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Post Category - What's OnWhat's On - Post Category - Things to Do With KidsThings to Do With KidsMost dads don’t get to spend much time with the kiddos during the week – so the weekends are the perfect time to catch up on some all-important bonding while giving mama a little break in the process. Besides the obvious Dubai Mall dinosaur and aquarium style attractions (as amazing as they are), there are plenty of other adventures for daddy to grab with the littles. Here are a few of our faves…
- Dubai Miracle Garden’s just opened up their Butterfly Garden and we’re totally in love.
- Buy mama a present. (We had to try…)
- Head over to the Beach opposite JBR for a day out spent splashing and tanning, then grab a bite over at the new British casual resto Retro Feasts! They have a foosball table perfect for a family feud.
- This’ll require shaking the kiddos awake at an ungodly hour, but if you wake up early enough then you’ll be able to see all the fishermen and traders at work at Deira’s fish market. Don’t forget to grab freshly caught brekkie and grab noms for the week as well! (Want more early riser ideas? Check out our list!)
- Grab breakfast at Café Rider in Al Quoz – an uber masculine space with fantastic coffee, motorbikes and sometimes cars on display, an adjoining bike workshop plus a kiddie corner and mini ride on bikes for the kids to tear around in. Open 8am – 8pm daily.
- Hit the dunes with the tots! Drive out with a picnic and blankets before it gets too hot in the morning and roll around in the sand with the kiddos. Get the car valeted and the kids shaken off before returning to mama looking sparkly and new!
- Go cycling with the tots at the track near Nad Al Sheba; the kids track is perfect for little racers and for dads to help make that all important transition from stabilisers to 2 wheels.
- Climb the walls at Adventure HQ – get hooked up and show the kids how it’s done – the new Adventure HQ at Galleria Mall is perfect for all ages and levels. Read our full review of Adventure!
- Take fishing rods or nets to the rocks or new groynes along the Jumeirah/Umm Suqeim beaches (there’s a fab spot on the beach next to the Umm Suqeim Fishing Village) and indulge in a traditional father/kids past-time – even if you don’t catch anything – the kids will love to try.
- Book a Fathers & Kids Camping trip – this members only group arrange camping trips specifically for dads and their tots to some of the UAE’s most beautiful locations. And there’s no need to worry – everything is taken care of with huge precision and style – from 3 course meals to a division of tasks (just proves that mama doesn’t have to do it all!). Full Sassy Mama review coming soon!
- Go racing. If junior is up early at the weekend head to the camel track at Al Dhaid and follow the locals’ 4x4s to cheer on the robot jockeys (seriously!).
- Invest in scooters for the whole fam (yes mama can get in on this one too) – the kids will love going on a family scoot session around their hood.
- Indulge in some safe ‘rough and tumble’ on the trampolines at Bounce or Jump Boxx – perfect for burning off oodles of energy.
- Dads and BBQ’s? It’s a match made in heaven. Order your meat from Prime Gourmet Butchers then fire up the barbie and let the littles help you cook up a storm.
- A weekend wouldn’t be complete without a little DIY. Whether you’re handy with a hammer or not, get inspired to build something with the kids – be it a little birdhouse or a full on playhouse – a good old fashioned project is the perfect thing to get stuck into together.
- Grab surfboards or boogie boards and catch some waves on the beaches in Umm Suqeim before heading to The Surf House next to Umm Suqeim Park – a family friendly hub and surfer hangout that offers equipment rental plus coffee and more – a great place to affirm that dad is indeed a dude. Open daily from 7am to 6pm.
- Head to Kite Beach and rent a two man kayak for a little paddle on calm waters and a little bit of fish-spotting. (We’ve also seen rays, cuttlefish and even dolphins!).
- Enjoy lunch with a view at ‘Meat Me There’, a great little spot in the Umm Suqeim Fishing Village located just at the edge of the water with great views of the superyachts and boats moored there. Read our full review here.
- Play pétanque at La Serre – the brightly coloured and lighter weighted balls are perfect for children to master during a leisurely morning followed by croissants and chocolat chaud.
- Teach junior how to perfect his or her swing at one of Dubai’s mini golf courses – Tee & Putt in Wafi or Play A Round @ Some Place Nice both offer glow-in-the-dark (of course) indoor golf while the 18 hold mini golf course at Jebel Ali Golf Resort has a fab seaside location (and a pool and beach to use after). This is one day of golf that mama really isn’t’ going to mind you indulging in.
- Sign the kids up for Mini Squad rugby (for ages 4+) with the Dubai Hurricanes whose home at the Sevens Stadium will get the littles very excited. Kids learn all about eye and hand coordination with the ball, teamwork plus passing and running – while parents learn simple techniques to practice as a family at home.
- Oval balls not your thing? Turn to Soccerkids for a bit of footie action at various locations across Dubai.
- Or maybe a spot of bowling is more up your alley. Switch Bowling at Ibn Battuta Mall provides lighter weight balls, ramps and lane bumpers to help the teenies get the hang of it. They’ll be bowled over. Because that’s how you roll (we couldn’t resist).
Featured image sourced via Pinterest
