Kids' Day out

Who said being a kid is easy business? There’s school, tuitions and then hobby classes afterwards. It’s not easy trying to be an all rounder.  However, with the one day in the year where it’s all about the kids, Children’s Day brings out a host of fun activities they can indulge in. From art workshops to cooking and even turning into mini detectives, this whole month has a little something planned for kids of all ages, when it comes to workshops.

Becoming Sherlock
Everyone loves a whodunit, and it’s never too early to start, is what Joulyn Kenny believes. The forensic expert at the Indian Forensic Organisation has been conducting forensic workshops and camps for children aged five to seven, for half a decade now. The Junior Forensic Science Weekend will allow the young tots to solve crimes and become a detective in their own right. “The crimes are all age-appropriate,” assures Joulyn. “There are crimes like burglary and theft that the children will work around. There won’t be any equipment they’ll have to deal with as such, but they will be provided with lab coats, gloves and facemasks, along with magnifying glasses.”

During the course of the workshop, the children will be introduced to concepts like fingerprints and footwear analysis. “This will help them understand how to look for other clues left behind by the perpetrator,” she explains. Quiz her on whether the children are too young to get started, and she says, “Actually, they’re always more curious (than others) to understand how and why the crime was committed and are focused on their mission of solving it.” There’s just one thing she asks be kept in mind for the workshop. “No parents allowed during the 90-minute workshop!” Joulyn grins.
On November 25, 4 pm to 5.30 pm,
At St. Paul’s, Bandra (W)
Cost: Rs 950
Registrations: 9819288253

Christmas comes early
Chef Jerson Fernandes from Jeon is taking this Children’s Day as a chance to ring in Christmas. The chef has planned a traditional cake-mixing ceremony, and has sourced an assortment of ingredients such as dates, plums, glazed cherries, dry fruits and dried figs for the event. “Growing up, cake-mixing was always an event where the whole family came together for the ceremony. This year on Children’s day I wanted to recreate a similar experience,” explains Jerson. So while parents can take part in the traditional cake-mixing ceremony, children will have a counter, all for themselves. “There is a separate counter for kids for the cake mixing workshop,” he elaborates. “Apart from this, kids will also get a chance to pipe icing on their gingerbreads, make their own muffins and paint a few desserts with edible ingredients. I think an event like this is a perfect excuse to get both the parents and the kids involved.”
Today, from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm
At Jeon Eatery, Sea Princess Hotel, Ground Floor, Juhu Tara Road

Little gardeners
Chef Rakhee Vaswani has had many classes with kids that’s involved them working on cooking and baking goodies. However, she realises the need to get children to understand the importance of healthy ingredients. “Parents are struggling to get their kids to eat fresh food and healthy ingredients,” she says. “Hence, we decided to host the grow-your-own-herbs workshop.”

The ‘junior master chefs’ will be taught how to plant grow their own herbs, which can eventually be put into food. “These are indoor herbs that can grow anywhere,” explains Rakhee. “We’re going to give the kids two pots and tell them about herbs like basil and flax seeds. These grow in any weather and don’t take long either.”

Rakhee says that the students in her cooking academy — who are in their teens themselves — will lend her a hand with the workshop today. “I have students who have grown herbs here and there. We’ve had cooking workshops earlier, but sometimes parents can’t come in — like today, since it’s a weekday. Of course, parents can join in, but we have students to help us out,” she smiles.
Today, from 3.30 pm to 6 pm,
At Palate Culinary Studio, Ground Floor, Survodaya Co-op Housing Society, 7 Juhu Road, Santacruz (W)
Entry: Rs 1,500
Contact: 9820295221

Art is for all
For Iteeha, the Children’s Day workshop is all about getting parents and their kids to connect with each other, over art. “Tie and dye has an appeal for everyone in the ages of five to 90. But the aim of this workshop will be to get parents and kids to interact and create a T-Shirt design of their own,” says Ritika, creative head of Iteeha Corporation.

The workshop today will host children between the age group of seven and 18, getting them to create tie and dye designs and screen-print them on a T-Shirt. “The dyes are eco-friendly, since it is for kids,” Ritika assures, adding, “The great part about tie and dye is that it can be done outside the workshop once you learn the procedure. We will even be telling kids where to procure the material from.”

She explains that it’s the method that’s most exciting when it comes to the art form. “For kids, we do a bit of an origami style, with folding the cloth like a paper. However, when it comes to adults, we take a bit of a complex route, showing them pleating and binding. We use a fork to twist the fabric for a rainbow pattern and kids love it. You know, every one is as excited about their work when the design opens up,” she grins.
Today, from 4 pm to 6 pm,
At Hotel Marine Plaza, Marine Drive
Entry: Rs 2,700

— With inputs from Julie Sam