(90) Cooking – Beijing Kids

This Weekend’s Best Family Events, March 6-7

Anna Pellegrin Hartley — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 03:00:13 +0000

Dive into this week’s collection of fun family-friendly events right here in Beijing.

As always, click the link in the event title or scan the QR codes for further details and ticketing info.

Saturday, Mar 6

Knife Skills & Street Food (A) Cooking Class

The Hutong has got two awesome family-friendly events going on this Saturday: first up is a class all about getting familiar with the Chinese cleaver. The class will include knife safety and hands-on techniques that you can use to create three delicious dishes, but it is best suited to older kids and teens. Then in the afternoon, they are running their popular Street Foods class: learn how to make Sichuan mung bean tofu salad with cucumber, Jianbing, and Yunnan rice noodle soup, an event that will be great for kids of all ages.

10.30am-1pm for Knife Skills, 2.30pm for Street Food. The Hutong. RMB 350

“Havoc in Heaven” Life Puppet Show

If your kids haven’t been introduced to the Monkey King, then now is definitely the time! Adapted from the first seven chapters of the Chinese classic Journey to the West, 大闹天宫 dà nào tiāngōng or “Havoc in Heaven” as it’s known in English is a beloved story for kids and adults alike and will be performed in a live puppet show this Saturday at China Puppet Theatre in Chaoyang District. This performance will be entirely in Chinese but even if your kids don’t speak it well, they can get plenty of enjoyment from watching the vivid traditional puppetry.

10.30am. China Puppet Theater. RMB 88-231.

Strawberry Picking & Trampoline Paradise

Spring is nearly here, which means we’re entering fruit picking season! This Saturday, Zunfeng Outdoor is taking families on a double whammy day trip: firstly visiting a Shunyi strawberry picking farm, then visiting the gigantic Meimao Trampoline Park, which also includes ball pits, rock climbing walls, and more. This is a Chinese language organizer, so while some English may be spoken it’s not guaranteed. The price of the ticket doesn’t include meals, strawberries picked (RMB 30 per 500g) or trampoline socks (RMB 15).

1-8pm. Departs from Huixin West Street South Exit Subway Station. RMB 118

Chocolate Easter Egg Decoration

Throughout March, Domain restaurant at EAST Hotel will be teaching little ones how to decorate beautiful and delicious chocolate Easter eggs. This is a no-brainer, just bring them down and hand them off to the Domain restaurant experienced chefs for an hour while they go crazy with the fondant. For expert-level parenting points, plan a family brunch at the fantastic FEAST buffet beforehand.

2-3pm. Domain at EAST Hotel. RMB 248

Sunday, Mar 7

Hike Over the Hills to Yanshou Temple

Ok so the weather might not be as magical as the summery picture above! But this Sunday’s Beijing Hikers route is a lovely one: exploring some of the little-used tracks departing from the Water Great Wall scenic area, winding through the many farming orchards that have long existed here, and heading up to the Yanshou Temple. The temple’s been getting renovated on and off over the years, so who knows what you might discover this time. This is a 7km hike, so best suited to older kids and teens.

8.30am – afternoon. Pickup from Liangmaqiao and Lidu. RMB 350.

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Images: courtesy of the event organizers

This Weekend’s Best Family Events, Feb 26-28

Anna Pellegrin Hartley — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 03:00:34 +0000

Dive into this week’s collection of fun family-friendly events right here in Beijing.

As always, click the link in the event title or scan the QR codes for further details and ticketing info.

Friday, Feb 26

Online Painting Class: Hare

Hosted in the UK, this fun online art class will guide kids through the process of painting a cute and cuddly hare, the distant relative of the rabbit. The artist tutor will demonstrate the techniques step by step and also share knowledge about this special woodland animal. A sweet, soothing way to conclude the week.

7-7.30pm Beijing time. Online. RMB 82 (£8.98)

Saturday, Feb 27

Lantern Festival Carnival

There’s no Lantern Festival without tangyuan! And this Saturday, Black Sesame Kitchen is celebrating with a family-friendly party. As well as learning how to make the tasty dessert, Courtyard Institute teachers will be leading lantern-making sessions, and children are invited to play and dragon dance in the courtyard. Lunch is included in the price of admission and a cash bar will be available for drinks.

11am – 4pm. Black Sesame Kitchen. RMB 298 for 1 child and 1 adult.

Beijing’s Imperial Sweets Making

Another beloved local institution renowned for their fantastic cooking classes, this Saturday The Hutong is devoting a whole afternoon to sweet treats! While you won’t see a lot of cheesecake, chocolate truffle, or lemon tart on a traditional dessert menu, Beijing does has its own host of traditional sweet dishes, and they are just as delicious and varied as the rest of the capital’s cuisine. Come along to the class with your kiddos and you’ll learn both how to make them, and all the stories and traditions behind each one.

2.30-5.30pm. The Hutong. RMB 350.

Capoeira Kids Classes: Creativity, Movement, and Music

Let your little ones burn off some weekend energy at a high energy martial arts class that combines combat, dance, and acrobatics. Caopoeira of course! Each Saturday at Warrior One studio, kids learn all about the Afro-Brazilian martial art, develop strength and flexibility, and basically have a great time. The first class is free, so your kid can give it a try with no commitment.

4-5pm. Warrior One. First class is free.

Prenatal Yoga with Lainy

Here’s one specifically for moms-to-be: a prenatal yoga course with experienced Taozi Tree teacher Lainy. This Saturday is the first of the 4-week course, which will guide moms through gentle Vinyasa flow yoga with plenty of space for modifications and rest.

12.15-1.30pm. Taozi Tree Yoga Studio. RMB 600 for 4 weeks.

About Dali: Parent-Child Modern Art Workshop

At this fun art event at Jen Hotel, parents team up with their little ones to learn about celebrated modern artists and their works. The subject of this one? The weirdly wonderful Salvadore Dali! KUN Learn’s art teachers will take kids into the creative mind of Spanish surrealist, learning about his unusual paintings and sculptures, and finish the session by guiding the kids as they use using clay, cloth and metal to create their own Clock Sculpture.

2.30-5.30pm. Hotel Jen. RMB 449-699.

Sunday, Feb 28

Taj Mahal Virtual Tour

Finish the weekend with a some adventuresome travel… from the comfort of your home! In this 40-minute live tour, a professional tour guide will take you through the magnificent Taj Mahal, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world located in the city of Agra, India.This is no recording, but a truly interactive experience, complete with a question-and-answer session.

9-9.40pm. Online. RMB 97 (15 USD)

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Images: courtesy of the event organizers; Pexels

This Weekend’s Best Covid-Safe Family Events Feb 19-21

Anna Pellegrin Hartley — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 03:00:43 +0000

Dive into this week’s collection of fun family-friendly events from all over the world that you can attend virtually from right here in Beijing.

As always, click the link in the event title or scan the QR codes for further details and ticketing info.

Friday, Feb 19

Prehistoric Hollywood: 100 Years of Dinosaurs in the Movies

“From computer-generated T-rexes to garden lizards wearing foam-rubber scales, dinosaurs have been among the most popular movie stars since the dawn of cinema.” This online webinar, hosted in New York City, is all about tracing the history of how Hollywood has depicted dinosaurs throughout the years. It’s set to be a fascinating dive into the world of special effects and paleontology, and will cover the first-ever discovery of dinosaur bones, epic moments in dinosaur Hollywood history, and will finish with a fun Q&A session. Hurry, because there aren’t that many tickets left.

9-10.30am Beijing time. RMB 65 ($10 USD)

Polar Evolution for Kids

Brrr… it’s been cold in Beijing recently, but can you imagine what it must be like at the North and South poles? After this fantastic online event, you will! Hosted in collaboration with the Cardiff Science Festival, it’s all about exploring what life is like in some of the most extreme environments on Earth. Best of all, it includes a craft activity, where kids create their own polar environment using whatever objects they have at home and can share pictures of their creations afterward.

8-9pm Beijing time. Free

Saturday, Feb 20

Youth Songwriting Program

Here’s an online music course with a bit of a twist: this event, the first in a series of six, is hosted by Australian rapper and songwriter Sam Hunter and focuses on helping young adults find their creative voice through songwriting. The course covers topics like song structure, mapping and memory techniques, and confidence-building and performance.

9am Beijing time. Free

Lockdown Baking with Kids

In this fun interactive online baking class, your little ones will learn how to make two delicious treats: light ‘melting moments’ cookies and flavored chocolate truffles. This is recommended for kids 9 and older, and you’ll be given further instructions about what to prepare upon signup.

6-7.30pm Beijing time. Donation

Sunday, Feb 21

Tokyo Live Virtual Tour – Shinjuku Neon Lights

Japan is usually a pretty standard holiday destination for those of us based in China, but even if you’ve missed out on visiting due to Covid travel restrictions, that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy some of the sights and sounds! This live virtual tour will take you through the Shinjuku area: famously depicted in the film Lost in Translation and known for being of the most colorful (both literally and figuratively) areas of Tokyo. This one is probably better suited to older kids, about 10 and over.

6pm Beijing time. RMB 127 (JP¥v2,080)

Family Storytelling with Epic Tales

Bring your weekend to an epic close with this free online storytelling session, hosted in the UK by professional storyteller and folklorist Chip Colquhoun and illustrator Dave Hingley. As Chip weaves together fantastic tales, drawing upon thousands of years of folklore history, Dave will accompany him creating magical images to keep you and the family thoroughly spellbound.

7pm Beijing time. Free

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Images: courtesy of the event organizers

A Fun Online Event for Every Day of CNY

Anna Pellegrin Hartley — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 03:00:09 +0000

Dive into this week’s collection fun family-friendly events from all over the world that you can attend virtually from right here in Beijing.

As always, click the link in the event title or scan the QR codes for further details and ticketing info.

Thursday 11 – CNY Eve

PetSpace Pals – Live Puppet Show

Need to keep the kids occupied for 20 minutes while you get on with New Year’s Eve preparations? This live puppet show is just the ticket. Meet some adorable cat and dog puppets and their other PetSpace pals as they act out a variety of fun stories for the whole family. And if your kids like it, they can tune in again the following week.

8am Beijing time. Free

Creative Kids: All Creatures Great and Small

Get crafty in the evening with this activity, suitable for kids aged about 2 years and older. The idea is to make a ‘stained glass’ decoration for your windows, following a wild animals theme. The session is free to attend, but you are encouraged to make a donation.

7pm Beijing time. Free, suggested donation of RMB 45 (£5)

Friday 12 – Chinese New Year

Family workshop with Colourful Minds: Recycled Big Bugs

When they said we should “bug in”, is this what they meant? This crafty event starters pretty early on Chinese New Year day, which again, could be useful if you need to keep the kids occupied while you prepare for the day. They’ll use found objects from around the home, plus glue, paint, and coloring materials to create fantastic Big Bugs. The organizers say it’s suitable for all ages, but kids under 8 will probably need support.

7.30-8.30pm Beijing time. RMB 45 (£5)

Saturday 13

Kids Paint-Along Class: Sleepy Fox

Bust out the canvas this Saturday morning with a fun paint-along class, in which US artist Sophie Mumford will guide your kids through a step by step class and learn some clever techniques so they can paint a cute sleepy fox just like in the image above. The event does start pretty early for us here in Beijing (7.30am) but if you purchase tickets you will receive a recording of the entire class so you can enjoy it at any other time. Suitable for kids 7 and older, you’ll need to prepare canvas and paints in advance.

7.30-9am Beijing time. RMB 65 ($10 USD)

Sunday 14 – Valentine’s Day

The Kids’ Kitchen – Valentine’s Baking Edition

What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than baking some delicious treats? This kid’s baking class runs from 6-9pm, and guides kids through the process of baking a chocolate box cake. The class is vegetarian, and certain substitutes are given but you can also contact the organizers in advance if you have special queries or dietary requirements.

6-9pm Beijing time. RMB 310 (£34.98)

Valentine’s Jewellery Making Workshop

Don’t fancy baking? Maybe your kids will enjoy this jewelry making workshop instead, especially if you already have some of the materials at home. Though not specifically aimed at kids, this workshop is suitable for all ages. During the 2 hour class, participants will learn how to make a range of items and accessories, including key rings, beaded necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, and even learn some tips on how to fix broken jewelry.

7-8pm Beijing time. Free

Monday 15

Yoga and Breathwork for kids

Take a deep breath… because this Monday is a holiday! This free workshop, running at 10am Beijing time, is all about yoga and breathwork for kids aged 8-12.

10am Beijing time. Free

Tuesday 16

Zen Doodle for Children

Zen out this Tuesday evening with this mindful drawing workshop specifically designed for kids aged about 8 and older. Led by artist Ann O’Shaughnessy, all you need to supply is drawing materials and paper. During the 2 hour workshop, your children will get to practice drawing various patterns and designs, culminating in a beautiful ‘Zen Doodle’ inspired piece of wall art. The class is suitable for children aged 8 and above.

6-7pm CST. RMB 133 (£15)

Wednesday 17

Kids Interactive Music Sessions

Let’s finish the Lunar New Year break with a bang! A very melodic, musical bang, that is. Presented by The London Contemporary School of Piano, this free class is aimed at children between 6-12 and is designed to enhance their musical appreciation and lift their creative inspiration. Kids will be inspired to look at music differently, create their own songs, get them up on their feet, and cover other vital aspects of music appreciation and theory that are generally not found in standard school music programs. Sounds good to us!

7pm Beijing time. Free

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Images: courtesy of the event organizers

This Weekend’s Best Covid-Safe Family Events Feb 5-7

Anna Pellegrin Hartley — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 03:00:50 +0000

Being stuck inside has never looked so good! Dive into this week’s collection fun family-friendly events from all over the world that you can attend virtually from right here in Beijing.

As always, click the link in the event title or scan the QR codes for further details and ticketing info.

Friday, Feb 5

Free Kids Collage Hour

Wind down on Friday evening with this free and creative collage session. Guided by British collage artist Jodie House, this session is being held during the British Children’s Mental Health Week and is designed to be relaxing and fun. Sing up, and you and your little ones will have a fun hour of cutting and pasting, and letting your creativity run free. No prior art skills are required at all, you’ll receive a packet of printable resources via email to prepare beforehand.

6.30pm Beijing time. Free

Saturday, Feb 6

Cooking Class: Chinese New Year Snacks

This is the only in-person event in the roundup this week, and you can see why we couldn’t resist adding it! The Hutong will be hosting a very special Chinese New Year cooking class totally devoted to traditional snacks. Kids are totally welcome at the class, but it’s not specifically designed for little ones, so we estimate it’s better suited for older kids who can cook on their own with parental guidance.

2.30-5pm. RMB 350, RMB 300 for members. The Hutong.

Lucky Crabby: CNY Special Coding Tutorial

In this free online coding tutorial, your children will learn how to build a fully functioning Chinese New Year themed game that they can play with their friends and family over the break. The workshop is hosted by Malaysian company iTrainKids devoted to getting kids (and especially young girls) interested in coding. This workshop is most suitable for kids between 6 and 10 years old, and all you need to take part is a laptop and a stable internet connection.

2pm Beijing time. Free

Kids Stretch and Scribble – Yoga and Creative Writing

While the hosts of this workshop in the UK will just be getting into their day, we think that this stretch and scribble session is a great way to wind down before bed. Suitable for kids from 5 and over, the session is led by both a professional writer and a yoga teacher and will mix yoga, creative writing, and meditation into one magical 40-minute session. All your kids need is a bit of space, writing materials, and a soft surface to lie on.

8pm Beijing time. RMB 71 (£8)

Sunday, Feb 7

Kids French Cooking Class: “Cats Tongues” and Chocolate Mousse

No animals will be harmed in the making of langues de chat biscuits, a classic French treat, however you will have to get up very early this Sunday to catch the 6am start time. Hosted in Toronto, Canada, by an experienced chef and true francophile this online cooking class will also guide you and the kids through the making of delicious chocolate mousse. Trés bien!

6am Beijing time. RMB 83 ($16.52 CA)

Exploring the Story and Science of Isaac Newton

Aimed at kids 4-9, this scientific discovery session is all about exploring the world of famous physicist Isaac Newton (remember him, an apple supposedly dropped on his head and he realized the existence of gravity). Led by Australian quantum physicist and best selling kids science book author Dr. Chris Ferrie, this class will feature a series of experiments to illustrate basic principles of Newtonian physics. It is a little unclear if this is a single stand-alone class, or part of a longer course, but if you’re intrested don’t hesitate to reach out to the organizers via the QR code.

8am Beijing time. RMB 95 ($20 AUD)

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Images: courtesy of the event organizers

Beijing’s Best Covid-Safe Family Events Jan 29-31

Anna Pellegrin Hartley — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 03:00:11 +0000

This week we’re mixing it up a bit: as well as a range of fun family-friendly events that you can attend virtually from around the world, we’ve also included some carefully selected small, in-person events so you and your family remain safe during this time of increased COVID security measures.

As always, click the link in the event title or scan the QR codes for further details and ticketing info.

Friday, Jan 29

CISB’s TEDxYouth – Purpose of Life

Here’s a fantastic way to start your weekend: this Friday afternoon, the Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) is hosting a TEDxYouth event featuring presentations by three special guest speakers, as well as five CISB middle and high school students. The subject of this year’s event is ‘Purpose of Life’, and will be streamed live around China and around the world. If you and the kids can’t make it to either the live event on campus, or the live webinar, it will also be featured on the TED official channel and on the school website after it’s completed.

4-6pm. The Canadian International School of Beijing, and online. Free

Saturday, Jan 30

First Aid Training Focus on Children

Have you been meaning to brush up on your first aid skills, and haven’t gotten around to it? Perhaps now is the time: on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend, International Medical Center Beijing will hold a First Aid courses specifically about child safety. This 3-hour course is suitable for parents, grandparents, teachers, pretty much anyone who comes into contact with kids. On Saturday, the course will be taught in English, and on Sunday in Chinese.

9am-12 noon. IMC. RMB 500.

Longqingxia Ice Festival and Tang Dynasty Caves

Saturday is a big one for the Beijing Hikers: they’ve got three separate hikes planned, including one along the White River and another in the west of Beijing, but this one is particularly great for kids and families and as you’ll be spending lots of time outdoors, quite covid-safe. First, the group will visit a series of marvelous inter-connected cave homes that were created sometime between 618-907AD, then stop for an early dinner at a countryside restaurant, before continuing on to the Longqingxia Ice Festival, which is sometimes referred to as a ‘mini Harbin Ice Festival’ to take in the spectacular ice sculptures and light displays. This is an easy day trip, suitable for little kids, although not stroller-friendly.

11am departure. Pickup from Liangmaqiao and Lido. RMB 500 / RMB 450 for members, RMB 250 for under 12s

“From as young an age as possible, our children need to understand that when the branch breaks they can trust their wings”. That’s the ethos over at Resilient Kids, a UK based organization centered around helping children develop resilience in their lives. This wellness session is specifically designed for kids 8-10 years old, and will touch on how to overcome fears and anxiety, develop a ‘can-do attitude’, a growth mindset and so much more in a safe and welcoming environment. Kids from all over the world regularly attend, and parents are welcome to sit in with their child in the beginning if they are feeling anxious or shy.

5pm Beijing time. From RMB 80 (£8.92)

Sunday, Jan 31

“Maths on Toast” Number Character Storytelling Family Session

Yumm… this event brings a new meaning to the term “number crunching”! Hosted by the Brent Culture service, in London, this fun “maths on toast” family event is a great way to encourage a positive and creative relationship with math in your family. Sign up, and you’ll and the kids will be invited to create your own number character, as part of the British National Storytelling Week. Now we’re not completely sure what a number character is, but do you remember why 6 was scared? Because 789! See, we’re already getting into the swing of it. This event will be good for kids about 4-12, and their carers.

10.30am Beijing time. Free

Bao Buns 2 Ways Family Friendly Online Cooking Class

We admit it, it does seem a bit odd to join an online cooking class, hosted in the UK, about a fundamental of Chinese cuisine while living in China.. but stay with us! Chinese food has spread all over the world, acquiring wonderful new flavors and local ingredients. Join up for this class with Nonna Chong, and you’ll learn how to make tasty bao buns, in two ways: firstly the familiar twisted dumpling, and secondly as a taco-like vessel for delicious marinated meat. Be sure to sign up early and allow time to get your ingredients prepped.

5.30pm Beijing time. RMB 160 (£18)

KEEP READING: Pandemics Among Us: How Roleplaying Games Help My Kids Through Covid

Images: courtesy of the event organizers