It’s kids’ time!

CHILDREN can act as reporters in the Inquirer booth at KidZania. LEA SALONGA

It’s official: My husband Rob and I have a 10-year-old! Our daughter Nicole has entered the double digits, which is quite momentous.

The night before, as she was about to fall asleep, Nicole expressed apprehension at entering this grave new age. “I’m scared, Mom.” “Scared of what, babe?” I asked. “Scared of turning 10. I won’t be in the single digits anymore, won’t be a baby.”

First off, I’m glad that my little one doesn’t seem to want to rush the growing-up process, preferring to remain firmly where she is, a child. We’ve told her that she will be spending much of her life as a grownup, so she should remain a kid for as long as she can.

Her choice of how to spend her birthday was a reflection of that: spending a good part of the day at KidZania at BGC, and arts and crafts, plus kids’ party food at home, all with her friends and family.

One friend who works at the kiddie city told me that on these summer days, perhaps because kids are either spending the season out of town or are busy with more outdoorsy activities, KidZania isn’t as crowded.

She was right. Every child who was visiting that day could have their day of activities, filling their passports with stamps and their pockets with kidzos (KidZania currency).

Nicole picked being a news reporter at the local TV station, a radio personality, a cola bottler, a cable service installer (having to scale the side of a building to do it), getting her driver’s license and driving on a track (don’t worry, they drove very slow), and a prosecuting attorney.

Her other friends were also firemen, salon beauty consultants, fishmongers, package delivery people, police investigators and airline pilots.

It’s a wonderful place for kids to learn about how grownups make the world go round, and have greater respect and a little insight into what our elders do for us all.

Once back home, it was all about food and birthday cake, pasta, chicken and pizza, plus T-shirt painting, face painting, temporary tattoos and beaded bracelets, video games, dancing and watching my little dog getting so much attention from our guests. There wasn’t a structure to the afternoon, which left the kids free to do whatever they felt like.

However, what I marveled at was how well-behaved the kids were. Different schools, different parents, but there was such gentleness amid them all (until the battle of the genders began, at which point there were a few shouts of protest from the vastly outnumbered boys… sorry, gents).

No pushing, shoving or fights, whether waiting their turn with the face painter, bracelet maker, or getting food.

I have to give credit to all the parents, grandparents, mentors, godparents and other grownups who have anything to do with these children. It is because of them that I have much hope for the future, as I would imagine that many other kids are like them.

Thanks to everyone at KidZania (Peachy, Nikki and Paolo, and all the grownups at the establishments our group visited), to Clowning Around (Jill Peña and her suppliers) and Pancake House for making this birthday a wonderful and memorable one for all of us.

Letting voices be heard again

It’s that time again. This week, we start Blind Auditions for “The Voice Kids.”

I won’t lie… we haven’t started anything yet at press time, but I imagine that this week is going to be an exciting one.

We have many kids lined up to sing, as in seasons past. There will be three chairs with their backs turned to the stage.

Three coaches will once again keep ears peeled for little kids with massive-sized talent.

Our version of this franchise has produced two winners: Lyca Gairanod from Team Sarah and Ehla Nympha from Kamp Kawayan.

Who will take home that coveted trophy this season? Will it be one of the wards from the established Team Lea and Team Bamboo, or will someone from Team Sharon take it?

Let your voices be heard, kids!

We wish you the best of luck. Give it your best shot, we’ll be listening.