File photo used for representation only
Qatar Museums Chairperson, H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani highlighted the role of Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar where she said “will enrich the lives of children and their families by providing an unparalleled space for learning through open-ended play, exploration and experimentation.”
“What we learn through play from childhood, stays with us for life. It strengthens our bonds with family and friends and brings us much joy and laughter,” she said on her official Instagram post.
According to Qatar Museums (QM), Dadu “provides cutting-edge child developmental surroundings and resources to help children and their families thrive.”
“We support all children, including those with special education needs and disabilities, to learn through play, have fun and bond with family and friends. We do this while nurturing them to be the future leaders and caretakers of Qatar, in line with the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030,” it explained.
Dadu has been developed under H E Sheikha Al Mayassa. The Children’s Museum is the country’s first publicly financed museum, with all donors, families, and companies making direct contributions to the future of Qatar and its people. ConocoPhillips, Baladna, and Qatar Shell are a few of Dadu’s founding family members. Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. Co., a distributor of Toyota and Lexus in the country, also signed an agreement with Dadu as the exclusive sponsor of the special greeting area for visiting schools.
The museum in the making will provide families with chances to play and learn alongside one another via a range of engaging, approachable, and interactive indoor and outdoor experiences.
“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 on its website.
Currently, Dadu’s Light Atelier exhibition is being held at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, where it is temporarily housed. It will be open through September 11 and admission is free. The exhibition makes use of several installations that let kids explore ideas like light and shadow, color mixing, reflections, and more on their own. The educational space also allows you and your child to play, explore and experiment.
Moreover, Dadu has uploaded several activity booklets at QM’s websites which is free to download. Among are: Storyboard, Create your own super character, Flipbook animation, Bird Feeder and Spotting guide, How do plants absorb water?, Rocky Desert in a box, Garangao workshop: Palm weaving, Kindness rocks, How to make your own fossil, Turtle-hatching activity, and My Ramadan calendar.
