Keeping busy doesn’t need to mean throwing heaps of money at activities and experiences this summer – there are some awesome offers out there whether you’re looking to eat out, staycation or keep the kids happy and we’ve put together a few of our faves for you to work through. Enjoy, mamas!

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Another term has come to an end (sob, they are growing up too soon) and the kids are on a two month long summer break (help and yay), but lucky for you, mama, there’s no chance for anyone to get bored over the hols! From awesome summer camps to water parks, outdoor and indoor fun to indoor birthday parties and even some fabulous holiday and staycation deals for family bonding (some of them don’t even require flights!), check out all the fun things you and your littles could indulge in this summer. There’s literally something for everyone.

Camps:

Whether you’re staying in town this summer or just looking for ways to entertain the kiddos for a week or two then look no further Mamas, as we’ve got the low-down on some of the best summer camps in the city. From getting stuck into arts and crafts to playing football all day on air conditioned pitches, learning to dive to water play with a difference – camps these days are so amazing that we wish we could join!

Things to do to keep sporty and active little people busy:

Got energetic kids, mama? We’ve you covered when the great outdoors is out of bounds. Save your home and your sanity (the sofa won’t handle anymore bouncing about and frankly neither will you) by checking out our list of 12 places to keep sporty and active little people busy when the usual beach/park/pool routine is on hold.

Non Soft-Play fun indoor:

When the sun is too hot and the good old boardgames won’t cut it anymore, you need some full proof entertainment ideas to burn those bottomless energy reserves. These fun Indoor (Non Soft-Play) Fun In The UAE, a Sassy Mama’s Guide require zero screen time and sure to see through those ‘stay indoor’ kind of days.

A Fun Indoor Art Activity To Keep Your Kids Busy & Having Fun:

Many of us don’t have the time to plan these activities or don’t have the expertise, knowledge or imagination for what’s most suited for the kids – and this is where Victoria can help. IDK Little Miracles is a new monthly service set up and you’ll be guided on how to have fun with your little ones and how to create time for the most important part of your life, your family. Four planned activities at just AED 90. Read all about it here.

Fun out of the Sun:

Listen here, mama. There’s absolutely no need to panic – or to suddenly promote hours of screen time every day. Yes schools are out and yes it’s very hot and yes it will continue to be very hot for a good few months now BUT the good news is that there are absolutely loads of fun things for kids to do in Dubai even when parks and beaches and outdoor play is limited. And they don’t all cost a fortune either (honestly!). For full run down on summer fun check out – 21 of Our Favourite Things To Do With Kids in Dubai Over The Summer or A-Z Guide To Surviving Summer With Kids In Dubai – the only alphabet you will need to perfect over school holidays. Missing outdoors? then you might find a thing or three here – Where To Get Your Dose Of Nature in Dubai When Temperatures Soar.

Splash, Slide and Swim:

From splash pads to full on water slides, lazy rivers to in-water lounges and even an indoor water play space for when you really can’t handle the outdoors, here are 4 watery spots to add to your list of must visits this summer. Also check out our guide guide to best places for the fam to get all washed up together whether you’re skidding down a waterslide or catching some waves at a water sports lesson. Even better, a few hours or a day-cation at one of Dubai’s fabulous hotels, mamas? From pools with slides to pools with views, we’ve found 14 of the best for cooling off and having a swimmingly good time, mamas.

Psst… heard of Privilee? This membership not only gives you unlimited access to some of the UAE’s best beach clubs and lush pools but also kids clubs, spa deals and loads more – all for a very reasonable price – and there’s no catch (honestly), just sign up, pay your subscription and start flexing that card! And here are our top 5 family friendly Privilee pools. 

Lets Talk Screen Time:

Whether you’re trying to fill up those hours (in between camps and indoor play fun), you’re facing a mammoth journey and need to keep the kids distracted and entertained or you’ll need to rely on the iPad as an occasional babysitter this summer just to get some peace and quiet – these new apps are not only fun but also a good way to keep the brain cells engaged when school’s out! And here our Singapore Editor explains how she’s achieved near-sainthood in her house with Daniel Tiger. 

psssst… mama, in need of some serious down time with Netflix?! (we hear you), here are some of the ‘Best Binge-Worthy Netflix Shows‘ to watch this summer. Plus, a mandatory mama viewing: ‘The Letdown’ on Netflix (if there is one show you watch this summer, let it be this). And a cheeky little guide for the littles too – top 10 Netflix picks for kids.

Taking the party indoors:

Got a birthday party to plan mamas? Check out our pick of the best places to book up a summer birthday party indoors and you can guarantee your birthday boy or girl the best day ever. And if you want to stay on trend then check out tips by Aisha Leitner, founder of fabulous party concert store Party Camel where she shares with us themes and accessories that are trending for kids birthday party planners this year. Oh, how could we forget the cake – here are the best places to have your cake (and eat it) in Dubai. Lastly if you’re looking to earn maximum mama points from the birthday boy/girl, who can’t stop saying – it was the best party ever, then plan A Game Van Party For Kids. Or if you simply want to host the party from comfort of your home, then here are some simple party food ideas for kids you may want to refer to. Have a good one, mamas!

Summer travel:

Looking at getting away to somewhere cooler and perhaps even somewhere exotic. Well, mamas look no further…here are our recommendations on where to go this summer as a family. Also, check out tips on what and how to pack smart for summer holidays.

Staying back? then you may want to break up the summer months with a staycation (or two) then you may want to check out  some of these fabulous travel offers in the UAE to make the most of, mamas! And a little guide on what to pack for your weekend vaycay, mamas!

Travel is the best time to catch up on reading – Novelist Lisa Beazley’s take on the best beach books to pack in your bag this summer… wherever your travels may take you!

Adventures and Once-in-a-lifetime Experiences:

Whether you’re new to Dubai, you know you won’t be in the desert for much longer, you want to buy someone the ULTIMATE gift or you want to get out there and have some fun, here are some of our favourites to add to your bucket list and ‘must-do’ things in Dubai, mamas!

Thank us later, happy summer hols, mama…Stay Sassy!

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Years ago when we’d trek down to Kite Beach with three kids under the age of three, I remember seeing a group of kids in matching rash vests having heaps of fun on the sand and in the water – supervised by a number of coaches and getting stuck into everything from running races to surfing. While it seemed a long way off, I vowed that if we were still in Dubai when my littles were old enough to do the same, we’d be signing them up pronto. Turns out that this cool gang of kiddos who’d inspired me that many years ago were part of the Pirates Surf Rescue Team, a club based on the South African/Australian ‘nippers’ program which introduces children to the ocean environment – whether they want to become the lifesavers of tomorrow or they just love being part of an organisation that’s all about having fun, being fit and making some really great friends along the way.
And finally the day came, my little boy Felix was old enough to become a ‘pirate’ (just after his seventh birthday) and we became a part of something very special.

Run by Candy (a South African mama of three and one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever had the privilege to meet) and a team of coaches with the most extraordinary talents (from marine biology to diving) and passion for teaching kids, Pirates Surf Rescue is a truly amazing activity. Candy is a hugely accomplished athlete and coach – she’s the team ‘mom’ – providing the perfect balance of love and nurture with training her Pirates up to be little superstars, whatever their talents.

With the main session taking place every Saturday morning from 8am – 9.30am (yes, it’s early but is there anything better than starting the day on the beach?!) and two afternoon sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you’re encouraged to try to come twice a week if possible. I won’t lie, the first couple of times Felix needed a lot of convincing to get involved. He was new to it all, he felt shy, he didn’t know the drill – but within just a few days he was having the time of his life. And here’s the thing. If your child isn’t hugely sporty or if he/she isn’t confident in water then it just doesn’t matter because Candy and the team are all about encouraging them to try new things and supporting them to grow and learn.

And what I love about Pirates Surf Rescue is that emphasis is placed on teamwork – on the ‘seniors’ (up to age 19) helping the ‘juniors’ (from age 6/7). There’s a zero tolerance policy for nasty or bad behavior and Candy’s pep talks about helping each other, about girls being just as good as boys and about being good responsible people are soaked up by the whole team (Felix regularly quotes Candy at home now!). Oh but there are prizes and treats galore for effort and hard work (the Saturday morning donuts/sweets/hot dogs as well as the medals and celebrations are a huge part of it all too).

After a year as a pirate, Felix’s confidence has grown as has his knowledge and skills in a beach environment. He’s tried everything from dragon boating to jet-skiing. He’s caught waves, learned self defense and  knows how to help someone in trouble in the water and his heart is set on getting to the senior level where he’ll get to join an annual surf trip to Sri Lanka. But most of all, Felix has made some great friends and wears his Pirates kit with such pride. Pirates Surf Rescue has meant that we’ve spent more time as a family on the beach, watching this awesome group of kids, meeting an equally awesome group of parents and coaches and feeling truly honored to be part of something so special and I encourage every mama with kiddos old enough to sign them up and give it a go.

To find out more about how to join the Pirates Surf Rescue Team, contact them via their Facebook Page or Instagram @pirates.surf

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Got kids in different age groups and dread having to find different camps to suit their requirements? Or have a little bundle of energy who needs to let off some steam in a super fun way? Then this camp from FitRepublik for kids aged 5-14 will be the perfect place for them to enjoy activities and games beyond the norm. Yup, this is one of those camps that’ll have your kids not wanting to leave at the end of the day!

Whether you’re keen to take a mix-and-match approach with a variety of one-day or one-week camps, or prefer to go for the full camp experience, one thing’s for sure – there’ll be plenty of activities to suit every interest. From music, dance and arty stuff to waterplay in the pool’s ‘Wibit’ obstacle course, trampolining, parkour, graffiti, lip sync battles, shoe customization, jewellery making and SO much more (in case we haven’t said it already, kids these days are soooo lucky!).

And the best bit about this camp is that kids will get to have a go at so many different activities and sports with plenty of encouragement but zero pressure. The FitRepublik team know that giving children options and choices is hugely exciting – while making them feel safe and supported too – so they’ve opened up their entire venue as well as the Dubai Sports City indoor dome to combine aquatics, fitness, sports, music and more to help young campers build their confidence throughout the programme. Perfect!

Running from 8 July to 30 August, there are flexible weekly and daily packages available between 8am and 3.30pm so that you can opt for full days, half days, a full week or a day here and there – anything’s possible. Oh, and as a Sassy Reader you’ll also get 20% off if you book before 30 June. We’re also loving that there’s a discount for siblings – applicable after 30 June (who doesn’t love a discount?); you can receive 15% off the camp fee for your second child who signs up and reduced rates for booking the larger weekly packages too, hooray!

Whether they’re water babies or little disco divas, wannabe Olympians or aspiring artists – at FitRepublik you’ll find the perfect programme for your littles to spend their summer learning new skills. Get them ready for an exciting summer hols, mamas!

Movin & Groovin Summer Camp is run at FitRepublik daily from 8 Jul to 30 Aug.

To book visit FitRepublik or contact us at camps@fitrepublik.com or call 04 556 1800

Price and Package Details as Below

1 week of full-day packages – AED 1,313 per week | AED 1,050 per week after 20% early bird discount
2 weeks of full-day packages – AED 1,260 per week | AED1,008 per week after 20% early bird discount
3 weeks of full-day packages – AED 1,208 per week | AED 966 per week after 20% early bird discount
4 weeks of full-day packages – AED 1,155 per week | AED924 per week after 20% early bird discount
1 week of half-day packages – AED 1,103 per week | AED 882 per week after 20% early bird discount
2 weeks of half-day packages – AED 1,050 per week | AED 840 per week after 20% early bird discount
A single full day – AED 262.50

Early Bird Offer: 20% discount if you book before June 30^th

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Welcome to June, mamas! Well actually we’re almost halfway through the month, about to celebrate Eid Al Fitr (with three days off school for the kiddos!) and summer holidays only three weeks away (gulp!). For me, this time is about spending time with friends who we won’t see over the school hols, about keeping as cool as possible when temperatures outside are raging and about keeping the kids busy without spending an absolute fortune! And luckily there are lots of ways to do it all and have a blast before the bell rings at the end of term. From free events to super sassy discounts, here are a few of the things I’m doing and loving in June. Oh and Eid Mubarak, mamas!

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Summer Camps add fun to the hols and keep the kids occupied (for a little while, at least) so that you can get on with life, business as usual! And this Holiday Camp by ESM is one that’ll not only guarantee days filled with entertainment and energy but also activities to enhance your child’s education and development. Yup, everything at this camp is planned not only with fun in mind but also the potential for every camper to participate in lots of fab stuff and to realise his or her potential in a pressure-free and super friendly environment. Awesome.

Spread over 16 venues across Dubai & Abu Dhabi, this award winning “Multi-Activity Camp Program” is perfect for mamas with kiddos of different ages too. The Multi Activity Camp (for ages 4-12 years) offers over 16 sports and arts activities and an amazing mix of outdoor and indoor fun to help take their game to the next level, providing expert sports instruction for budding athletes all the while allowing parents to send kids in different age groups to one place. And how about this for cool – they’ll also provide a door-to-door pick up option, making it easy on working parents during the morning rush hour.

Sound good? We think so – this camp is all about getting kids away from the screen and burning some energy while trying lots of new things at the same time. Their carefully selected team of European coaches encourage kiddos to thrive, learn and develop through a balance of sports, games and creative activities perfectly suited to age and ability. Oh and… ESM Holiday Camps (part of East Sports Management) won Gold at the 2017 Sports Industry Awards for Best Youth Organization or Academy so they’ll have your little champs going for gold in no time. Hooray!

All the details:

When: Weekly, 1 July – 30 August
Where: At venues across Dubai
Ages: 4 – 12 years
Times: 8.30am – 1.30pm
Cost: From AED 200 per day or from AED 420 per week (prices are venue specific)
How to Book: Email holidaycamp@esm.ae or call +971 43697817. You can also visit esmacademies.ae/holiday-camps

ESM are offering Sassy readers an additional 5% discount (over and above the current 45% discount) for online registration and payments made before 25 August 2018. Use code SASSY5 at checkout to avail this additional discount.

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