Another term has come to an end (sob, they are growing up too soon) and the kids are on a two month long summer break (help and yay), but lucky for you, mama, there’s no chance for anyone to get bored over the hols! From awesome summer camps to water parks, outdoor and indoor fun to indoor birthday parties and even some fabulous holiday and staycation deals for family bonding (some of them don’t even require flights!), check out all the fun things you and your littles could indulge in this summer. There’s literally something for everyone.

Camps:

Whether you’re staying in town this summer or just looking for ways to entertain the kiddos for a week or two then look no further Mamas, as we’ve got the low-down on some of the best summer camps in the city. From getting stuck into arts and crafts to playing football all day on air conditioned pitches, learning to dive to water play with a difference – camps these days are so amazing that we wish we could join!

Things to do to keep sporty and active little people busy:

Got energetic kids, mama? We’ve you covered when the great outdoors is out of bounds. Save your home and your sanity (the sofa won’t handle anymore bouncing about and frankly neither will you) by checking out our list of 12 places to keep sporty and active little people busy when the usual beach/park/pool routine is on hold.

Non Soft-Play fun indoor:

When the sun is too hot and the good old boardgames won’t cut it anymore, you need some full proof entertainment ideas to burn those bottomless energy reserves. These fun Indoor (Non Soft-Play) Fun In The UAE, a Sassy Mama’s Guide require zero screen time and sure to see through those ‘stay indoor’ kind of days.

A Fun Indoor Art Activity To Keep Your Kids Busy & Having Fun:

Many of us don’t have the time to plan these activities or don’t have the expertise, knowledge or imagination for what’s most suited for the kids – and this is where Victoria can help. IDK Little Miracles is a new monthly service set up and you’ll be guided on how to have fun with your little ones and how to create time for the most important part of your life, your family. Four planned activities at just AED 90. Read all about it here.

Fun out of the Sun:

Listen here, mama. There’s absolutely no need to panic – or to suddenly promote hours of screen time every day. Yes schools are out and yes it’s very hot and yes it will continue to be very hot for a good few months now BUT the good news is that there are absolutely loads of fun things for kids to do in Dubai even when parks and beaches and outdoor play is limited. And they don’t all cost a fortune either (honestly!). For full run down on summer fun check out – 21 of Our Favourite Things To Do With Kids in Dubai Over The Summer or A-Z Guide To Surviving Summer With Kids In Dubai – the only alphabet you will need to perfect over school holidays. Missing outdoors? then you might find a thing or three here – Where To Get Your Dose Of Nature in Dubai When Temperatures Soar.

Splash, Slide and Swim:

From splash pads to full on water slides, lazy rivers to in-water lounges and even an indoor water play space for when you really can’t handle the outdoors, here are 4 watery spots to add to your list of must visits this summer. Also check out our guide guide to best places for the fam to get all washed up together whether you’re skidding down a waterslide or catching some waves at a water sports lesson. Even better, a few hours or a day-cation at one of Dubai’s fabulous hotels, mamas? From pools with slides to pools with views, we’ve found 14 of the best for cooling off and having a swimmingly good time, mamas.

Psst… heard of Privilee? This membership not only gives you unlimited access to some of the UAE’s best beach clubs and lush pools but also kids clubs, spa deals and loads more – all for a very reasonable price – and there’s no catch (honestly), just sign up, pay your subscription and start flexing that card! And here are our top 5 family friendly Privilee pools. 

Lets Talk Screen Time:

Whether you’re trying to fill up those hours (in between camps and indoor play fun), you’re facing a mammoth journey and need to keep the kids distracted and entertained or you’ll need to rely on the iPad as an occasional babysitter this summer just to get some peace and quiet – these new apps are not only fun but also a good way to keep the brain cells engaged when school’s out! And here our Singapore Editor explains how she’s achieved near-sainthood in her house with Daniel Tiger. 

psssst… mama, in need of some serious down time with Netflix?! (we hear you), here are some of the ‘Best Binge-Worthy Netflix Shows‘ to watch this summer. Plus, a mandatory mama viewing: ‘The Letdown’ on Netflix (if there is one show you watch this summer, let it be this). And a cheeky little guide for the littles too – top 10 Netflix picks for kids.

Taking the party indoors:

Got a birthday party to plan mamas? Check out our pick of the best places to book up a summer birthday party indoors and you can guarantee your birthday boy or girl the best day ever. And if you want to stay on trend then check out tips by Aisha Leitner, founder of fabulous party concert store Party Camel where she shares with us themes and accessories that are trending for kids birthday party planners this year. Oh, how could we forget the cake – here are the best places to have your cake (and eat it) in Dubai. Lastly if you’re looking to earn maximum mama points from the birthday boy/girl, who can’t stop saying – it was the best party ever, then plan A Game Van Party For Kids. Or if you simply want to host the party from comfort of your home, then here are some simple party food ideas for kids you may want to refer to. Have a good one, mamas!

Summer travel:

Looking at getting away to somewhere cooler and perhaps even somewhere exotic. Well, mamas look no further…here are our recommendations on where to go this summer as a family. Also, check out tips on what and how to pack smart for summer holidays.

Staying back? then you may want to break up the summer months with a staycation (or two) then you may want to check out  some of these fabulous travel offers in the UAE to make the most of, mamas! And a little guide on what to pack for your weekend vaycay, mamas!

Travel is the best time to catch up on reading – Novelist Lisa Beazley’s take on the best beach books to pack in your bag this summer… wherever your travels may take you!

Adventures and Once-in-a-lifetime Experiences:

Whether you’re new to Dubai, you know you won’t be in the desert for much longer, you want to buy someone the ULTIMATE gift or you want to get out there and have some fun, here are some of our favourites to add to your bucket list and ‘must-do’ things in Dubai, mamas!

Thank us later, happy summer hols, mama…Stay Sassy!

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Picture this; Day one of the school hols and your precious little person is already ‘bored’. Whether you’re trying to fill up those hours (in between camps – make sure to read up on some of our faves this year), you’re facing a mammoth journey and need to keep the kids distracted and entertained or you’ll need to rely on the iPad as an occasional babysitter this summer just to get some peace and quiet – these new apps are not only fun but also a good way to keep the brain cells engaged when school’s out! Happy downloading!

Jump to:

For Littles Up To Age 5
For Middles: Ages 5-8
Older kids: age 8 up

For Littles Up To Age 5

Thinkrolls: Kings & Queens

An epic adventure of logic, physics and fun! With 228 physics puzzles, 12 fairytale castles, toothy crocodiles, goofy ghosts and a friendly dragon, your little ones are guaranteed hours of fun-filled play and brain training (in fact this app is loved by older kids too). Unleash the magic and let your young knight or princess embark on an epic quest of twists and turns.

Toca Nature

Experience a little of Mother Nature’s magic. When the outdoors is scorching your little ones can still be planting trees, growing forests, feeding animals and making friends with a fox.

Metamorphabet

A is for Apple, B is for… BORED! Yup, most of the alphabet games don’t get our kiddos super excited but this one’s a little different. Users will be encouraged to poke, prod, drag, and spin each of letters to reveal fun transformations. A giant ‘B’ appears with a bushy beard and a beak – and then starts belching an endless stream of colourful bugs.

My very hungry caterpillar

Eric Carles brilliant little story comes alive in a 3D interactive app which will have kids nurturing the little caterpillar from its egg stage right until it becomes a butterfly, feeding fruits, playing and more – a kind of virtual pet!

Peek-a-zoo

Anything which involves animals is always a huge hit in our household and this new little game is going to be a guaranteed winner! The basic game involves your kiddos identifying the correct cartoon animal based on clues including emotions, actions, sounds and more. Once they pick the right character, a new scene appears.

For Middles: Ages 5-8

Weather by tinybop

Yup, we’re obsessed by the weather – especially when we live in the desert so any variation on hot is super exciting! Through interactive scenes, the kids can do anything from melt ice to help someone fish, cool the temperature for a panting dog or unleash all kinds of craziness through tornados and storms plus learn how to tell what kind of weather it’ll be outside (um…hot?!) .

Toca blocks

A fun world-building app for the pre-minecraft crowd that allows kids to create worlds, play in them and share them with friends too. Perfect for children who are into digging and building stuff.

DNA play

What could be cooler than creating your own monsters while learning about the concept of DNA (see, there’s an element of learning in here too, mamas!). And once they’re made, the kids can get their monsters doing everything from skateboarding to dancing and more.

Foldify

Literally one of the most genius app ideas I’ve seen in ages – and one that’s perfect for kids who love making/crafting. All they gotta do is select a template (human, car etc) then use the app to decorate it either by importing photos, painting, adding stickers etc. The app will then create a 3D model which can be printed out, cut and folded so that it exists in the real world too.

Squigglefish

There’s a room at OliOli (the kids museum we’ve long raved about, check out our review here) which allows kids to watch drawings of their sea creatures come to live on a giant interactive screen. Well now they can do the same at home (or in the car/on a plane etc) by drawing a fish on a white paper, coloring it in then holding the iPad over the drawing and watching as their fishy friend comes to life.

Older kids: age 8 up

Namoo: Wonders Of Plant Life 

A kind of virtual forest school where kids can engage in and explore the life of plants, learning about everything from how they make food to experimenting with underground root systems. Perfect for curious minds.

Earth Primer

How about making volcanoes with your fingers? Or sculpting mountains and controlling the forces of nature?! This beautifully designed app combines aspects of science books, toys, simulations, and games in a new interactive experience that’ll prompt lots of thought and knowledge about our world.

Solar Walk – Planet Explorer

Mini astronomy lovers this one’s for you! Solar Walk is an amazing 3D model of our solar system bringing the universe to the palm of your hand and allowing you to interact with planets, satellites, moons, comets and other space objects. Hitch a ride on a comet, spin Saturn around to take a good look and just zoom around our universe. Super cool.

Operation math

Yes I know, the idea of getting them to do math during the holidays might seem like a crazy one but this app makes this often uninspiring subject quite fun (honestly!). Defeat Dr. Odd and earn the latest spy gear in a game that transforms math drills into a global learning adventure. From the streets of Paris to the pyramids of Egypt, Operation Math includes more than 100 timed missions that help players learn addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Universal zoom

Another for all those curious kids and endless question askers! Universal Zoom provides users with a superpower of seeing the invisible so that you can discover the world from the tiniest subatomic particles to the most prominent space structures plus learn how to measure size and compare objects too.

The post Some Of The Best New Apps for Kids of All Ages appeared first on Sassy Mama.

It’s pretty toasty outside and it’s only gonna get hotter mamas! But while summer in Dubai is no walk in the park (literally, the parks and the beaches are pretty much out of bounds in this weather), there’s no need to panic about being housebound for weeks with the kids. We’ve put together a summer survival guide to the region’s best family friendly activities that are perfect for keeping the brood cool and entertained. From aquariums to indoor zoos, this is the only alphabet you’ll need to perfect over the school hols.

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Years ago when we’d trek down to Kite Beach with three kids under the age of three, I remember seeing a group of kids in matching rash vests having heaps of fun on the sand and in the water – supervised by a number of coaches and getting stuck into everything from running races to surfing. While it seemed a long way off, I vowed that if we were still in Dubai when my littles were old enough to do the same, we’d be signing them up pronto. Turns out that this cool gang of kiddos who’d inspired me that many years ago were part of the Pirates Surf Rescue Team, a club based on the South African/Australian ‘nippers’ program which introduces children to the ocean environment – whether they want to become the lifesavers of tomorrow or they just love being part of an organisation that’s all about having fun, being fit and making some really great friends along the way.
And finally the day came, my little boy Felix was old enough to become a ‘pirate’ (just after his seventh birthday) and we became a part of something very special.

Run by Candy (a South African mama of three and one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever had the privilege to meet) and a team of coaches with the most extraordinary talents (from marine biology to diving) and passion for teaching kids, Pirates Surf Rescue is a truly amazing activity. Candy is a hugely accomplished athlete and coach – she’s the team ‘mom’ – providing the perfect balance of love and nurture with training her Pirates up to be little superstars, whatever their talents.

With the main session taking place every Saturday morning from 8am – 9.30am (yes, it’s early but is there anything better than starting the day on the beach?!) and two afternoon sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you’re encouraged to try to come twice a week if possible. I won’t lie, the first couple of times Felix needed a lot of convincing to get involved. He was new to it all, he felt shy, he didn’t know the drill – but within just a few days he was having the time of his life. And here’s the thing. If your child isn’t hugely sporty or if he/she isn’t confident in water then it just doesn’t matter because Candy and the team are all about encouraging them to try new things and supporting them to grow and learn.

And what I love about Pirates Surf Rescue is that emphasis is placed on teamwork – on the ‘seniors’ (up to age 19) helping the ‘juniors’ (from age 6/7). There’s a zero tolerance policy for nasty or bad behavior and Candy’s pep talks about helping each other, about girls being just as good as boys and about being good responsible people are soaked up by the whole team (Felix regularly quotes Candy at home now!). Oh but there are prizes and treats galore for effort and hard work (the Saturday morning donuts/sweets/hot dogs as well as the medals and celebrations are a huge part of it all too).

After a year as a pirate, Felix’s confidence has grown as has his knowledge and skills in a beach environment. He’s tried everything from dragon boating to jet-skiing. He’s caught waves, learned self defense and  knows how to help someone in trouble in the water and his heart is set on getting to the senior level where he’ll get to join an annual surf trip to Sri Lanka. But most of all, Felix has made some great friends and wears his Pirates kit with such pride. Pirates Surf Rescue has meant that we’ve spent more time as a family on the beach, watching this awesome group of kids, meeting an equally awesome group of parents and coaches and feeling truly honored to be part of something so special and I encourage every mama with kiddos old enough to sign them up and give it a go.

To find out more about how to join the Pirates Surf Rescue Team, contact them via their Facebook Page or Instagram @pirates.surf

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Here’s some great news, mamas! Yes it might be hot out there but we’ve got you (or rather your energetic kids) covered when the great outdoors is out of bounds. Save your home and your sanity (the sofa won’t handle anymore bouncing about and frankly neither will you) by checking out our list of 12 places to keep sporty and active little people busy when the usual beach/park/pool routine is on hold. You see? There’s no need to panic – summer in Dubai is totally doable.

The post 12 Ways for Sporty Kiddos to be Active Over Summer in Dubai appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Sand dunes, towering skyscrapers and the possibility for endless adventures and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, whether you’re new to Dubai, you know you won’t be in the desert for much longer, you want to buy someone the ULTIMATE gift or you want to get out there and have some fun, here are some of our favourites to add to your bucket list, mamas!

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