Best of the Maldives: Kids Buffet – Lily Beach

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Lily Beach - kids buffet

International Childrens Day today is the time to cater to the needs and interests of our younger generation. And Lily Beach does this literally every day with its special “Kids Buffet. (thanks Paola) Lily Beach has one of the more sumptuous buffets of the resorts we have visited. And most fine buffets will have plenty of selection for the spaghetti-and-hot-dog set, but Lily’s lay out is the first we’ve seen where an entire section is devoted to the puerile palate.  Items include such kiddie classics as chicken nuggets, french fries, mini sandwiches, pasta, and sweet donuts.  .

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Best of the Maldives: Maldivian Kids Swing – Dusit Thani

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Dusit Thani - Maldivian kids swing

Here’s a little bit of Maldivian culture for the little ones. I love checking out the resort kids clubs whether they have all manner of items shrunk down to tyke size. You will find these Maldivian classic seats throughout the Maldives, but Dusit Thani’s “Baan Sanook” kids club was the only place I’ve seen a tiny tyke version adapted for the little ones.

 

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Best of the Maldives: Waboba Ball – Kurumba

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Waboba action at Kurumba

Mill pond flat water. One of the trademarks of the Maldives seascape. Especially in the sheltered lagoons. Just perfect for skipping stones. But the soft sandy beaches of the Maldives are devoid of stones pretty much. Anyway, you find the perfect skipping stone and then it’s gone after a single throw. It sinks to the watery abyss starting and finishing its skipping career in a single moment of glory.

The Australian innovation, Waboba Ball, takes the fun of skipping stones and turns it into a beach game. It is a ball weighted just enough to give it great skipping action. You can play skipping-catch (see above) or compete to see who get get the most skips in a throw.

An ideal Christmas gift for someone hanging around the Maldives shallow waters. Of course, such a great gift is only found in one of the Maldives’ finest stores, Kurumba’s Nala boutique.

Special thanks to my demonstrators Cailen and Keegan Calkin who provide the action demo above.

Kurumba - waboba ball beach

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Best of the Maldives: Children Surfing– Four Seasons Kuda Huraa

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Four Seasons Kuda Huraa - kids surfing

Probably the two most unsung appeals to the Maldives – children and surfing.

A number of the items from my last recent “Haven’t Seen” came from a Sunday Times Travel feature “Tantrums and tasting menus: meet the minigarchs” (eg. swim with a mermaid, 8-course child’s tasting menu). Before I even had a chance to include “surfing for kids” in the latest list, Four Seasons Kuda Huraa announces its own mini-Malibu offering…

“The Maldives has a reputation for mirror-calm waters, but is also home to some thrilling surf. Little Keanus can sign up for lessons at the Four Seasons Kuda Huraa, where even if they prove rubbish at it, they won’t miss out on the ride. Instructors will paddle out with the child on the front of their board and, as a big one breaks, pick them up and hold them in surfing stance so they can ride the wave back to shore.”

Going off for gidgets and dude-inos.

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Best of the Maldives: Kids Wellness – Six Senses Laamu

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Six Senses Laamu - child wellness 1

Universal Children’s Day today. Dedicated to “welfare of the children of the world”. And Six Senses Laamu offers a program to enhance their welfare every day they stay there. A special programme of wee-one wellness includes…

  • Aesthetics – eg. music class with singing bowls
  • Activity – eg. specially adapted yoga, basic tai chi movements
  • Nutrition – eg. interactive games to teach better foods to eat
  • Treatments – eg. specialized massages, mini-manicures, hair braiding

The resort describes…

“A different wellness activity will be available daily in the Den, the children’s club. These include an introduction to meditation during a music class, how to create sounds with singing bowls, basic tai chi movements and many more. A yoga instructor will offer specially-designed yoga classes for children, during which youngsters will be taught some basic yoga poses.…Nutrition experts have created interactive games that will teach children which dishes are better for them, why they are better and where ingredients come from. The children will also have the chance to make their own healthy juice by visiting the organic garden. Here, they will hand pick their favorite ingredients and add them to their own juice or smoothie…Six Senses Spa Laamu offers children’s treatments including head, foot, hand and shoulder massages just for kids plus children’s facials, mini manicures, pedicures and hair braiding. Young guests from 9 to 16 years of age are always welcome at Six Senses Spas when accompanied by an adult.”

Six Senses Laamu - child wellness 2

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Best of the Maldives: Kids Water Pavilion – Velaa

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Velaa - kids water pavillion

If the parents want even more time than just dinner to themselves, Velaa has created an inspired kids play area. Protected enough from sun (and even the rare rain shower), but open-air so that the little ones are not stuck in side. Not just a kiddie pool, but a water fountain play area. And this is one pool area where running is allowed. Because Velaa has laid down soft padding across the ground (as well as a sand box area adjacent – see left above) so any uh-ohs don’t become boo-boos.

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Best of the Maldives: Child Friendly Dining – Sun Siyam Irufushi

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Sun Siyam Irufushi - childrens dining play area

Today is International Failure Day! A day to celebrate turning adversity to advantage. There might not seem to be anything flawed about the Maldives paradise, but it just so happens that this subject is my “other” pastime that I research and write extensively about.

Today’s embracing failure award goes to Sun Siyam Irufushi for their inspired kids play area in the main dining restaurant. Under 6’s are welcome to join this colourful and well equipped area right near a group of the tables. That way, Mom and Dad can enjoy their dinner and linger over an extra serving from the buffet while the little ones can frolic in sight. Irufushi also features delightful (and sturdy) kids’ placeware to put a smile on their faces when they do eat (see below).

For those worried about the sounds of happy children disturbing their own meal, Irufushi also provides a few separate dining areas so peace-and-quiet seeking adults can eat there.

I always feel bad for kids in fancy restaurants or holiday spots being under pressure to be extra well-behaved especially at the table. Doesn’t sound like much of a holiday for them to me. I love that Irufushi has decided embrace the failure to bottle up kids natural energy and exuberance and catered for it instead.

 

Sun Siyam Irufushi - childrens plates and cups

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Best of the Maldives: Canopied Kids Pool – JA Manafaru

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JA Manafaru - kids pool

JA Manafaru’s kids pool is the other extreme to Huvafenfushi’s “Lonu Veyo” pool. While Huva’s is open on all side, this pool is obviously (like all kids clubs) enclosed to keep them from wandering off. But it’s not just 360 degree surround. It’s protection extends above too with an overhead canopy.

A brilliant touch to a kid’s pool. Kids can play all day in the pool. That means constant reapplying of sub block as it constantly gets washed off. The canopy provides a bit extra sun protection for their tender skin not to mention glare shielding for their eyes. Nothing ruins a sunny holiday much more than a sun burn. Some resorts actually have enclosed areas for their water play areas with full roofs. They have their benefits but do lose a bit of the warmth and brightness of the tropical outdoors.

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Best of the Maldives: Tree House – Dusit Thani

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Dusit Thani - treehouse 2

Arbor Day today celebrates those those towering stoics of landscape flora. Actually, Arbor Days have proliferated around the world (celebrated in over 40 countries on different days of the year) indicating how pervasive the world’s appreciation for trees is. But the first Arbor Day was today in1872.

You can sit under them, look up and admire them, and climb them. But at the Dusit Thani kids club, you can play in them. The “Baan Sanook” features an extended treehouse complete with walkway and Maldivian palm thatch.

The feature echoes the Dusit’s Swiss Family Robinson chic of its Devarana Spa which is also elevated to the treetops.

Hug a tree today.

Dusit Thani - treehouse 1

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