A new kid’s centre in Yas Mall delivers playful learning experiences for all ages
They say kids can be the harshest critics, which is why we’ve roped in Lolita, 11, and Jania, 10, to test out a new playful learning centre for children on the first floor of Yas Mall.
The critique begins before we even arrive, as the girls fear Fun Works will be too babyish. Lolita – a diva in the making – announces, “If it’s too young for me, I’m leaving.”
Little do they know that they are about to have so much fun that, two hours later, they will have to be torn away from the place.
Fun Works covers 7,432sqm – about the size of one and half football pitches.
The centre has arcade-style games, soft play areas and rides. Loop Works is their favourite, as they get strapped into a chair with arms and flipped upside-down when they are not expecting it.
But what really excites them is an area called My Works.
My Works hosts ten stimulating workshops for groups of four to six children and an accompanying adult. Each workshop takes 20 minutes, kicking off with a cartoon mascot – known as a Workling – giving a video briefing about the area.
Clive Mockford is an engineer for Engineering Creatives, the company that designed some of the workshops. He says, “The great part about these workshops is that they interest kids of any level. Little ones get a more general overview and get busy playing while bigger ones receive deeper explanations and can put theory into practice.”
The girls and their father, Gilles, dive into the Energy Works workshop, where they learn about different types of energy; potential or stored energy, and kinetic – energy in motion. They are then let loose in seven activities demonstrating the transfer of energy.
The slingshot is a favourite. “I can’t believe I’m learning about physics at the weekend,” giggles Jania as she pulls back on it. “Here I go transforming breakfast into energy to hit those targets.”
Recycle Works is Lolita’s preferred workshop. One game involves sorting items into recycling bins as they whizz by on a conveyor belt. She says, “It’s so fast – but I’m still getting everything in the right bin.”
The girls also enjoy creating designs with different shaped blocks made from recycled tyres and bracelets with beads made from recycled paper.
The activities get the creative juices flowing for Art Works, a workshop that allows kids to create a design and scan it, after which it’s projected on to a kaleidoscope ceiling inside a room shaped like a rocket ship.
This is Clive’s favourite activity. He says, “Kids scan their designs then flop on to beanbags and gaze up at the kaleidoscope ceiling. It is so relaxing, it is almost zen. I can see us using this in a spa as well.”
Fun Works team leader, Julia Mduta, can’t wait to show the girls Shop Works. She says, “Each child receives an age-appropriate shopping list for the grocery store. They must figure out which items match those on the list, stay within their budget and bring their carts to the checkout counter before time expires.”
Lolita and Gilles race around the shop, checking quantities and expiration dates. Gilles says, “It’s not as easy as it looks.”
Julia adds, “There are lessons for all ages in every workshop.” Other workshops teach crime scene investigation, car building, construction, baking and theatre. There is even a virtual superhero workshop where photos of children are superimposed on to the hero’s body – brilliant.
The girls and Gilles are already planning their next visit.
AED 99 per child with one free adult. AED 49 per extra adult. Daily 10am-10pm. For more information contact: 02 565 1639
www.funworks.ae
