A tale of one city
Learning on the job, children get to experience life as working people – in a world of their own.
At the new Kidzania indoor theme park, children get to take over an entire ‘city’.
WHEN Kidzania held a meet-the-press session to introduce the concept of a city for kids back in June last year, we were invited for a tete-a-tete with Hernan Barbieri, the chief integration officer of Kidzania Mexico. We were introduced to the success of various Kidzanias around the world, an indoor educational and entertainment theme park based on the concept of fostering independence and autonomy in kids aged four to 14. If you go to kidzania.com, one of the first things you see is the tagline: Get ready for a better world.
The world they’re talking about is constructed on 7,400sq m (80,000sq ft) over two levels in the new building called Curve NX in Mutiara Damansara (Petaling Jaya, Selangor), that’s joined with the Curve shopping mall via an airbridge.
The Rm80mil Kidzania Kuala Lumpur is the first in Malaysia and the ninth under the franchise started by Mexican brothers Xavier and Esteban Lopez Ancona in 1996. The other eight are located in Mexico (two) and Japan (two) as well as in Indonesia, Portugal, Dubai (UAE) and South Korea.
We were told that Kidzania provides a safe and realistic educational environment for children. How is this done?
There are over 60 “establishments” sponsored by recognised international and local brands. These outlets let children experience what it’s like to be out in the real world through role-playing a variety of professions in a colourful child-sized city. Up to 300 staff members are on hand to guide or help the participants around the establishments. And unlike the conventional theme parks, there are no rides or arcade games here.
The concept – designed to stimulate physical and intellectual growth, and to develop skills and a good attitude in the young ones – sounds great.
Fast forward eight months later, and Kidzania KL finally opened its doors to the public yesterday.
During a preview of the place last Thursday, media members got the chance to check out the centre along with some 500 schoolchildren who went to where all the magic supposedly happens. In the week prior to the public opening, Kidzania had been receiving groups from schools around the Klang Valley.
“Schoolchildren have been coming since Monday,” said Waikuan Wong, vice-president of communications of Themed Attractions Malaysia, the company responsible for bring-