Firefighter, dentist, shopkeeper, police officer, auto mechanic, you name it. In KidZania, or Youthland in Thai, children can take on the role of 65 professions in 80 places.
KidZania Bangkok, located in Siam Paragon, is the twelfth KidZania, an edutainment theme park that debuted 14 years ago in Mexico City. They can be found in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Dubai and Portugal, among others.
On 10.000 square meters, the children will find streets, buildings and all kinds of necessary facilities, such as a fire station, hospital, photo studio, gas station, bottling plant, drama school, veterinary clinic, hair salon, pizza restaurant, car dealer.
“The role-playing concept is popular everywhere,” says Xavier Lopez Ancona, KidZania's founder and principal. 'In KidZania we try to make the experience as realistic as possible. That's why we partner with real-world organizations to create setups based on reality rather than fantasy. We provide uniforms, gear, vehicles and even stories to make it even more authentic and easier to enjoy.”
Each child receives 50 kidzos, the currency in this fantasy city, which they can spend on products, services and education. For example, if they want to learn to drive a car, they have to pay, but they can also earn kidzos by doing jobs. And those kidzos can be deposited into a bank account and withdrawn from one of the ATMs.
The parents should keep aloof, because says Lopez 'If parents don't get involved, children will be completely absorbed in their game. They quickly develop teamwork and learn to work with other children. That is also a good opportunity for parents to observe their child.' The parents are only allowed to visit a few places, such as the theater and football stadium. They can also watch behind a glass wall.
KidZania, 5th floor Siam Paragon. Open: Monday to Friday from 10am to 17pm, weekends and public holidays from 10am to 21pm. Admission: 650 baht (4-14 years), 300 baht (toddlers) and 400 baht (adults). Reservation is recommended. Phone 02-638-1888.
(Source: Bangkok Post)