As I mentioned before in my blog post “KidZania London Kidpreneur Festival – Our First Ambassador Event“, we will be attending various KidZania London events over the next 12 months and we will be sharing with you everything that is happening there so you don’t miss anything! Or if you did miss something, you can read all about it through my blog or through the KidZania London Blog where I will also be guest posting too! This time we visited the city to attend their STEM Fair as well as experience some of their Christmas activities.
(Disclosure: I was visiting KidZania London in my role as KidZania London Blogger Ambassador. KidZania London provided us with annual passes however opinions expressed here are independent and my own)
The STEM Fair took place for 5 days from Wednesday to Sunday but we attended the last day on Sunday 9th December. They had new workshops for the day which were specifically created to promote Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths skills! This is always a great initiative which really helps our kids to understand a little bit more about the STEM world!
ARRIVAL
For this event, there were workshops available from the Royal Aeronautical Society, NHS Blood and Transplant with Team Margot & national charity WaterAid. All activities were designed to support the learning criteria of pupils throughout Key Stage 1-3, so they were able to develop lots of important key skills as they work, earn and play. We were looking forward to visiting them all.
ROYAL AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY
We started our visit at the Royal Aeronautical Society workshop. The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) is a registered charity and membership organisation made up of people who work in aerospace and aviation!
There was a lady who was in charge of doing all the speeches at their workshops. Their aim is to talk to kids and explain to them how the aerospace and aviation world works. This is a career for all genders and boys and girls are welcome. Girls can do a fantastic job there too so they really want to get the attention of little girls like my daughters. There are so many different activities within the Royal Aeronautical Society that there is always something for everybody!
I mentioned before that my eldest daughter Bella has recently diagnosed with dyslexia and dyscalculia, so I was asking her a few questions about that because I wasn’t sure this could be a problem for Bella but she reassured us that kids with dyslexia or even dyscalculia can also be involved. I was very relieved to hear that and very happy to know that there was another career option for my daughter if she wishes to go through that route.
Paper Planes
They were running a hands-on design activity to enable children to understand aeronautical engineering. The girls learnt how to make a paper plane and had fun making it fly!
Colouring
They also had fun designing and colouring their own plane designs. Sienna’s favourite activity at the moment is colouring so she was definitely in her element. They were encouraging them to discover what it is like to be an aeronautical engineer.
NHS BLOOD AND TRANSPLANT (NHSBT)
The next workshop we stopped by was with the NHS Blood and Transport. They are a Special Health Authority dedicated to saving and improving lives! Their aim was to raise awareness about blood donation and how important blood donors are to help continue to provide their life-saving service.
This was the workshop that I was more interested to find out more information. I have always heard about being a blood donor but I have never really thought about becoming one. Nick and I had a lot of questions which the lady representing the NHS was very kind answering them all. It was very interesting to learn that giving blood actually gives you lots of health benefits because your body will be regenerating new blood and this is very good for you.
After listening to the lady, Nick & I decided to enrol. So now we will be officially donating blood 3 times a year for me and 4 times a year for Nick. We are both very happy about that. We should all try to do this because we will be saving lives doing this so I hope I can persuade all of you to do it too, if you don’t already.
Finding out my blood type
We were also able to find out our blood type. This was an option available to everyone that decided to register to donate blood on the day. So we did a small test and confirmed we are both: O+.
At the KidZania University, kids were able to get a Team Margot Social Science Degree thanks to the Team Margot Charity. This degree aims to raise awareness about stem cell & bone marrow transplants, teaching kids about transplants, helping others and the work of Team Margot!
WATER AID
Bella trying their augmented reality experience
We also had a chat with the people at Water Aid. They were at Kidzania London talking to kids about how clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene impacts everyone, everywhere, to fulfil their potential!
They are an international non-profit organisation and their aim is to provide clean water and toilets to communities around the world. They do a fantastic job!
Kids were able to experience WaterAid’s Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality taking them on a journey to discover how clean water and good hygiene impact the world. It was really cool to see how the image we were seeing from the iPad came to life. Bella really enjoyed that.
It was really good for the girls to learn a little bit more about how privileged we are to have water in our homes while in some countries getting water easily is sadly something they lack. This is a reality and our kids should be aware of this so then they can appreciate more the water we have.
CAROL SINGING IN THE KIDZANIA CHOIR
Christmas at Kidzania London
KidZania London was looking very festive. They are also ready for Christmas and you will see Christmas decorations every where you go. The whole city was decorated really lovely.
Carol Singing Times
Bella watching the kids singing Christmas Carols
They had a new workshop: Christmas Carols singing in the Kidzania Choir. In this workshop, kids will be able to practice Christmas songs and, rehearse them and then singing in front of the Kidzania London Attendees from their balcony. It was fun to watch! If you are attending Kidzania London during December this could be a fun workshop to try. They have a few other Christmas workshops to choose from so check their website to read the full list.
OTHER ACTIVITIES AT KIDZANIA LONDON
Hotel Housekeeper
They had lots of different workshops and activities to try which is great so every time we come the girls can try something different. This time Bella wanted to do the Hotel Housekeeper workshop. It was available when we stopped by so she did it.
She had to help to keep the Dorsett Hotel clean and tidy. Kids had to pay close attention to detail as their complete a ‘turn-down’ service: organising the room, making the perfect bed and even creating towel art. Now there’s no excuse for a bedroom that doesn’t meet hotel standards!
Face Painting
Every time we go to Kidzania, Sienna asks for Face Painting. She as very determined to get her face done and she waited for a long time because the Face Painting Studio is very popular so it is always very busy.
Lovely Sienna with a Reindeer Face Painting
At the Face Painting Studio, kids can transform into a character of their choice. Face painting costs £2.00 for kids aged 4+ but if your little ones have an annual pass this workshop is free. Because it is Christmas month, they had a lot of Christmas options so Sienna chose to have a reindeer on her face. The lady did a fantastic job and she was looking so cute.
TIME TO SAY GOODBYE
We had a great time at KidZania London STEM Fair. We love visiting KidZania because they always have something different and new to do, so it is never boring. My girls had a day full of interesting workshops and cool activities to do.
We did a few Instagram stories on the day which you can catch up under “STEM Fair” highlight. I have also written a guest post at KidZania Blog so head over there to read more about our day.
Have you been to KidZania London? Are your kids interested in the Royal Aeronautical Society? Have you donated blood before?
*Disclosure: I was visiting KidZania London in my role as KidZania London Blogger Ambassador. KidZania London provided us with annual passes however opinions expressed here are independent and my own.
Thanks for stopping by,
Love you all ❤️
Franca 💋
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Wow looks like an amazing event, and at Kidzania too! Amazing #KCACOLS
Yes! It was very interesting! 🙂 x
this looks like such a fun place with lots to learn from. I love STEM activities and even bought some for my girls to do this winter. So far we made our own lip balm and played with the microscope I got them. Pretty neat because I never had a microscope as a kid. I donate blood too but about once a year. I’m thinking of becoming a donor as there are many people out there that can use what I have should I leave this earth in excellent health and condition…that’s kind of strange to think about at the same time. #KCACOLS
Yes it is very strange right! But it is true, how many people we can help if we become donors. It is a lovely thing to do. X
Wow, what an amazing event a STEM fair is just perfect for capturing kids imaginations! KidZania is fabulous, such a fun place for the kids. #KCACOLS
Yes! I was very impressed with evert they have to offer! It is always a fun day to go there! X
It sounds like it was a brilliant event! Well done on you both signing up to give blood, that’s amazing #kcacols
Thank you! We are very excited about being blood donors! So happy to be able to help other people! X
This event looks absolutely amazing, franca! What a great experience for you and the kids. A real memory-maker and possible career chooser too! Brilliant. #kcacols All the best to you in health, happiness and love!
Thank you so much Lisa! The same wishes to you too! 🙂 xx
This looks like such good fun, loving the Hotel Housekeeping bit! #KCACOLS
It looks like you guys had a blast! I am a huge supporter of STEM. We are actually looking to get my son into a STEM school for next year! I pinned this! Thanks for sharing! #KCACOLS
Ahh that is interesting! Hope all goes as planed X
What an incredible event! A brilliant way of showcasing career options to youngsters.
I give blood when I can, I’m up to 6 donations, they will send you a text message telling you where you donation went. I live in Sheffield and my last donation was sent to a Cancer Hospital in Manchester. It’s a wonderful feeling, will you blog about your first donation? That would be an awesome way to raise awareness.
#KCACOLS
Love Jenna
Wow you are amazing! We are so excited to be able to help this year. It is a wonderful feeling! Ahh maybe! I didn’t think abou it but perhaps you are right, I should do. Thanks for the idea! 🙂 x