10 November 2010
Parents around the world must dread the two little words from their children on holiday, “I’m bored”. A time when they should be having fun and discovering new exciting things that a holiday can offer, children can sometimes be let down by a resort’s kids club, which is why rex resorts has re-launched its kids club at Halcyon Cove in Antigua with the helping hand of child psychologist Dr Richard Woolfson, to devise a varied and entertaining ‘play diet’, to ensure happy kids, which equals happy parents.
“It's vital that kids' clubs in hotels offer children exciting and dynamic play opportunities during their annual holidays. A planned play programme with a range of well-thought-out fun-filled activities, aimed at boosting children's learning and development, is much more enjoyable than simply sticking kids in a room with a bunch of basic toys” says Dr Woolfson. The rex resorts kids club, rexplorers is an important part of the facilities on offer to families during their holidays. In collaboration with Dr Woolfson, who has over 30 years experience, rex resorts has devised a programme of balanced play events, to inspire and stimulate young minds whilst still having fun on holiday. The play diet underpins the psychological principles of play ensuring children are involved in healthy play that is fun as well as educational.
Dr Woolfson has identified four key play elements for the diet all tapping into rexplorers key theme of Exploration. These are Discovery, Physical, Imaginative and Creative. Each of these categories has key attributes that benefit the child’s development. [see notes to editor].
Many children may be visiting Antigua for the first time, an island that is steeped in history and exciting stories of pirates and hidden treasure, providing rexplorers with an ideal opportunity to teach and inspire play based around these exciting elements. Halcyon Cove by rex resorts is set in a tropical, landscaped garden directly on the beautiful Dickenson’s Bay, with its fine white sand and turquoise blue sea, making it ripe for exploration and nature workshops. The play diet has given the kids club a focus on varied play within these four categories that include activities such as treasure hunts, beachcombing, pirate assault courses, a pirate play revealing the rich history of Antigua, even an opportunity for kids to take home their footprint in the sand!
Dr Richard Woolfson identified the key elements a parent needs from a kids club; safety, no cost, peace, professionalism, confidence, enjoyment and feedback from their children. For the kids he identified their need for variety, fun, excitement, structure, age appropriate activities, free play, adventure & challenges plus choices.
Dr Woolfson says “In my research into what kids' clubs offer in resorts I discovered a huge variation in the quality of activities offered, and sometimes they did not seem to be based on the understanding of child development or how much hotel activities can play an important role in the kids' short time there”.
The play diet will be rolled out to all rex resort properties with kid club facilities following the launch at Halcyon Cove by rex resorts in Antigua.