A fascinating new edutainment centre at Mirdif City Centre is changing the way children learn through play. Specifically designed to allow youngsters between the age of two to seven explore their environment through an interactive learning experience, Cite des Enfants (CDE) offers a fascinating and unique opportunity. The varied games, tasks and facilities on offer enable children to test their limits, discover hidden talents and acquire and develop fresh skills thus enhancing their mental health and making them smarter individuals.
This unique 2000sqm educational arena encompassing 97 different exhibits designed with education in mind has been put together by a team of scenic artists, designers, educationalists, and child psychologists, to allow for exercising the body and mind and to foster cognitive learning.
Majid Al Futtaim Leisure joined forces with Parisian Cite des Sciences et de l’industrie (CSI), to build Cite des Enfants, Dubai, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East and the first outside France.
Ahmed Ismail, CEO Majid Al Futtaim Ventures commented: “Cite des Enfants is a unique educational concept offering the opportunity for children to learn through play and thus build their social identity, enhance their psychological development, define and stimulate their quest for knowledge and foster cognitive skills while exercising the body and mind. Majid Al Futtaim Leisure is extremely proud of Cite des Enfants Dubai and happy to partner with such a prestigious organisation as Parisian Cite des Sciences to provide the children of the UAE with such a unique experience. The skills gained from CDE will stay with participants long after they leave the attraction.”
Organised into five fun-filled distinct zones, Cité des Enfants offers a fascinating, varied and unique experience for up to 400 people at a time. As well as the discovery areas, there are workshop rooms and a retail space. And Cité des Enfants isn’t just for children; parents and teachers who accompany them are an integral part of this unique experience.
The five zones are split into; I Discover Myself, I Can Do, I Locate Myself, All Together and I Experiment. In zone one, I Discover Myself, children explore themselves as they build their physical, mental, and social identity. Here, they start to learn about their different emotions, and realise that their bodies are growing. In zone two, I Can Do, the emphasis is on participation through games and experiments that stimulate and foster cognitive skills. In zone three, I Locate Myself, children become explorers and adventurers as they learn to construct their spatial points of reference. In zone four, All Together, the activities assist children in building social skills through communication and interaction with each other and also being part of a team. In zone five, I Experiment, children encounter water, air and light, elements from their daily environment, as an introduction to scientific and technical disciplines.
Staff supervisors, known as animators come from a school teaching background with a minimum of two years kindergarten experience – with knowledge of early childhood development.
Cite des Enfant also has facilities that accommodate guests with physical disabilities, and customer service assistance will be made available to guests during off peak periods. Cite des Enfants also offers VIP specialised services.
Cité des Enfant is part of Playnation, a dedicated leisure and multi-dimensional entertainment zone located within Mirdif City Centre. A total of five exciting leisure experiences will be integrated within Playnation - the latest initiative from Majid Al Futtaim Leisure - and feature an incredible range of unique attractions for all ages.
