By Shannon Mawer (Tourism Fiji)

Not long after arriving in Fiji you will discover that culture and community are very important to the Fijian people. Locals are proud to share traditional stories and cultural experiences with visitors, including the youngest of family members.

Teaching children the importance of connecting and contributing to the communities they visit in Fiji is easy. Many of the island nation’s family-friendly experiences educate kids with hands-on activities based on local traditions and conservation projects, helping them to gain a greater perspective of life as a local.

 

Authentic cultural activities at Nanuku Resort Fiji

Nanuku Resort Fiji's Lailai Adventure Club is no ordinary kids club; children are completely immersed in nature, mindfulness, education and traditional experiences. Involving children in customary rituals allows them to develop a more complex understanding of Fijian culture, as opposed to merely watching a choreographed traditional dance performance and forgetting it a week later. Cultural activities on offer include traditional earth cooking, Meke dancing, flower basket weaving, evening torch lighting, storytelling, coconut husking, Lei making, Fijian language lessons, Fijian singing lessons, rice planting and bamboo raft building.

 

Turtles at Treasure Island

For over forty years, Treasure Island Resort has been an advocate for the protection of Hawksbill Turtles and was one of the first resorts in the Mamanuca Island group to employ a full-time Environmental Officer. So, it’s no surprise that the Little Treasures Kids’ Club has plenty of activities for kids to learn about and help with the conservation of these beautiful creatures. Children can set out to forage for turtle treats, watch daily turtle feeding displays and, when the turtles are ready, watch them being released into the ocean.

 

VOMO Island’s Kids Village

The VOMO Kids Village is a nurturing place for what the resort calls its ‘Little Islanders’. The Kids Village’s dedicated chef prepares a delicious array of cuisine for the kids to choose from, empowering them to think about their choices. Children are encouraged to eat breakfast with their family then dine with their Little Islander friends for the evening meal, giving parents much needed time to enjoy The Rocks adults-only area for sunset cocktails and dinner. For the adventurous Little Islanders, there’s now the option to take the Bubble Blowers course – a PADI certified diving course for those aged 8 to 12 years. Lessons are taken in the swimming pool where diving experts direct them through the steps necessary for travelling the underwater world.

 

Learn about Fiji beyond the mainland

Bula Club is an award-winning kids club at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort with a huge emphasis on exploration and educational activities. The goal of Bula Club is to encourage kids to discover and expand their horizons to help them better understand and appreciate where they are. The Junior Chef Program teaches kids how to harvest and prepare a wholesome dish; after visiting the resort’s organic garden, they will whip up a delicious meal while learning the farm-to-plate concept along with other aspects of organic farming such as composting and planting.

 

Grow with Six Senses

At Six Senses Fiji, children can experience the Grow with Six Senses global programme which educates little ones on their surroundings. Grow with Six Senses incorporates the six dimensions of wellness – social, emotional, environmental, physical, intellectual and spiritual – bringing kids ‘back to basics’ in order to reconnect with nature and people around them. Through these dimensions, children can take kids yoga and meditation, visit the nearby village and school, take a Fijian dance class and mini master chef lessons to ensure they have a fun-filled holiday and they take home a little extra knowledge of the world with them.

 

Become a ranger for a day

Children can become a park ranger for the day when they visit Kula Wild Adventure Park on Fiji’s Coral Coast. With their very own Kula Ranger uniform, children can go behind the scenes and learn what it takes to look after the animals. At the Diet Centre, they will get hands-on to make special food for the soft coral and tropical fish and prepare meals for the Kula Collared Lories. There’s also the opportunity to help the lead rangers with health checks on Fiji’s rarest iguana, before heading over to feed some of the baby animals. The day will always be remembered by children after planting their very own fruiting tree, which is loved by the many wild coloured fruit doves that visit the park.