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Kids get to act like grown-ups at Wannado City

published September 19, 2005

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( 45 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Wannado City, a new, impressive structure of 140,000 square feet (the size of three football fields), is a miniworld of professions and jobs. Here, a child between 4 and 12 can actually be a doctor or a reporter or a pilot or a fireman for a day. Each career has its own room with an actual professional or counselor training the children, and then putting them on duty. And while the child imagines himself or herself delivering babies or cutting hair, the equipment and clothes are for real. Here are some of the professions in Wannado City: archaeologist, manicurist, attorney, miner, pizza cook, film director, fashion photographer, sculptor, juggler - the list is unending.

On my visit to Wannado City, I was impressed with the quality of the hands-on learning by way of lectures, diagrams, charts and recordings. In the Delivery Room a number of young doctors and nurses were handling life-size dolls (male and female.) Dressed in white, they were instructed in washing and feeding the babies. It is delightful watching babes care for babies. Having a newspaper background, I decided to watch the reporters and editors as they went to press; there is an actual newspaper that comes out of the on-the-job training.


The next stop: juggling. Children were taught by a professional juggler to keep all the balls in the air; this art would likely take more than a single lesson. In another room, children checked out the diamonds with the jeweler's loupe or interrogated a suspect while wearing blues and carrying handcuffs. With all that was going on in this huge arena, everything was organized. Toddlers too young for careers have an upstairs room with a slide play area with toys. I didn't see the toddler room but read about it in the children's Wannado City newspaper.

Each child upon arrival is given a "tech tracker," a bracelet with a radio frequency that lets parents know where the child is, allowing parents to rest or have a quiet lunch or soft drink.

The first Wannado City was built in Mexico City and the partners of this gigantic enterprise are now planning other such venues around the United States as well as in Asia and Latin America. The idea came from the daughter of one of the partners. Luis Javier Laresgoiti was watching as his daughter role-played her daddy's job using office items. This gave dad the idea of creating "a complete environment where children could play out their fantasies while they learned about responsibility." It would be fun and educational.

And what did Laresgoiti want to be when he grew up? At the age of 8, he said his dream was to build an amusement park or a space ship. He came close.

IF YOU GO

Wannado City is open every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The price is $24.95 for "kidizens" 3-14. Over 14 is $15.95, under 3, free. For more information visit www.wannadocity.com.

Marilyn Zeitlin is a freelance travel writer.

published September 19, 2005

( 45 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.