11 Brilliant things to do with kids in Dubai this week

HAVE A BALL AT OLI OLI’S TODDLER FEST: We are so excited about this awesome-sounding event for little ones - experimental play museum OliOli’s Toddler Fest is a first-of-its-kind event with a carefully curated variety of joyful experiences for little ones aged five years and below. Tots can enjoy sensory play, interactive activities, storytelling sessions, mucky pups messy play, nature craft, whole brain training class, music & movement classes, collaborative art sessions and an awesome puppet show by none other than Magic Phil. As well as the venue’s usual range of amazing galleries, there will be a host of special workshops put on by some of the UAE’s best small businesses, including Katie Jane Dubai, Music Monkeys, Wobbel Yoga, Natura Tribe, The Bright Minds Institute, Dipti Mulani and more. Head down there to meet other parents and try out some incredible experiences all under one roof. DETAILS: 13-17 June at OliOli, Al Quoz, for ages 5 and below, 9a,- 4pm, Dh126 for one Child + one Adult for general admission & gallery activities. Additional Dh30 for add-on workshops (optional). Olioli.ae.

JOIN THE MUMS’ CLUB: The much-loved Hilton Dubai Jumeirah and TishTash Mum’s Club relaunches on Monday 14th June 2021, and will run daily from Sunday to Thursday at Hilton Dubai Jumeirah in JBR. The daycation starts from 8am and promises to make mummies feel a million dollars with pool and beach access priced at Dh75, which is fully redeemable against food and beverages. Children below the age of 12 can also come along free of charge. What’s more, the first five mummies to enter the property every day will also receive a gift bag filled with some fabulous treats and surprises. DETAILS: Sundays to Thursday from 14 June 2021, Mums’ Club at Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, JBR, Dh75 for beach and pool access, fully redeemable against food and beverage at the hotel outlets.

KICK AROUND AT FOOTLAB: Little football fans will adore the newly opened Footlab, the world’s first indoor football, entertainment and performance park that’s just opened at ISD Dubai Sports City. In its first international location outside of Europe, FOOTLAB Dubai offers a brand-new, fully immersive, tech powered football experience for football fans of all ages and the whole community. While boosting their skills at the Individual state-of-the-art stations, featuring highly interactive test and train challenges, players can also compete with their friends or teams at the exciting Challenge, Street Soccer, Footvolley stations and 5-a-side football pitch, equipped with unique F.A.R technology, and offering real-time stats and standings. DETAILS: FOOTLAB Dubai is located at ISD Dubai Sports City and open 7 days a week, Sunday-Wednesday 10am-10pm and Thursday-Saturday 10am to 1am. Call +971 4 4481554 or download the FOOTLAB App from the Apple Store or Google Play store.

CHECK OUT THE ROVE GAMER CAVES: Got a little gamer fan on your hands? Make their dreams come through by booking into one of Rove Hotel’s all-new Gamer Caves, which are launch this Tuesday 15 June 2021. These are the MENA region’s first-ever hotel rooms designed exclusively for gaming. Available to book online via www.rovehotels.com from June 15th, the first-of-its-kind gaming rooms will be fully decked out with top-of-the-line set-up, courtesy of Razer, and offer a wide and diverse range of gaming titles provided by Playtonia, including Overwatch, DOTA 2, Diablo 3, GTA 5, Doom, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Red Dead Redemption 2, Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition, Final Fantasy XIV Online, and Faster Than Light.. There is also a themed in-room dining menu, made just for gamers. DETAILS: Gamer Caves are available to book from Dh249 per night, For enquiries, call +971 4561 9999 or Whatsapp +971 50 517 6833.

IMPROVE YOUR MIND AT TOAST AND TOTS: This Monday 14 June sees the first ever launch of Toast and Tots’, a bi-weekly extra special morning for mums to come together, escape the heat and enjoy a number of curated family friendly experiences and pop-ups. Running bi-weekly until 25th August 2021, go along to meet fellow mums, some cool new brands and enjoy a series of #ToastTalks, which will be in the format of workshops, talks and panels from specialists and experts relevant to the mum and family audience. DETAILS: Free to attend, Toast and Tots from 8am-12pm on Monday 14 June and bi-weekly afterwards until 25 August at Hilton Dubai Jumeirah. Please note: all attendees must be vaccinated – children are not permitted to attend Toast and Tots, although the kids club is open. For all enquiries and to book contact Reservations.Dubai@hilton.com or call +971 4 318 2111.

CREATE A FLORAL WREATH WITH FREE WORKSHOPS: Mums living in Mudon, Shorooq and around Bay Avenue will be able to unleash their creative side by signing up for a new series of free craft workshops across the three communities. The regular series kicks off with a floral wreath workshop, which will take place at WOFL, the homegrown food concept in Mudon Community Centre from 10am-12pm on 14th June, before moving on to Circle Café in Shorooq Community Centre at 10am-12pm on 21st June and Kebab Grill 44 at Bay Avenue at 10am-12pm on 28th June. The workshops are completely free of charge for all those who spend Dh50 on food and drinks, and attendees at Kebab Grill 44 at Bay Avenue will also enjoy 25 per cent off the menu. DETAILS: Spaces must be reserved in advance by contacting mudon@theworkshophub.me, shorooq@theworkshophub.me and bayavenue@theworkshophub.me. The workshops are open to all, but priority will be offered to those living in the respective community.

KIDS SEE LA PERLE FOR FREE: For a limited-time only over summer, kids can visit Dubai’s hit show La Perle for free with every paying adult, on tickets starting at Dh209. Little ones aged 12 years old and younger can marvel at the stunning acrobatics, stunt and special effects, for a viewing experience that’s sure to stay with them forever. DETAILS: All kids must be accompanied by an adult with a paid ticket, under-twos are not recommended to attend the show, children must be present at ticket collection, with proof of age. Laperle.com.

ENJOY LITTLE ROXY SUNDAYS: Parents and kids can get a special deal on cinema access, including a scrumptious breakfast, every Sunday at the Little Roxy sessions, which are now back at Roxy Cinema on The Beach. For Dh95 an adult and one child can get movie tickets, plus a breakfast that includes tea, coffee, juice, pastries and live cooking stations. With films such as Peter Rabbit 2, Lassie Come Home and Ainbo on at the moment, head down to The Beach’s boutique cinema for a fab flick and catch up with other mamas or papas over breakfast. DETAILS: Dh95 for one adult and one child, including movie tickets and breakfast, Dh40 for an extra child. Available at Roxy cinema The Beach, JBR, on Sundays. Theroxycinemas.com.

LISTEN TO BILINGUAL STORYTIME: Indoor play museum Woo-hoo! In Al Quoz is offering bilingual storytime sessions for children aged 3 years old and above this Wednesday 16 June from 3-4pm. Children will be engaged in classic Arabic and English stories and will have a fun time singing songs and playing in both languages to spark a love of literacy and enhance their vocabulary in both languages. DETAILS: Wednesday 16 June, 3-4pm, Dh70 per child, for children aged 3 and above, see https://woo-hoo.ae/programs-events/.

BUY ONE, GET ONE ON MILKSHAKES: From 7th - 30th June Denny’s Dubai is offering a Buy One Get one free weekday offer on ALL milkshakes on the Denny’s menu, from 3 pm to 7 pm every weekday afternoon. Made with premium ice cream and topped with whipped cream, kids can choose from Peanut Butter Banana, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Oreo as well classics such as Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry. DETAILS: The buy one, get one free offer is available 3-7pm from 7-30 June 2021, at Denny’s locations across the UAE (Al Ghurair Center, Deira City Center, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Festival Plaza, Abu Dhabi Mall).

MUMMY & ME PLAYDATE AT X PARK JR: Get an amazing 50% off entry to wonderful play park X Park Jr at selected times throughout the week, allowing you and your child entry to its beautiful facilities for just Dh40 for two hours. Kids can climb the vast wooden jungle gym, clamber up and down boulders, paddle in rock pools, enjoy the mini splash pad, play in mud kitchens, do gardening and pet the friendly animals in its small urban farm, while mums can make the most of the coffee deal that gives you one cup of tea or coffee plus a pastry for Dh25. DETAILS: Mummy & Me playdate, Dh40 for entry (usually Dh80) for two hours of play at these times: Sunday and Monday 8-10am; Tuesday 1-3pm; Wednesday 10.30am-12.30pm, Xparkjr.com.