Mall becomes learning playground for kids

GALILEO directors celebrate the learning program’s 10th anniversary.

Young mall visitors were treated recently to two days of fun learning activities for free as the Galileo Enrichment Learning Program celebrated its 10th anniversary.

The activity center of the Glorietta mall in Makati City became a learning playground as kids played word games using flash cards, worked on their numeracy skills with blocks and tested their knowledge of technology by moving a ball around an obstacle course using a tablet.

Parents took advantage of the opportunity to have their children’s numeracy skills assessed by experts to see if the kids had the knowledge of mathematics they were supposed to have at their grade levels.

The Galileo Fun Learning Festival aimed to showcase the program’s advocacy of providing quality education while promoting fun and love of learning through pocket activities for the whole family.

Named after the Italian scientist and scholar Galileo Galilei, who laid the foundations of modern physics and astronomy, the program is anchored on the continuous search for new and innovative ways of learning Mathematics and English concepts, so that both teachers and learners form a community of learning and development.

During the two-day Galileo festival, young mall goers enjoyed games, fun activities, exciting learning experiences and received lots of freebies and prizes. Accompanying adults listened to parenting talks as the youngsters enjoyed the fun and games.

Galileo’s chief executive officer Ma. Rowena J. Matti said they wanted to show children and their parents how the program promoted learning by stimulating the different senses and making all activities fun.

The various booths and activities featured, Matti said, were chosen to exercise children’s brain capacity and bring out the genius in them. Experts talked on topics that would help equip both children and parents with the tools to promote knowledge acquisition and good study habits to turn the youngsters into lifelong learners.

The festival featured five learning activity centers. The Tactile Launchpad area was for Bling’s Directional Boosters, Galileo’s version of the game snakes and ladders.

The Space Race area, with the Wiz’s Whizzing Quiz, a mix of Charades and Taboo, challenged players to unlock the mystery word through descriptions being mimed or mentioned.

Players at the Nova Data Area for Wick and Whirl’s Mind Puzzles had to unravel the secrets of the Rebus Puzzles and come up with the correct answers.

At the Book Galaxy area, “Professor Galileo” offered a book buffet challenge. Guests had to answer questions based on the books they picked for their book buffet.

Power Mac Center assisted kids in using the Phil’s Tinker Toolkit for the Cyber Explorer. Youngsters had to sharpen their coding skills to create a simple animation.

Every task accomplished in the activity center earned the player a stamp. Kids exchanged the stamps they collected from the different activity centers for freebies and prizes.

As the children played, their parents listened to the experts talk on different issues. Maricar de Ocampo, professor, author and child expert, discussed “Whole Brain Learning,” while Gary Garcia of the Google Educator Groups talked about Google Apps for Education and how they were helping teachers and educators connect with each other.

A member of the Google Developer Groups, Josan Astrid Dometita, talked about Android Wearables. Parents got tips from Michele Alignay, psychologist, guidance counselor, author and child and family life expert, on “Raising Kids in the Digital Age.”

Parents also received a free orientation on the Galileo program and how their children could avail of the 50-percent discount on tuition.

The discount is available until Nov. 20. Enrollees in Singapore Math, aged 6-12, will enjoy savings of up to P1,250, while those enrolled in English and Math, aged 3-12, will save up to P930.

Those who will avail of the 50-percent discount promo will still need to pay the one-time registration fee of P500 upon enrollment.

Visit www.galileoenrichment.com for details on how to avail of the discount.