At Maskells Estate Agents, and Sister Company, White Circle Collection, we know that keeping the kids busy AND interested at weekends is a constant challenge. This weekend we spent 4 hours at KIDZANIA with my 4 and 6 year old and found that they were actually more grown up than we had given them credit for.
Kidzania hails from Mexico where the concept “began” with Children declaring their independence from Adults (does that mean they pay their own school-fees??) and creating a new Nation – Kidzania. The City operates a real economy where Children can choose to spend or work in various businesses or public services.
The “city” covers 75,000 square feet at the top of Westfield shopping centre and hosts a number of workshops such as Walls Ice Cream, Cadbury’s Chocolate, Renault F1 Pit engineering, a supermarket, and even an Estate Agent (another brand – most likely why it was not particularly well attended – had it been a Maskells....). There are also public service workshops such as a police station, fire station, ambulance, hospital and dentist. There is also a theatre, and cooking workshops (via Gourmet Burger Kitchen) a bank and even a Kidzania shop where they can spend their hard earned Kidzoz (The local currency). Our kids loved the BA Flight simulator where they sat at the controls of a plane and “learned” to fly – in BA uniforms! (although my youngest is now likely to turn “left” as he gets on a plane which is not something we encourage at that age!)
The whole process is very straightforward – you park in the huge Westfield car park and follow the Kidzania footprints on the ground to the lift which delivers you directly outside the entrance. Having checked in (a bit like an airport check in desk) the kids are given wristbands (so Kidzania can keep track of them and ensure that any photos taken by their professional photographers are linked to the children) and some Kidzos.
We managed 5 activities during our time there, including the kids “preparing” their own lunch. It took them 1 activity to understand that they had to pay for some the workshops (BA Flight, Cadbury’s Chocolate) and earn by working in, for example, the Ambulance or Ice Cream factory. My daughter soon learned that if she wanted the necklace in the Kidzania shop, she would have to focus her energies on working and earning rather than just spending (a concept that sometimes eludes the best of us!). My 4 year old was not so discriminating choosing activities which ended up in him being subsidized by his sister (no necklace from the store – but an important lesson in social security & benefits for her.) In any event they both had a great time and particularly enjoyed the Fire Station where they are dressed up and sent off to deal with a fire at the Flamingo Hotel (in conjunction with Police and Ambulance). I have not seen them that excited for a long time, even if we did have to queue for their spot.
The whole concept works very well and does teach the children how our economy functions – evidenced by my 4 year old trying to buy some sweets in our local grocery store that evening – with the balance of his sisters’ Kidzos which he had appropriated...
A great afternoon out: engaging for the kids and great fund for us to watch. Well Done Kidzania!