The summer season is giving a chance for Qatar residents, particularly children, to explore and take part in a number of engaging activities at Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar.
Dadu is hosting an interactive experiment ‘Light Atelier’, which runs until September 11 at the Museum: Arab Museum of Modern Art.
Using different light fixtures, Qatar Museums (QM) said this free-of-charge activity “allows children to be self-reliant in exploring concepts around light, shadow, colour mixing, reflections, and more”.
“Dadu's Light Atelier utilises different installations, allowing children to take the lead and freely discover concepts about light and shadow, colour mixing, reflections, and more. The educational space will allow you and your child to play, explore and experiment,” QM said on its social media pages.
Dadu, which means “play” in Arabic, is a “word that has a strong presence in poetry” and such activity forms an essential part of childhood, according to QM.
As one of QM’s latest institutions, the museum serves as a platform “for learning and growth through inclusive, open-ended play, exploration and experimentation”. It has been developed under the leadership of QM chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
QM noted that Dadu activities help children to unlock and develop their potential to be successful, providing innovative “child developmental settings and resources”.
“We support all children, including those with special education needs and disabilities, to learn through play, have fun and bond with family and friends, while nurturing them to be the future leaders and caretakers of Qatar, supporting the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030,” QM said.
Some of the activities at Dadu include bird feeder-making, which aims to empower children to take action and raise awareness on the importance of protecting Mother Earth; flipbook animation, which allows participants to explore and experiment with basic animation skills; desert box-making, which teaches about Qatar’s rocky desert habitat, and aims to “build a connection and appreciation for our natural environment.”
Other Dadu workshops aim to develop scientific inquiry and observation skills of children, such as the turtle-hatching activity, which familiarises participants with the hawksbill turtle and their nesting season during early summer at Fuwairit beach, as well as the danger they face.
“We at Dadu invite children to leave their mark while playing and look forward to being part of children’s journey in learning through play.
“A variety of stimulating, interactive, and accessible indoor and outdoor experiences will offer families opportunities to play and learn together. Families are the threads of our community’s fabric – the tighter our weave, the stronger we are.
“Although our doors are not yet open, we are already engaging our community in Qatar, from family events with our allied organisations to Museums in Residence programmes in schools around Doha,” QM said.
Mathaf is also holding guided family visits for five Saturdays. Two were held on May 21 and July 16 while three are set on September 17, October 15, and November 19 from 3pm to 4pm.
Children and their families can also join the ‘Story Time at Mathaf’ – a reading of Message to the Penguin: Don’t Tell Your Mother – on July 30 from 4pm to 5pm at the Mathaf library. It is free of charge but registration is required.
Mathaf will also hold an artists’ gathering (free workshop) for 13 years old and above every Saturday, scheduled throughout the year from 10am to 7pm.
Dadu is hosting an interactive experiment ‘Light Atelier’, which runs until September 11 at the Museum: Arab Museum of Modern Art.
Using different light fixtures, Qatar Museums (QM) said this free-of-charge activity “allows children to be self-reliant in exploring concepts around light, shadow, colour mixing, reflections, and more”.
Turtle-hatching activity aims to familiarise participants with the hawksbill turtle
“Dadu's Light Atelier utilises different installations, allowing children to take the lead and freely discover concepts about light and shadow, colour mixing, reflections, and more. The educational space will allow you and your child to play, explore and experiment,” QM said on its social media pages.
Dadu, which means “play” in Arabic, is a “word that has a strong presence in poetry” and such activity forms an essential part of childhood, according to QM.
Children enjoying the activities at Dadu
As one of QM’s latest institutions, the museum serves as a platform “for learning and growth through inclusive, open-ended play, exploration and experimentation”. It has been developed under the leadership of QM chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
QM noted that Dadu activities help children to unlock and develop their potential to be successful, providing innovative “child developmental settings and resources”.
“We support all children, including those with special education needs and disabilities, to learn through play, have fun and bond with family and friends, while nurturing them to be the future leaders and caretakers of Qatar, supporting the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030,” QM said.
Young participants learn through play at Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar.
Some of the activities at Dadu include bird feeder-making, which aims to empower children to take action and raise awareness on the importance of protecting Mother Earth; flipbook animation, which allows participants to explore and experiment with basic animation skills; desert box-making, which teaches about Qatar’s rocky desert habitat, and aims to “build a connection and appreciation for our natural environment.”
Other Dadu workshops aim to develop scientific inquiry and observation skills of children, such as the turtle-hatching activity, which familiarises participants with the hawksbill turtle and their nesting season during early summer at Fuwairit beach, as well as the danger they face.
‘Light Atelier’ uses different light fixtures
“We at Dadu invite children to leave their mark while playing and look forward to being part of children’s journey in learning through play.
“A variety of stimulating, interactive, and accessible indoor and outdoor experiences will offer families opportunities to play and learn together. Families are the threads of our community’s fabric – the tighter our weave, the stronger we are.
“Although our doors are not yet open, we are already engaging our community in Qatar, from family events with our allied organisations to Museums in Residence programmes in schools around Doha,” QM said.
Dadu activities help children to unlock and develop their potential
Mathaf is also holding guided family visits for five Saturdays. Two were held on May 21 and July 16 while three are set on September 17, October 15, and November 19 from 3pm to 4pm.
Children and their families can also join the ‘Story Time at Mathaf’ – a reading of Message to the Penguin: Don’t Tell Your Mother – on July 30 from 4pm to 5pm at the Mathaf library. It is free of charge but registration is required.
Mathaf will also hold an artists’ gathering (free workshop) for 13 years old and above every Saturday, scheduled throughout the year from 10am to 7pm.
