount
2 weeks of half-day packages – AED 1,050 per week | AED 840 per week after 20% early bird discount
A single full day – AED 262.50

Early Bird Offer: 20% discount if you book before June 30^th

The post Get Your Kiddos Movin’ and Groovin’ With this Corker Of A Camp by FitRepublik appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Dr. Nashila Farrah Jaffer is aChiropractic Physician, a mama of two and the founder of ‘We Rock The Spectrum‘, a relatively new play space in the Beach Park Plaza on Jumeirah Beach Road specifically developed to help child development (& a far cry from any other soft play area in Dubai). We chatted to her about why this space is about so much more than just fun!

Why did you decide to set up WRTS in Dubai?

I have been practicing as chiropractor for 17 years now and over the years I have seen more and more cases of children having developmental delays such as gross motor weakness, postural weakness and back pain at very young ages. I believe the reason for this is the sedentary lifestyle that we are all leading compared to 15 years ago when ipads and phones were not available. In the past, children led more active lifestyles because gadgets were not readily available like they are today, so kicking a football around or playing in the garden were the norm. Nowadays, children go to school from such an early age and have regular routines when really they should be actively learning and playing through movement. Movement is essential in the development of children’s neurological system. In fact 90%  of stimulation to the brain comes from movement of the spine. So this lack of movement I feel has significantly affected the growth and development of children today.

Being a mother myself, I have seen how important it is for my children to do something active every single day and in Dubai it is not the easiest with the hot summer months. Thankfully the parks are fabulous and they are a fantastic way to keep children moving and active and encourage a healthy lifestyle in the winter months. So when I came across We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym whilst searching online, I thought this would be perfect in Dubai as an indoor playground for children to fulfil their sensory and motor development needs whilst having fun.

I call it “Play with a Purpose.”

What kind of services and classes do you offer?

We have Open Play whereby you can come with your child at any time of day, just like a regular gym, so you don’t need to prebook in advance, just show up at any time during the day. We encourage parents to play with their child inside the gym, but we also have a Drop n’ Shop option where we can supervise your child for an hour or two. We have kids fitness classes, dance and drama classes, a maths enrichment program, birthday parties, coffee shop and free wifi too. We also work very closely with Pure Child Health, a centre that offers occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, and we run parent workshops at the gym to help educate parents about child development.

Why is it so important that parents take their children to a gym?

In a day and age where computers and ipads are so readily available, it is important for children to get into good habits early on and understand that movement is an essential part of an active, healthy lifestyle. Just as adults go to the gym and exercise to keep themselves fit, the same should be available for children so that it becomes a habit. If we can encourage the importance of exercise from a young age we will avoid many more health problems later on in life.

What age should parents think about taking their kids to the gym?

We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym welcomes children as young as one year old. There are fun swings to help with spatial awareness and movement as well as soft play toys, role play and arts and crafts to encourage fine motor skills, as well as social skills interacting with other children. From birth to age five, a child’s brain develops more rapidly than at any other time in life. Scientific research has made clear that the quality of a child’s experiences in the first few years of life helps shape how their brain develops. Therefore, in my opinion I would encourage movement and activity as early as possible.

Tell us about some of the specific benefits from the exercises you offer?

There are ten pieces of equipment that will be found in every We Rock Kid’s Gym. These specialised pieces of equipment are all designed to stimulate your neurological system. For example, the climbing apparatus enhances body awareness, body scheme, motor planning and bilateral coordination. The child’s body weight, combined with gravity, provides additional proprioceptive feedback to the joints, helping the child coordinate their movement. The bolster swing provides a swinging side to side motion that is a great motor planning and motor sequencing activity. The trampoline builds lower body strength and helps to teach balance and provides a full body workout. The zip line, by far the most popular piece of equipment in the gym, is a great way to build upper extremity strength, muscle endurance, enhance the ability to integrate and tolerate movement and help give self-confidence as children challenge themselves to hold on long enough to get to the crash pit at the other end. the best part about it is that children are having fun whilst having a full workout without realising it!

How do your services and classes cater to children on the Autism spectrum specifically?

The equipment found at all We Rock The Spectrum Kid’s Gyms are the same pieces of equipment used in occupational therapy offices to help regulate children on the spectrum who experience sensory processing difficulties. In fact, statistics show that as many as one in six children experience sensory symptoms that could affect their everyday lives. We encourage parents with children on the spectrum to come and play with their child in an inclusive environment with children of all abilities. This encourages parent-child bonding, social interaction and a place where children of ALL abilities are welcomed. In addition, there are long waiting lists for some occupational therapy clinics and it can also be unaffordable for some families.

How is the gym fully inclusive? And how do you cater to differently abled children?

The gym is fully inclusive as we encourage children of all abilities to learn, play and grow together in a safe environment. We do not differentiate children into separate groups as the whole purpose and vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all kids to play together. Our staff are fully trained on the specialised equipment and we have a Calming Room for children who may need a break from the excitement of the gym.

We took our kids to We Rock The Spectrum and they LOVED it, mamas! Check it out for yourselves: 
www.werockthespectrumdubai.com

The post The Play Space That Promotes Fun With Purpose & Child Development appeared first on Sassy Mama.

We live in a world dominated by tech – and when everything from your phone to your fridge (and don’t even get me started on the TV!) is smarter than you, it’s time to jump on (key)board. Because while us mamas can probably just about get away with not knowing how to do much more than internet shopping*, it’s not the same for our kiddos. Coding and computers are going to be a part of their daily life in ways we can’t even imagine (driverless cars and computer co-workers anyone?) So how can a parent who can barely turn on a computer without hollering for her husband (cringe) help make sure her little ones are speaking the language of the future? I asked the expert (yes mamas, that would be my daughter’s IT teacher!) and this is what he said…

Read More: How to Teach Your Kids to Cut Back on Plastic

• Kodable – is a FREE downloadable app that you can download on any iPad or tablet. Set in outer space, kodable helps kids as young as three or four learn to think in sequencing, which my IT insider informs me is the best way to get little ones engaged. I tried it on my four yo and she loved the games, characters – and the iPad access. On a personal level, the sounds of the game made a nice break from the dulcet tones of Peppa Pig.
• Apple – another cost-effective way to crack coding, the Apple store offers free coding for kids at the Mall of the Emirates. Probably better for older kids – a friend of mine’s seven yo was all over this! the hour long sessions are designed to inspire kids to explore the basics of coding and robotics. For mamas in the know, they’re also offering 3-day summer camps for 8-12 year olds.
• Bee-bot – Mr IT’s final tip was to invest in a ‘Bee-bot’ – a cute robotic bumblebee that kids can programme to make basic forward, backwards, left or right movements. Since we got our Bee-bot, it’s kept both my Mr Me and my mini-me busy for hours. They’ve drawn maps and designed entire obstacle courses for the bee-bot to whizz around, leaving me time to get back to the important things in life. Like internet shopping. It’s technology, right?

Read more: Star Wars Paper Plate Mask Activity + FREE Star Wars Arts & Crafts Printable

* if you’re a computer whizzkid, I applaud you – also please can you come over and teach me the basics so my fridge doesn’t have to do my thinking for me anymore…

The post Coding For Kids: Free Apps & More appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Want to know how to win at summer, mamas? One word: Camp! And if you think this is something for older kids only then read on because littles as young as two years old can be having an absolute ball.

We all agree that keeping children entertained when it’s as hot as fire outdoors can be challenging to say the least – not to mention seriously expensive once you start tackling filling up each day with various activities. The Kids First Group of nurseries (Redwood, Willow, Odyssey and Kids Cottage) have a really awesome summer camp programme for kids up to the age of seven years. And we’re not talking basic arts & crafts coupled with a babysitting service but rather everything from trips out to music and movement, water play, cooking, planting, science, special guests and so SO much more. Whether you live in Dubai Marina or Jumeirah, their group of nurseries are located throughout the city so that there’s always a convenient location for everyone. Perfect.

Starting 1 July and ending 31 August, each one of the nurseries has something unique and fun set up for little campers. At Odyssey (Umm Suqeim), your kids can look forward to adventure and discovery by being transported back to times of the past, at Willow (Dubai Marina and Umm Suqeim) they’ll be getting stuck into a programme inspired by children’s classics including Matilda and The Jungle Book, at Redwood (Palm Jumeirah) they’ll explore the solar system and at Kids Cottage (Umm Suqeim) kids can learn about important roles in the community plus visit a fire station, clinic and Kidzania too. Oh, and that’s just for starters as each location will also be offering heaps of additional activities to make sure that everyone is having the best possible time.

Sound amazing?! We definitely think so! Not only are these some of the best nurseries in Dubai so you can rest assured in the knowledge that your kiddos are in great hands but also their flexible summer camp programmes are perfect if you’re not sure of what your summer plans are or if you’ll need to find solutions to fit your office hours.

For more information on each individual nursery and camp, please visit the websites below and either call or register directly online. Too easy! That’s summer sorted.

www.odysseynursery.com

www.kidscottagenursery.com

www.willowchildrensnursery.com

www.theredwoodnursery.com

The post The Importance Of Summer Camp For Kids appeared first on Sassy Mama.

There’s no shortage of amazing things that our kids can be learning from technology – even when it seems that separating them from their iPads can be a challenge and a half. Yup, we might look back at our own digital-free childhoods with rose tinted glasses but the reality is that structured screen time is mega important in todays day and age – and we’ve found the perfect way to combine their love of technology with learning (but not in a lame way!).

Alphalearners is an awesome brand set up by a Silicon Valley educator which offers tech-based activities in a cool co-learning space. From programing robots (to do the chores perhaps?!) to creating stop motion animation movies with LEGO characters and special effects (um…how cool is that?!), this brilliant start-up is all about empowering kids to make their own choices and creations – we love!

The next Stop Motion Animation Lab will be running at DUCTAC, Mall Of The Emirates throughout the month of May, is suitable for ages 5-12 and is ideal way to stay out of the heat, have fun and learn a thing or three using custom Animation Platforms designed and manufactured especially for Alphalearners. Your clever kiddos will be exploring the art of storytelling and exploring skills such as set design, character development, adaptation and those aforementioned special effects that they’ll go wild for! Oh and their projects will be emailed to parents at the end of each class so that you can delight in all that your little darlings are doing and share with proud grandparents too. Perfect.

Taking place on Saturdays (May 5, 12, 19 and 26), you can sign-up and pay per session or for the entire four weeks according to what suits your schedule – YAY! Each lab is designed for kids to learn and produce a movie so they won’t miss out or be left behind if they can’t attend all four (although they’ll really want to!). And sessions are totally affordable too (see below for deets). Sound good? We think so. Earn yourself the coolest mama ever award and sign your kids up for some screen time with Alphalearners.

DUCTAC
Mall of The Emirates
Studio 12
www.alpha-learners.com

Single Day Pass – 200 AED (covers one lab)
Session Pass – 700 AED (covers all 4 labs)
10% Sibling Discount

The post Hey Kids, You Can Learn How To Make Your Own Animation appeared first on Sassy Mama.

For many of our kiddos, the festive season isn’t complete without tales from the North Pole, or of late night adventure on Christmas Eve, or perhaps even of a little girl aspiring to be an elf. It is the perfect time of year to harness our little ones imagination, and captivate them with stories of kindness, compassion, spirit and adventure. Here our are picks for this year’s best titles including, of course, some familiar classics.

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