KIDDO Club Safari Musical
MY CHILDREN and I have a Thursday routine that involves a visit to the public library, play time at the Havaianas Playground, and an ice cream treat at the Butterbean kiosk inside Ayala Center Cebu.
It was in one of those Thursday visits that we happened to learn about KIDDO, the mall’s loyalty rewards system and skill-enhancing program for children, packaged into one easy-to-join membership program.
The invitation to be the program’s founding members came in a few days later with a cute label that says “Jeffrey, Cris Evert, Nicholas, Antoinette and JJ Ruffolo.”
So on Father’s Day (June 17), while my husband enjoyed his time with the “allowance” I gave him to buy anything he likes, the three mutants and I alongside Ate Joy braved the crowd of the mall’s Activity Center for the launching of the KIDDO program.
KIDDO Club Music Station
We received our KIDDO kits consisting of a drawstring bag complete with an ID, stickers, apron, notebook, pin and passbook. (These kits were later put to test at home when we cooked chicken adobo and painted/colored the characters of PJ Masks.)
In between tantrums and hugs, Nicholas and Antoinette, who were a few weeks shy of turning five years old then, stopped to watch the performance of the members of
Clowning Around, five of them garbed in animal costumes, in line with safari-themed musical of the event.
Baking Station
Jeff Junior rushed to the baking station to decorate his mamon (sponge cake) with sprinkles and icing. The twins followed suit and within 30 seconds, JJ’s cheeks was a
canvas of yellow, blue and orange icing marks. I met my college blockmate, Nancy Dael, in the midst of the circus but we had to cut the conversation because Nicholas wanted to proceed to the play station to “tumble and rumble all day long.”
It was an outdoor set-up for the play station but it was raining so the inflatables were “asleep” when we got there. Nicholas was disappointed and threw another tantrum as I stood there glaring at him with angry, owl eyes.
I knew it was time to cool down.
I read that two of the mall tenants that we dearly love— MyJoy and Butterbean—are in the KIDDO program’s initiallist of partner merchants. We went to have our ice cream fix at Butterbean to recharge and refocus. Children are a lot of work and you need a lot of mental preparations when you bring them out to public places.
I guess the strawberry and Dulce de Leche ice cream worked as we went back to the activity center with a fresh perspective. No more tears, no more tantrums.
I had the energy to wait in the long line of the zooarchaelogy excavation—something that I will never do—to get three excavation sets with dinosaur eggs ready to be pounded and smashed by my children. Even Ate Joy worked hard to break the eggs and find the animals inside them.
Art Station
We skipped the other learning stations as the afternoon crowd seemed to increase rather than dissipate. The rain stopped and the play station was up and running with
children jumping, sliding and tumbling. The mutants were there for an hour or so, enough time to get them hungry for our dinner at Siosai Tempura by Yasu Suzuki located on Bonifacio District.
The letters of the word “Kiddo” represent five different fields of interest: learning, cooking, art, music, and sports, a holistic approach to a child’s development. This is Ayala Center Cebu’s way of ensuring every family member is valued and appreciated.
“Through the KIDDO Club, we make sure to nurture kids’ interests through enriching workshops and play, and at the same time, let them enjoyspecial rewards and treats from our merchant partners,” said Celeste “Bong” Dy, General Manager of Ayala Center Cebu.
Once the child is signed up, exclusive discounts and freebies may instantly be redeemed by shopping, dining or availing of services.
Members get special gifts and deals on their birthdays. Complimentary workshops aimed at developing children’s talents and skills are also offered.
KIDDO stamps can be collected by presenting a minimum single receipt of P1,000 from any partner merchant to receive prizes and gift certificates. You can visit the KIDDO Club booth near Guess, Level 1, Ayala Center Cebu to become a member. Just don’t forget to bring a school ID or birth certificate to claim the KIDDO kit and card.
Cebu is a haven of exciting developments and fun surprises and last month was no exception as Ayala Center Cebu launched a program that puts emphasis on the well-being and enjoyment of our children.
A visit to the mall can always be a fun, learning and rewarding experience for children.
