Amazing things to do with kids in Dubai this week

SHARJAH CHILDREN’S READING FESTIVAL: Take your little one along to the much-anticipated Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) this week, which is currently in full swing at the Sharjah Expo Centre until May 29. Children will love taking part in any one of the 537 workshops, theatrical shows and other kid-friendly literary events, all hinged around the theme ‘For Your Imagination’, and featuring 27 authors from 15 countries, and more than 170 publishers. This week’s unmissable workshops include a virtual tour of Al Buhais Geology Park on Wednesday 26 May from 4-5pm, which will teach mini fossil fans all about the emirate’s fascinating, ancient landscape. DETAILS: Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, weekdays and Friday 4pm-10pm, Saturday 10am-10pm, free to attend, register at scrf.ae.

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.

WOO-HOO! SENSORY STORYTIME MESSY MASTERPIECES: Children aged 4 and under can join Woo-hoo’s interactive storytime session, followed by a finger painting workshop, creating an amazing, customised canvas using non-toxic materials for you to treasure forever. DETAILS: Tuesday 25 May, 10-11am, Dh70 per child, Best for ages 4 and under. Woo-hoo.ae.

THE FRAME: As playtime goes indoors with the hot weather, it’s time to visit Dubai’s and the world’s biggest picture frame to learn more about Dubai’s history. Watch little one’s awe-struck faces as they zoom up the elevator 150 metres to the top of the Frame, and then taking hair-raising photos through the stomach-churning glass floor. With views of Old Dubai on one side and the modern Dubai on the other, the exhibitions will give parents and children an inspiring overview of how the city and emirate came to be. DETAILS: Dh20 for children, Dh50 for adults, Dubaiframe.ae.

BOUNTY BEETS: The new Bounty Beets at Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre not only looks dreamy, but its menu is packed full of delicious yet healthy and nutritious dishes, with plenty of gluten-free and vegan options too. Now they have added a great-value Weekday Breakfast deal that makes it perfect for a mums’ get together with the little ones in tow this week. You can get one savoury dish, one sweet dish and one drink of your choice for Dh75 every weekday. Baby kept you up all night? Add Dh10 to make it unlimited tea and coffee. DETAILS: Available Sunday to Thursday, 8am to noon, Dh75 for one savoury dish, one sweet dish and a drink. www.bountybeets.com.

THEATRE OF DIGITAL ART: Inspire young minds this week with a nicely air conditioned visit to the incredible Theatre of Digital Art, based in Madinat Jumeirah. While the immersive Van Gogh exhibit will teach children about the history of art in an innovative and unusual way, the Interactive Room is a permanent installation which is free to enter for ToDA ticket holders and has been specially designed for children. Featuring multidimensional spaces with secret passages and portals to magical worlds, it allows interaction with the installations in a playful way and will help instill a life-long love of art in your little one. DETAILS: Dh100 per adult, Dh50 per child, book online in advance, Toda.ae.

WIN A CAKE: Bakery and cake shop Mister Baker is commemorating the opening of its 20th new cake shop, located in Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), with a sweet giveaway of a whopping 1,000 free cakes! To be one of the lucky ones to grab this delectable visit www.misterbaker.com/silicon-oasis and spin the wheel of fortune. If you are one of the 1000 winners, you receive a code via email to schedule the pickup of your free cake from the DSO store – which also has an in-house café, so you can stop for a cuppa while you’re there.

GRAB THIS LIMITED-TIME STAYCATION OFFER: Book a room at Sofitel Dubai The Palm before 24th May 2021 (which is valid to stay until 30th September 2021) and receive a huge (and guaranteed) 50% off all rooms – from Luxury rooms, to Suites or even the one- and two-bedroom apartments. If you’re too late to meet that deadline then you can still get 30% off on all rooms at the hotel, where you can also enjoy the beautiful long beach, kids’ pools with slides, the Amura Kids Club packed with an indoor cinema, two floors of soft play and a dedicated swimming pool. DETAILS: Receive a 50% discount on staycations if you book by 24 May, or 30% off thereafter. Call 044556677, Email H6541-RE@sofitel.com or visit www.sofitel-dubai-thepalm.com/offers.

NURSERY RHYME TIME: This fun, singalong family show kicks off this Thursday and is perfect for kids aged from 6 months to 4 years old, and will have little ones delighting in all the classic nursery rhymes, from Incy Wincy to Humpty Dumpty. Put on by Art For All, you can expect a first-rate performance by professional actors from London’s West End, and a buoyant, interactive concert atmosphere, all in the surrounds of The Theatre at Mall of the Emirates. DETAILS: 27-29 May 2021, Nursery Rhyme Time at The Theatre at Mall of the Emirates, tickets from Dh75.