:: Bali for Kids - Ubud Reader and Writer Festival::

September in Ubud - The Writer and Reader Festival - Besides all the big happenings with famous writers from all over the world, there is a small Festival happening. The Kids Writer and Reader Festival, for me almost as important as the big one. Who knows which famous writer with be the phoenix writer of Ubud in a near future? I visited some of the kids programs and had a great time. My features are on Kerry Pendergast's workshop and Jin Pyn's "The Elephant and the Tree".

Kerry Pendergast is already an oldie in the festival. As far as I remember Kerry is running a workshop each year since the festival started. She told me to come this year and I did. It was fun what she created with the kids over a whole morning. Writing, painting and lots of creative space for the kids. Kerry's workshop took place at the Pondok Pekak, the Libery next to the football field and around 40 kids age 4 - 8 years joint.

The afternoon gig was performed by Jin Pyn from Singapore. Jin Pyn has created a whole education fun pack for kids about elephants. It includes a book, a video, stickers and a web site (www.elephantandtree.com). The book was lovely and the kids really put all their attention to Jin Pyn. The video was more than just fun - a "YOU-GOTTA-HAVE-TO-SEE-IT"!!!! The good news - we working on a network for Jin Pyn's work and Bali for Kids.com, so stay tuned for a fun experience!

For us the day at the "Kids" Ubud Writer and Reader Festival was fun. Only sad part: Too little kids came. The Pelangi School in Ubud put down most of the participants in both classes - no downtown kid, school or tourist kids were seen at the workshops we attended. Sadly many local parents which I asked told me that their kids had to go to school. I hope and wish that more parents will understand for the next year that one day at the Festival workshops is worth 10 days of missed school. It also shows that hardly any parents here in Bali made the effort to take their kids for a day and go to the workshops up in Ubud. After promoting the festival on Bali for Kids.com for several months this is REALLY sad. We hope next year more parents will take time and make the move for a day of fun in Ubud... Hey, why not???

Thanks for all who made the effort to join the workshops, to all who help setting up some fun stuff for kids and we hope we see more of you next year....

The 2008 Ubud Writer and Reader Festival will take place in October and we will soon update you with the dates.