5 Ways to Keep Kids Cool and Entertained this Summer

As summer temperatures continue to soar in Qatar, it is common to flock indoors to beat the heat. With parks and beaches largely off-limits during the day, you might be stuck for ideas on how to keep your little ones busy and having fun. Have no fear! There are plenty of places to go, from indoor amusement parks to museums. So, here's a rundown of kidfriendly ways to have a blast while beating the heat.

1- Summer Camps

These supervised educational summer camps provide a daytime schedule packed with activities. Drop your kids off and relax as they spend their days living it up while learning new skills.

#IAMEVO Summer Camp

#IAMEVO camps are offering the chance to participate in sporting activities throughout the summer. They will be running a multisports camp plus a fencing and archery camp for children aged four to 11 from 26 June until 11 August.

Cost: QR 750 per child per week with a 20% discount for school staff Location: Doha College, Al Wajba; SEK Doha, West Bay; Park House, Abu Hamour Website: evosportsqatar.com Call: 4407-6772

Acorn Nursery Summer Camp

For the younger set, Acorn Nursery offers an extensive play-based summer camp for children aged zero to four from 3 July 2022 to 18 August 2022.

Cost: QR 900 per week, QR 200 per day Location: Acorn Nursery, Abu Hamour Website: acornqatar.com Call: 4038-7684

Caboodle Pamper and Play

From 15 July to 30 August, children aged two to eight can join Caboodle Pamper and Play's summer camp. Activities will centre around art, movement, and just having fun! A delightful, educational experience for all.

Cost: QR 900 for the first child, QR 750 for additional children Location: Caboodle Pamper and Play, Doha Festival City Call: 4407-6772

Fitness Factory X STEM Xplorers Summer Camp

This collaborative effort between Fitness Factory and STEM Xplorers offers seven fun-filled weeks of education, entertainment, creativity, and fitness in their summer programme for kids aged four to 12, from 26 June 2022 to 4 August 2022.

Cost: from QR 680 weekly Location: Tower 20, Porto Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar Call: 3399-6665

2- Trampoline Parks

Trampolining is a great way to release energy and add an extra spring to your child's step. Check out these parks for powered-up bouncy fun.

BOUNCE Qatar

BOUNCE Qatar is the home of freestyle jumping. It hosts an extensive trampoline park with around 3,000 square meters of interconnected indoor trampolines, adventure features, padding, and airbags.

Looking for an added thrill? BOUNCE Qatar also incorporates X-Park, the adventure obstacle course for adrenaline hunters, and FREERUN, where the only limit is your imagination.

Cost: from QR 80 Location: Tawar Mall Website: bounce.qa Call: 4408-6500

Jumping

This 2,000-plus square metres of fun is Qatar's newest trampoline park house. Located in Place Vendome, it contains over 100 interconnected trampolines under a single roof for your kids to bounce to their hearts' content.

Cost: from QR 100 Location: Place Vendome Website: jumpinotrampoline.com Call: 4006-0269

Jump Qatar

Over 700 square meters of joy await at Jump Qatar. There is something for everyone at Jump, from its velcro wall to a ninja obstacle course, and it also offers free jumping and an extensive foam zone.

Cost: from QR 60 Location: Mirqab Mall Website: jumpqatar.com Call: 4447-9713

Rebound Qatar

Trampolines, a foam pit, basketball, a velcro wall, zorb ball, and wall climb, oh my! This 600-squaremetre trampoline park is a great place to have fun and keep active indoors.

Cost: from QR 100 Location: Gate Mall Call: 5037-2142

Rush Qatar Action Park

This 2022 addition is the newest indoor action park for children aged four to 14. There's a lot to do with its trampolines, biplane, motorised ninja course, net course, and football cage that is perfect for friendly competition.

Cost: from QR 100 Location: Gate 3, Mall of Qatar Call: 4028-5990

Trampo Extreme

Jump to your heart's content across this indoor playground's connected trampolines, foam pits, monkey bars, and dodgeball zone. Additionally, Trampo houses extensive soft play, a variety of clip' n' climb walls, and an enormous rope course in the form of a sky trail.

Cost: from QR 70 Location: Aspire Zone Website: trampo-qatar.com Call: 4499-8888

3- Amusement Centres

If jumping around doesn't sound like your kids' cup of tea, consider this diverse range of entertainment centres.

Angry Birds World

This indoor theme park, designed around the early 2000s phenomenon of Angry Birds, contains rides, attractions, games, and live shows that suit children of all ages.

Cost: from QR 100 Location: Doha Festival City Website: angrybirdsworld.qa Call: 4042-0444

Cost: from QR 120 Location: La Croisette 18, Porto Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar Website: centerofplay.com Call: 7723-3233 Cost: from QR 150 Location: Doha Oasis, Msheireb Website: dohaquest.com Call: 4410-3444

Cost: from QR 150 Website: escapehunt.com/qa/qatar Location: Al Thumama Call: 3355-5566

Cost: varies—pay per attraction via a rechargeable card Location: Barwa City, Al Asmakh Mall, City Center Mall Website: qatar.funvillearabia.com

Cost: varies—pay per attraction via a rechargeable card Location: Villaggio Mall Website: gondolania.com Call: 4403-9800

CurioCITY

This adventurous playground caters to the curious minds of children up to age 12. CurioCITY aims to help children learn about science, engage them in physical activities, and familiarise them with the routine activities of life.

Doha Quest

Widely known as Doha's first indoor theme park, Doha Quest hosts over 30 rides and attractions. It is also home to two Guinness World Records title holders: the "Tallest Indoor Rollercoaster" and the "Tallest Indoor Drop Tower Ride".

With so many unique rides, from 3D Experiences to thrill rides and family attractions, there is definitely something for everyone.

Escape Hunt Qatar

The pressure is on—the clocks are ticking, and adrenaline is pumping. You and your time are against the clock to solve the clues and escape. Do you have what it takes? Find out at Escape Hunt Qatar.

FunVille

FunVille offers a safe and secure indoor play area for children aged one to 10.

Gondolania Theme Park

Iconic to Villaggio Mall, this complex boasts an ice skating rink, a bowling alley, a Venetianinspired gondola boat ride, and the Gondolania Entertainment centre, which features soft play, rides, and games.

Jungle Zone

This jungle-themed amusement centre contains rides, attractions, games, and soft play for children of all ages.

Cost: varies—pay per attraction via a rechargeable card Location: Hyatt Plaza Mall Call: 4499-9699

Snow Dunes

Cool down in the snow in Qatar's first snow dunes. There is plenty to do with 12 super cool rides and attractions for all ages and abilities.

Cost: from QR 180 Website: snowdunes.qa Location: Doha Festival City Call: 4042-0444

KidzMondo

This international edutainment concept puts kids in charge of a kid-sized city, taking on different real-life roles in corporate-sponsored businesses. Your children will be learning through play via various age-appropriate activities in a dynamic setting.

Cost: from QR 90 Location: Mall of Qatar Website: kidzmondodoha.com Call: 4482-6222

Xtremeland

Xtremeland offers a wide range of entertainment options: an amusement park, rides, games, and even a giant, soft play-based toddler haven called "Toddler Land".

Cost: varies—pay per attraction via rechargeable card Location: Mall of Qatar Call: 5037-2142

KidZania

This 5,500-square-metre child-sized city needs no introductions. In this city, children aged one to 14 take on the roles of firefighters, doctors, chefs, and so much more while enriching their minds with every step.

Cost: from QR 95 Location: Aspire Zone Website: doha.kidzania.com/ en-qa Call: 5037-2142

4- Gaming Centres 5- Museums and Libraries

These fun-filled centres are the perfect treat for the game enthusiast in your life.

Megapolis

This state-of-the-art indoor entertainment centre offers an exhaustive range of activities for guests of all ages, including classic arcade games and virtual reality (VR) adventures.

Cost: varies—pay per attraction via a rechargeable card Website: megapolisqatar.com Location: Medina Centrale, The Pearl-Qatar Call: 4437-8444

Virtuocity

This 1,100-square-metre hub of pure gaming pleasure houses 200 gaming stations, six escape rooms, 10 VR cubes, and six VIP rooms.

Cost: from QR 150 Website: virtuocity.qa Location: Doha Festival City Call: 4042-0444 You can always count on Qatar's cultural sector for enlightening and entertaining experiences. Keep this (completely non-exhaustive) list of institutions handy for educational days out.

3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum

The world's second-largest Olympic museum, the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, combines informative exhibits with interactive sporting game opportunities.

Cost: free for residents Location: Khalifa Stadium, Aspire Zone Website: 321qosm.org.qa Call: 4452-5200

Al Thuraya Planetarium

Named after the Pleiades star cluster, the Al Thuraya Planetarium will take you on a journey through time and space.

Cost: free Location: Katara Call: 4408-2067

Fire Station

Home to various exhibits throughout the year, Fire Station has hosted the works of several big-name artists, including Picasso, Ai Weiwei, and the late Virgil Abloh. You can keep up with ongoing displays and current artists in residence through its website.

Cost: free for residents Location: opposite Al Bidda Park Website: firestation.org.qa

Museum of Illusions

You simply won't believe your eyes—visit and experience the impossible! This museum provides an intriguing visual, sensory, and educational experience through a variety of illusions.

Cost: from QR 60 Location: Gate Mall Website: museumofillusions.qa Call: 4020-6237

National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ)

This cultural giant brings the story of Qatar and its people to life. Currently, the Pipilotti Rist: Your Brain to Me, My Brain to You exhibition is running until 20 December 2022. You can also find other family-oriented activities at NMoQ, including storytelling sessions, workshops, and tours.

Cost: free for residents Location: Doha Corniche Website: nmoq.org.qa Call: 4452-5555

Qatar National Library

With over 120,000 print books in the collection—mostly in English and Arabic—visitors are almost guaranteed to find something to set their imaginations alight. Citizens and residents are eligible to become library members and can borrow up to four books at a time.

Cost: free Location: Education City Website: qnl.qa/en Call: 4454-0100 DF