Science Centre fun for children

CHILDREN will be able to try their hand at cool technology and design at the Cape Town Science Centre’s fun and stimulating environment these holidays.

The interactive programme, themed “Design your Future”, will run daily until January

16 at the centre on Main Road, Observatory, near Groote Schuur Hospital.

“Screen time for children often gets a bad rap from parents, but then again there is active screen time, where children cognitively and physically engage in screenbased activities.

“In other words, they are encouraged to respond, problem solve and learn new skills, and the benefits are multiple. Importantly, these activities are fun and engaging because after all, it is holiday time,” said centre director, Julie Cleverdon.

Workshops on offer include learning to use a 3D printer, using Minecraft to learn to code, VR demonstrations, flight simulators, dissecting a frog (on a Smartboard) and building an app.

Younger children, aged 3 to 9, can attend Bee Bot where they will learn how to programme robotic bees to move along a “playing field”. This serves as a great introduction to robotics.

“The centre’s regular attractions continue throughout the holidays, with daily science shows, camera obscura tours, arts and crafts activities with a scientific twist and access to the science centre’s collection of hands-on exhibits and puzzles.

“Entrepreneurship becomes a hot topic for the Cape Town Science Centre in 2018, and to kick-start this programme the CTSC Kids Market takes place at the centre on Saturday from 10am to 1pm,” said Cleverdon.

The full summer holiday programme is at www.ctsc.org. za. Bookings are encouraged. For further information, call

021 300 3200.