Know & Tel: Extracurricular Activities
Find after-school activities for your children.
Aberdeen Boat Club
Aberdeen Boat Club offers a wide range of sailing and watersports activities for kids aged 7 to 18. The busiest times of year are school holidays, but there’s an upcoming program during the October term break (starting Oct 19, from $1,300 for five half-day lessons). The club also offers weekend courses and after-school sailing for select schools on the Southside.
20 Shum Wan Rd., Aberdeen, 2552-8182, www.abclubhk.com
AGA Golf
Golf might have a reputation for being for middle-aged, well-off businessmen, but kids love it too and the sport is great for their mental and physical development. The only local school in Hong Kong affiliated with the Australian Teachers’ Golf Federation, AGA offers fun, educational courses for kids of all ages. Regular courses are $960 for a pack of four lessons, and discounted trial lessons are available for $150.
2/F, Olympian City 1, 11 Hoi Fai Rd., Tai Kok Tsui, 2771-4953, www.juniorgolf.com.hk
BMX Evolution
If you have a kid with some excess energy, then you might want to look into BMX racing. Operating its own dirt track here in Hong Kong, BMX Evolution offers personal coaching sessions designed to prepare kids with experience and confidence. Children will be able to learn the basics of BMX racing as well as the safety and key skills required to ride on a BMX track effectively. Private classes start at $450 per hour, and $300 per hour for a group of three.
91 Kwai Hei St., Gin Drinkers Bay, Kwai Chung, 6807-9863, www.bmxevolution.com.hk
CQB Plaza
Burn off some pent-up energy at CQB Plaza, a 20,000-square-foot indoor war games site. Founded by an avid group of war games fans, this place has two zones: one designed to look like a greenhouse, and one that’s a mockup of a warehouse. Junior players (ages 8 and up) shoot harmless sponge pellets. It’s $180 per person for a four-hour session from Monday to Thursday but with a minimum of 12 players, making it great for kids’ birthday parties. The center is open until a red-eyed 4:30am. Call ahead to make a booking.
5/F, Heng Seng Industrial Building, 185-187 Wai Yip St., Kwun Tong, 6971-8810, www.cqb-plaza.com
ESF Sharks – Learn To Swim
As one of Hong Kong’s finest swimming schools, the ESF Sharks program offers classes to children as young as 4 months old, and can also accommodate older students—including adults. The ESF program makes for a fun swimming experience with highly qualified coaches who have undergone training in Australia, the US and the UK.
482 Jaffe Rd., Causeway Bay, 2711-1280, www.esf.org.hk
Flex
With a variety of kid-friendly activities to choose from, Flex offers a full schedule of excellent after-school programs. Catering to children from 2 years old to teenagers, Flex is a great choice for Pilates, yoga, flying Pilates and ballet, with classes starting from $260. The outfit’s new series, “Born to Move” helps kids build confidence and develop skills while instilling a love of music.
Shops 308-310, One Island South, 2 Heung Yip Rd., Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, 2813-2212, www.flexhk.com
Flora Ho Sports Centre
Located at Hong Kong University’s Pok Fu Lam campus, the Flora Ho Sports Centre is not just open to HKU students or alumni; although if you know one, you can pay a guest fee to enter on a one-off basis. Community members can pay $6,050 per year (about $505 per month) to access the huge range of sports facilities, which include table tennis, squash courts, billiard tables, dance studios, a golf putting green, a softball pitching machine, a swimming pool and a fitness room. Booking is not required for the last two facilities, though you’ll need to call ahead for the rest.
111-113 Pok Fu Lam Rd., Pok Fu Lam, 2817-4046, www.ihp.hku.hk/facilities
Fun Zone
With two locations—Kennedy Town and Ma On Shan—Fun Zone is a great option for kids and parents living on Hong Kong Island or in the New Territories. The Kennedy Town branch has more than 10,000-square-feet of space while the Ma On Shan branch sprawls across 5,000-square-feet—both have brightly colored balls pits, adventure tunnels, slides and other distractions. There’s also a dedicated area for kiddies aged 3 or younger. Entry fee includes admittance for one adult and one child, and starts at $100 on weekdays if your kid is aged 1-2, going up to $160 for those aged 3-12. Monthly passes are available. Fun Zone also runs children’s yoga classes, dance, mini rugby and other scheduled activities in partnership with outside vendors. Oh, and there’s Wi-Fi and a café for the grown-ups.
1/F, The Westwood, 8 Belcher’s St., Kennedy Town, 2258-9558, www.funzone.com.hk
HK Academy of Ice Hockey
Have high-energy kids? Let them have a go at ice hockey. Children from 3 to 14 can participate in one of the Hong Kong Academy of Ice Hockey’s 16-lesson courses, which are divided according to age (about $300 per kid). From skating fundamentals to stickhandling and other essential skills, young players will be in good hands, guided by the academy’s professional coaches. For advanced courses, lessons are a mix of both on-ice and dry land practices and drills.
Unit 1013, 10/F, KITEC, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay, 3713-2888, www.hkaih.org
HK Baseball Association
Founded by an avid group of baseball players’ parents, Hong Kong Baseball Association is committed to providing Hongkongers with quality baseball training and league games. The organization’s district promotion program, largely sponsored by the government, is a perfect start for anyone interested in getting a hang of the sport. Have the kids take up lessons ($178, aged 5-8; $198, 7-14; $258, 14 and up) with a 1:30 tutor-student ratio. Pick up a baseball glove and uniform and you are all set for a bat-swinging, ball-tossing good time.
Room 1003, 1/F, Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, Causeway Bay, 2504-8330, www.hkbaseball.org
Hong Kong Rugby Football Union
Starting at the very young age of 4, kids can join one of the rugby clubs where they will be taught the sport in a safe and enjoyable environment. One of the city’s favorite pastimes, rugby teaches fair play and teamwork. The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union aims to develop a broad, integrated program allowing children to encourage themselves as well as others. They can join any of the groups that fit their age group.
Room 2001, Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, So Kon Po, Causeway Bay, 2504-8311, www.hkrugby.com
International Riding Centre
One of the largest private horse-riding facilities in Hong Kong, the International Riding Centre encompasses 160,000 square feet of space, including five irrigated sand paddocks. The center offers classes for children at least 6 years old, as well as adults who weigh less than 75kg. Private lessons cost $500 for 30 minutes while group lessons are $500 for 45 minutes.
228 Fan Kam Rd., Yuen Long, 2488-0828, www.irchk.com.hk
Ice Palace
Nestled inside popular shopping destination Cityplaza, Ice Palace is one of the city’s biggest skating rinks and one of the best bets for icy fun with the family. Easy boot rental, locker facilities and a smart card access system makes it easy to spend quality time with the kids on the ice. Prices are $65-75 per session, but if your children take to the ice, you can sign them up for professional skating classes starting at $260 per hour.
1/F, Cityplaza, 18 Taikoo Shing Rd., Quarry Bay, 2844-8688, www.cityplaza.com
Jean M. Wong School of Ballet
Established in 1960, the Jean M. Wong School of Ballet is one of the most prestigious in Asia, seeing many students go on to acclaimed ballet schools and dance careers. With seven studios operating across Hong Kong, the school offers a wide-ranging curriculum in classical ballet that follows the Royal Academy of Dancing syllabus, as well as boys’ ballet, adult ballet, masterclasses for professional dancers, and jazz and hip-hop to boot. Its International Summer Dance School—offering classes and workshops in classical ballet, pop jazz, repertoire, and choreography—attracts students and teachers from around the world. Its annual school performance “Stars of Tomorrow,” held in August each year, gives students excellent stage experience.
Various locations, including 18 Tanner Rd., North Point, 2886-3992, www.jmwballet.org
Just Climb
Located in East Kowloon, Just Climb is an indoor climbing and bouldering gym, with climbing walls suitable for every ability level. Kids can even practice overhangs and really train their grip strength. If you’re a newbie climber interested in building your endurance, classes with an instructor are available. A day pass at Just Climb costs $158 for adults, while bouldering courses for kids start at $180 per hour.
Room D, Prince Industrial Building, 706 Prince Edward Rd. East, San Po Kong, 3561-7868, www.justclimb.hk
LCSD Indoor Sports Facilities
The government has indoor sports centers all over the city where, for a small fee, you can play squash, practice your swing at an indoor golfing range, have
a round of table tennis, run around on the multi-sports court, use the gym, play a game of snooker and more. Log onto the LCSD website to find a sports center near you, and check out what kind of facilities it offers. To give you an idea of price, the indoor golf driving range at the Island East Sports Centre is just $20 per hour, with discounts for students and the elderly.
Centers citywide, 2414-5555, www.lcsd.gov.hk
Minisport
Offering an array of sporty extracurricular activities, Minisport exposes kids to multiple sports from football, tennis, basketball, athletics, hockey to even dodgeball. With a strict student to coach ratio of eight to one, it helps kids develop a versatile range of sporting abilities. Classes start at $200 per child for groups of four or more. Check the website for more details.
www.sportsclassesforkidshk.com
The Little Gym
With more than 300 locations around the globe, The Little Gym is a learning and physical development center for kids from 4 months to 12 years old. Providing structured classes in gymnastics, karate and dance as well as parent-and-child combo classes, the Little Gym also offers Parent’s Survival Nights on weekends, where you can leave your kids with trainers who have activities planned for them. Contact the center to organize a free introductory lesson.
Suite 601, 6/F, World Commerce Centre, Harbour City, 3-37 Canton Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2368-8777, www.thelittlegym.com
Tiny Tots
Tiny Tots organizes fun classes to develop social skills and promote physical fitness. The lessons are a great way for your child to grow and do well both inside and outside of the classroom setting. Tiny Tots offers various sports classes, including soccer, mini sports, rugby and basketball. Kids younger than 3 will be accompanied by their parents where they will learn about colors, numbers and sports. Those aged 3-4 will develop their motor skills and the specific sports you choose.
Room 402, 4/F, Hing Tai Commercial Building, 114 Wing Lok St., Sheung Wan, 3488-7724, www.tinytots.com.hk
