From multilanguage blocks and horse-riding lessons to dolls that help vulnerable children, Afshan Ahmed picks six gifts for the festive season that will inspire and instil compassion in young minds.
•To check out our luxury Eid gift guide, click here: for men and women
Help children make a connection with animals and the outdoors with horse-riding lessons at Al Forsan International Sports Resort’s equestrian centre in Abu Dhabi. The centre coaches children of all ages and levels, with the option of group and private lessons.
• For children between the ages of 5 and 16; Dh2,250 for group lessons (one 45-minute session per week for 16 weeks). Visit www.alforsan.com or call 02 556 8555
Let the tiny diva focus her energy on creating dresses at the Fashion Design Sizzling summer camp at Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre, Mall of the Emirates. Tailored to girls between the ages of 8 and 14, the course will be led by fashion designer Lynn Nolan and introduces concepts of design, drawing and stitching. They will also learn how to create mood boards, sketch summer wear and cut and stitch simple garments.
• www.ductac.org, 04 341 4777. The four-hour workshops run from July 10 to 21, start at 9.30am and cost Dh1,200 for a week
Let the spirit of compassion and charity continue during Eid. A Dumyé doll will not only put a smile on your child’s face, but will also make an orphan happy. For every purchase made, the UAE company set up by Sahar Wahbeh gifts a doll to an underprivileged child. Children can either create a doll from scratch with a doll kit that includes a fair trade, organic cotton doll and fabrics, or personalise a template doll on the website by choosing different complexions, eye colour and hair styles. Dumyé then organises a workshop for vulnerable children and allows them to create their own doll.
• www.dumye.com. Dumyé dolls cost from Dh360 and doll kits start at Dh235
Pyramids, camels, butterflies, rhinos and whales. If you can imagine it, the 3-D candy printer at Candylicious in The Dubai Mall can create it. The world’s first 3-D printer for sweets was launched at the store in February and has just been upgraded to add more designs. Children can choose from writing their name in English or Arabic to creating a shape on their sweets. It takes less than five minutes for the printer to make the treat out of “gummy zummy” – a gel-like mix of pectin, fruit extract, glucose and citric acid. The ingredients are vegan, gluten-free, GMO-free and halal.
• www.candyliciousme.com; A pack of sweets costs Dh50
Your child is growing up in a multicultural world: make sure he is ahead in the game by starting him on more than one language at a young age. Children’s Lane in Abu Dhabi has block sets that feature animal pictures, letters and numbers in languages such as Spanish, Russian, German, Chinese, French and even American sign language. The blocks are handcrafted using non-toxic inks.
At a time when school libraries are out of reach because of the summer holidays, why not give children an online library card? Bookish is a Dubai-based, online book-rental service that sends two to four new bestsellers at a time to subscribers. It also regularly organises free story-time sessions for children, during which they are engaged with crafts, songs and interactive play. Monthly plans begin from Dh69 and delivery is free.
aahmed@thenational.ae
