The event, aimed at children in the age group of 0-6, will take place at Gulab Bagh on 5th and 6th March, 2022
Imagine that you are a 3-year-old child. Delve deeper into your imagination and think what all you would like to do at this age. Unlimited fun activities, making mud castles the entire day, running after balloons, curiously gazing at wonderous sights, creating colourful crafts, reading stories and getting lost in books filled with colourful pictures – this probably is the best definition of childhood.
Through the “Urban95 Udaipur Kids’ Festival”, the city is focusing on enhancing early childhood and celebrating it. This annual event is organized by the Udaipur Nagar Nigam, in collaboration with Bernard Ven Leer Foundation (BvLF) with technical support from ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia and Ecorys India. This year the festival will be celebrated on 5th and 6th of March at Gulab Bagh, Udaipur.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival could not be organized last year. However, it was a huge success in 2020, memories of which live on even now. The festival will also mark the participation of several schools, Bal Vikas Kendra and other associated organizations of Udaipur.
Planned activities at the Urban95 Udaipur Kids’ Festival
The festival is being organized with a special focus on children up to the age of 6 years and their caregivers, and the activities are designed to aid in the physical, mental, emotional, and creative development of young children. The festival will offer insights on activities that support learning for young children as per their personalities and preferences, and behavioral insights for the caregivers to promote the[RM1] holistic development of their children.
Children attending the festival can participate in activities like art and craft, painting, block printing, storytelling, learning tree, hurdle race, skipping, games with balloons, games with use of soil and balls, traditional games, clay art, one-minute shows and much more. The festival space will also showcase colorful décor to make the space interesting for young children.
In addition, with support from West Zone Cultural Centre, activities like puppet shows, which highlight the culture of the city, will also be organized. The Nagar Nigam has arranged a plantation drive with kids and their caregivers to spread the message of the significance of trees and the need for protecting the environment. A health camp for young children is being organized by the Health Department, facilitating routine health checkup of the children, along with measurement of their height and weight.
Under Urban95 Udaipur, the “Parents+” project, with Jatan Sansthan as the technical partner, will support parents and families with information on positive parenting, pre-school education, childcare at home, health, nutrition and hygiene, along with things to keep in mind while walking with children outdoors or in public vehicle will be discussed during a dedicated session. Several committees have come together to plan and manage operations for the festival.
Golden opportunity for engaging young children post COVID-19
Like all children, kids have not been able to go to pre-schools or anganwadis since the past two years. Moreover, experts do not advocate too many online classes for this age group. In such a situation, kids have been confined to their homes. The Urban95 Kids Festival is a golden opportunity for Udaipur city, where young children will be able to come out of their homes and explore the park, play with other children and connect with nature for two consecutive days. They will also be able to participate in various pre-school educational activities.
During the festival, the COVID-19 safety protocols will be strictly followed for the safety of all visitors.
Bus facility: Buses have been provided by the Municipal Corporation to pick and drop the children of various Anganwadi centers. These buses will be available on both days of the festival. Vehicle access of any kind is prohibited in the park so that children and caregivers can move freely.
Parking facility: For the parents and schools willing to reach the site by private vehicles, four-wheeler parking space has been allotted at the smart city parking near PWD. Parking for two-wheelers has been allotted at the left-hand side from the main entrance. Traffic police will be posted for the same.
Who can participate? Children up to the age of 6 years can participate in the festival. Parents and caregivers of the kids participating are also allowed to accompany them. Apart from this, individuals working with young children, teachers, social organizations, private schools, people associated with Anganwadi centers, pregnant and lactating women are also welcome to the festival. The festival will be held from 9 AM till sunset.
