Interactive shows keep kids engaged
Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival activities to run until May 22
Combining education and entertainment, motivational speaker and animal trainer Anthony Estephan is giving his young audience at the ongoing Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) valuable lessons on nature and environmental protection in both immersive and enjoyable way.
Estephan is making the scene livelier at SCRF’s Robot Zoo with his guitar and music as he explains how animals live in their natural habitat. His activities are tailored for children aged 6 to 15 years. For toddlers, he has simple jigsaw puzzles, while older kids can join in team sports and animal quiz.
He conducts games, where he divides the children into land and sea animal teams. One of his games involves understanding the depth of the ocean. “This is an adventure game where they can seek knowledge and fun at the same time. I sing strumming the guitar at the end of each game, and that way I am giving them edutainment,” Estephan explained.
Robot Zoo
The Robot Zoo is the latest addition to the annual SCRF, which opened on Wednesday at Expo Centre Sharjah. Organised by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), this year’s edition carries the theme ‘Create Creativity’. SCRF runs daily until May 22.
Another important highlight of SCRF is the Cookery Corner. American Chef Dario Steven, a culinary instructor from Miami, Florida, USA, led a live cooking demo on Wednesday night with two recipes from his book, ‘Chef D Cooks the World’.
Skilled in global cuisines, Dario asked for volunteers from the audience and helped the young ones express themselves creatively through cooking. He said: “I always want to inspire kids to cook, whether it’s recreational at home or to become professional chefs later in life.”
Various delicacies
Dario guided the kids in making Brazilian beef kabobs. He also danced with them while mixing a flavourful marinade. The second dish he and the kids prepared was Canadian Poutine, a combination of French fries and mozzarella cheese, smothered in gravy.
After going around various pavilions at SCRF, visitors and bookworms can relax and read at worm-shaped couches at the Sharjah Public Library (SPL) pavilion.
The unique pavilion is attracting children, and their parents understand the role of libraries in instilling the habit of reading. There are also storytelling sessions, cultural activities and workshops being held throughout the day for children aged 7 to 17.