A December of Fun and Learning : What Families Are Choosing Beyond Social Media

As the festive season unfolds, News on Sunday dives into the activities shaping children’s December holidays — from creative workshops and language discovery to dynamic holiday clubs and hands-on art programmes. While screens remain ever-present, more parents are seeking meaningful, interactive and enriching experiences for their kids. We spoke to four organisations offering fresh ways for children to learn, explore and have fun this season.

Creativity Beyond Screens: Inside MyDreamArtStudio’s Holiday Workshops for Kids

As parents increasingly look for meaningful, screen-free experiences for their children during the December holidays, creative spaces like MyDreamArtStudio are stepping in with hands-on activities designed to spark imagination, boost confidence, and keep young minds engaged. Art Coach Sarah Jane Reynolds, founder of MyDreamArtStudio in Port Louis, explains how her workshops offer children a refreshing alternative to digital entertainment.

For this festive season, the studio is focusing on structured yet flexible workshops that allow children to discover their artistic abilities at their own pace. “The studio offers creativity and painting workshops for children,” says Reynolds, emphasising that her programme is built around guided exploration and open-ended creativity.

The workshops are tailored for children aged 5 to 11, with activities organised to suit different skill levels and interests. “Workshops are divided into 2 sessions, creative painting and crafts,” states the Art Coach. This balanced structure allows children to both explore freely and learn from models, enhancing their ability to express themselves visually.

“The children are invited to think and create on their own, and also to work according to models, thus resulting into having fun while learning,” she explains.

A Christmas-themed series will headline the December programme, blending festive inspiration with hands-on learning. As Sarah Jane Reynolds puts it, “We shall explore Christmas Theme during our December workshops, while keeping creativity at the centre of our learning experience.”

While digital devices still dominate many children’s daily routines, Sarah Jane Reynolds observes a strong interest in tactile, hands-on experiences. “Nowadays, kids are more into exploration and crafting. Painting remains a very important aspect of art discovery for kids.”

Parents, too, seem increasingly aware of the need to create more human, interactive learning environments. She notes: “Arts being at the centre of kids development, parents do prefer face to face interaction as proximity to the teacher is a key factor for the child development process.”

Beyond the fun and festive elements, MyDreamArtStudio’s workshops are rooted in the belief that art plays a powerful role in emotional development. “Arts remain one of the best therapies for children. Kids use art to express themselves without being afraid of being judged.”

Through colours, textures and imagination, children often reveal thoughts and feelings that may be difficult to communicate verbally—making art a much-needed outlet during the long school break.

MyDreamArtStudio is located at Boulevard Rivaltz, Port Louis, with sessions priced at Rs 950 per workshop, running from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. “Materials and refreshments are included,” underlines the Art Coach. Holiday workshops will be held on 11th, 17th and 18th December, but parents are encouraged to secure spots early. 

Creative Expressions: A Mother–Daughter Studio Cultivating Calm, Creativity and Screen-Free Learning

Creative Expressions is a mother-daughter run business. Darakhshan Sahodeea handles the marketing and management side and her mother Tanvir Sahodeea is the Director. 

In an age where children spend more time than ever behind screens, Creative Expressions — a mother-and-daughter–run art studio in Castel — offers a refreshing alternative. With its warm, inclusive atmosphere and diverse range of art disciplines, the studio has become a creative refuge not only for kids, but also for teenagers and women looking to reconnect with themselves through art. Darakhshan Sahodeea, who manages the marketing and organisational side of the business while her mother Tanvir Sahodeea serves as Director, explains how their holiday and year-round programmes aim to nurture creativity, focus and emotional wellbeing.

For the December break, Creative Expressions is offering a rich line-up of activities that encourage children to engage with materials beyond the usual classroom context. “For kids we mainly offer acrylic painting classes during holidays. We have our regular classes on Saturday afternoons for kids and teenagers. We paint on canvas, wood, ceramic, fabric, among others. Our projects help students explore different materials and textures. Besides this, we also have Polychromos pencil art classes, Arabic calligraphy classes and Pyrography classes. We will soon be launching our Watercolour classes as well. This holiday, our Master project was a statement wood piece — the Monstera leaf. All of our students (teens and adults) have painted wonderfully in different shades,” explains Darakhshan.

The studio welcomes different age groups, with programmes designed to provide personalised guidance and steady progression. “Our classes are exclusively for ladies and kids and we take little boys up till the age of 9 years old. We have 3 categories: Adults (as from 16 years old); Teenagers (12–15 years old) and Kids (5–11 years old). No prior artistic ability is required. We guide our students step-by-step with individual attention. Each student progresses at her own pace.”

The atmosphere at Creative Expressions blends enjoyment with learning — something that Darakhshan says is at the heart of their teaching philosophy. “Our space is one for relaxation and enjoyment; and at the same time students are learning and refining their skills. The children from our studio show real progress and creativity under our guidance throughout their learning days. And most of our ladies join us to get a breather from their stressful lives, or to keep themselves busy, to find a happy space to unleash their creativity.”

Nature and creativity form the basis of most of their artistic themes. As she puts it, “We are mostly into creativity and nature. Many of our projects revolve around elements from nature — flowers, leaves, landscapes etc.”

When asked about trends, Fatimah shares an interesting insight: “Tote bags are an absolute hit, especially among teenage girls.” The rise of personalised fashion and DIY culture seems to resonate strongly with this age group, who enjoy expressing individuality through wearable art.

Beyond preferences, parents are becoming more intentional about keeping their children engaged offline. “Most definitely parents are looking for screen-free alternatives. There is an unfortunate rise in virtual autism and attention deficit among children these days with the excessive exposure to screens. Parents are becoming aware and want to find ways to keep their children engaged without the phone. It is a very important part of children’s health to develop their creativity. Excessive exposure to fast-paced content is very detrimental to their developing brains. Painting, Pencil Art, Calligraphy or any other creative activity for that matter, calls for a calm and focused mind.”

For Creative Expressions, the benefits of art go well beyond producing beautiful pieces. Their classes help children build emotional discipline, problem-solving skills and self-esteem — qualities that carry over into school and everyday life.

“Painting, as well as pencil art, Arabic calligraphy, Pyrography, etc, are therapeutic and meditative in many ways. These activities help the children have a calm and composed mindset to create. They help them learn how to regulate themselves as well in case their artwork is not coming around as they envisioned. How they work around their mistakes to correct the flaws under our guidance helps them feel accomplished. Composure, critical thinking and correct execution are very important skills that will help them lifelong,” utters Darakhshan. 

The studio, located on the first floor of Tawaf Shop at Royal Road, Castel, offers holiday workshops as well as regular weekly classes. “For December 2025 holidays, our fees are Rs 850 per person. A session lasts 2 hours, all materials are included,” underlines Darakhshan.

Holiday workshops run until 24th December, with classes held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Bookings should ideally be made 48 hours in advance. “Our classes start at 10:30 and end at 12:30. For the holiday workshops, those interested need to book seats at least two days in advance.”

Dukesbridge Turns December into a Season of Creativity and Exploration

As the December holidays begin, the Dukesbridge Holiday Club is once again drawing families from across Mauritius with a programme intentionally designed to keep children active, creative and socially engaged. With activities running across multiple campuses island-wide, the club offers parents a structured, reliable alternative to screen-heavy holiday routines. Sarah Courtis, Head of Communications at Dukesbridge, shared insights into how the programme is crafted to balance fun, learning and physical play.

This year’s holiday club features an unusually broad mix of activities, ensuring children experience something new each day. “Our December Holiday Club offers a wide variety of engaging activities including water-play, arts and crafts, cooking and baking sessions, dress-up days, traditional games and plenty of supervised free-play. Each day is planned to give children a balance of fun, creativity and social interaction. Then we also have some bootcamp sessions for the older children — for example, we held a Maths bootcamp for lower secondary students to brush up their skills on algebra for one week which involved games and consolidation exercises; they all had a great time,” explains Sarah Courtis, Head of Communications at Dukesbridge.

The emphasis on hands-on learning reflects the school’s approach to holiday engagement: structured enough to give children purpose, but playful enough to feel like a real break from the classroom.

Dukesbridge welcomes both its own students and external participants. According to Sarah Courtis, “The Holiday Club is open to all Dukesbridge students of any age. For non-Dukesbridge students, the standard programme is available from age 4 and above subject to availability of seats. Activities are offered across all our campuses island-wide, with the Trianon campus reserved for children aged 5 and above. Each day follows a structured schedule with four planned activities from 9.30 to 14.00, including a lunch break. For the non-standard programmes, like the bootcamps, they are organised for one week generally — it involves focused, targeted activities like French consolidation exercises to address a specific need and are done in small groups.”

This structured rhythm helps children ease into the day while ensuring they access varied, purposeful activities.
What distinguishes the Dukesbridge Holiday Club is its ability to blend academic enrichment with play-based learning. “For example, a typical day for our age 5 plus group might include fun science experiments that promote learning, arts and crafts such as painting, as well as Maths games and origami that support critical thinking. We also include physical play and cooperative challenges to help children stay active. We recently had a drama-week with some children who ended up performing a play on bullying live at the request of the Speaker of Parliament in the Sir Harilal Vaghjee Memorial Hall. You can see how varied our activities are, but they are all very engaging,” utters Sarah Courtis.

Seasonal themes also guide the programme design. “Our activities are usually tailored to the season. During the Summer Holiday Club, we include Christmas crafts, water-play sessions, outdoor challenges like tug of war and obstacle courses. In the winter period, for example in July, we plan cosy-themed days such as pyjama day with a movie and popcorn, treasure hunts and indoor games depending on the weather.” When it comes to what kids love most, Sarah Courtis observes that children naturally gravitate towards activities that let them experiment and express themselves. “Children today tend to gravitate toward hands-on experiences where they can explore, create and collaborate. Activities that allow them to express themselves freely, such as crafts, cooking and imaginative play, remain consistently popular. They also enjoy team-based challenges and outdoor play that give them space to move and interact with friends. It’s important that they feel like they’re on holiday, and not at school. On days where we do the water play, they are all so excited and it’s such a delight to see them run around and have fun.” 

Parents, too, she highlights, are increasingly looking for meaningful alternatives to screen time. “Many parents are increasingly seeking screen-free options because let’s face it, screens have become an addiction for everybody and it’s dangerous. We want children to develop social skills, problem-solving abilities and healthy habits that come from real-world play. Screen-free experiences give children the chance to build friendships, explore creativity and stay physically active, which parents value highly.”

The holiday club’s activities are not just a source of entertainment — they contribute to children’s emotional, cognitive and social development. “Holiday club activities support a wide range of developmental skills. Children practise teamwork, communication and confidence-building through group activities and games. Creative sessions help develop fine motor skills and imagination. Cooking, science experiments and structured challenges promote curiosity, independence and critical thinking. These skills complement their school learning in meaningful ways,” declares Sarah Courtis.

Families across Mauritius can access the programme at Dukesbridge campuses in the North, South, Vacoas, Trianon, Quatre Bornes, Curepipe, Beau Bassin, Moka and Constance. “Programmes vary depending on the holiday duration. For our current cycle, we offer a Full Package at Rs 15,000 running from 11th November to 23rd December 2025, or a 9 Day Block at Rs 4,500. Each day includes four structured activities from 9.30 to 14.00, with lunch provided,” explains Sarah Courtis. 

Registration remains open for the ongoing cycle. “Our current Holiday Club is running from 8th to 23rd December. Parents who would still like to enrol their children can email us as soon as possible. All upcoming Holiday Club dates and details are announced on our Facebook page where parents can follow updates, registration links and deadlines.”

A Magical French Christmas: Discover Mo’Formation’s Festive Workshops

During the December holidays, Mo’Formation is offering a refreshing alternative for families looking for educational and culturally rich activities. Led by Director Esther Arequion and French Language Educator Laetitia Borroni, the centre’s “French & Fun” workshops aim to make learning French enjoyable, interactive and deeply engaging for children aged 4 to 10.

For more than three years, the programme has blended language acquisition with creativity, games and storytelling. As Esther Arequion explains, “We organise French as a Foreign Language (FLE) ‘French & Fun’ workshops and have been doing so for more than three years. These workshops allow children to learn French in a playful and enjoyable way while discovering French culture. This is done through creative, interactive and motivating activities, such as making Christmas garlands, learning Christmas songs, inventing stories, as well as games like Christmas bingo, board games, puzzles, word searches, among others.”

The workshops are carefully designed for children aged 4 to 10 and follow a progressive structure that supports language development. As the educators describe it:“The programmes are structured progressively to help children develop their linguistic skills. Our workshops are always organised around a single theme, which is why one workshop never resembles another. In December, all our activities revolve around the theme of Christmas. We help children discover French Christmas traditions while keeping the magic alive for those who still believe in Santa Claus.”

To enrich the experience, Mo’Formation also collaborates with guest artists. “Sometimes we invite external contributors. This year, for example, we have a special guest, Zazie Jam, who specialises in recycl’art.”
Unlike formal classroom teaching, Mo’Formation’s approach relies on playful immersion.

“It is about learning the French language through entertainment, using a different approach from traditional schooling,” utters Esther Arequion.

Themes are adapted throughout the year to match cultural events. “We adapt the themes of our workshops depending on the time of year and the age of the children. For example, in February we will celebrate La Chandeleur, and then Easter.”

According to Esther Arequion and Laetitia Borroni, children gravitate toward hands-on, collaborative activities that stimulate imagination and allow movement.

“Today, children particularly enjoy activities that combine play, creativity and interaction. They like workshops where they can manipulate objects, create, imagine and move. Collaborative activities, role-playing, creative challenges and group projects are very popular. They are also highly motivated by activities that stimulate their curiosity and allow them to learn in a fun and dynamic way. They enjoy learning differently — and our ‘French & Fun’ workshops make that possible!”

Parents, meanwhile, are increasingly aware of the need for offline experiences.

“Yes, more and more parents are looking for hands-on activities that allow their children to explore, socialise, stimulate their imagination and develop their French.”

While the workshops aim to strengthen French language skills, their impact goes far deeper.

“Our ‘French & Fun’ workshops allow children to develop skills they do not always have the opportunity to practise at school. They encourage creativity, oral expression, cooperation and self-confidence. The workshops offer real-life situations where children use French naturally — by handling objects, playing and interacting with others. This enriches their knowledge, stimulates their curiosity and strengthens both their social and linguistic abilities.”

Mo’Formation operates in two locations: Cap Malheureux (Pavillon area) and Port Louis (20 Edith Cavell Street, Ken Lee Building). “Workshops cost Rs 600 for 2 hours, Rs 800 for 3 hours, and Rs 1,000 for a full day from 9am to 3pm or 10am to 4pm. Workshops take place every Wednesday and Friday in December, either for the whole morning or the whole day,” explains Esther Arequion. 

Registration is flexible. “Upcoming workshop dates are available on our website. We accept registrations until the day before the workshop, provided there is still space.”