PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AT THE KROKODIL FESTIVAL 2024

31 May PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AT THE KROKODIL FESTIVAL 2024

Join us in the children programs of the XVI KROKODIL Festival, which will be held on Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23, in the Festival’s kids zone in the park in front of the Museum of Yugoslavia. You can check the activities and schedule below. Due to the limited number of spots, registration is required for all programs via email at prijave@krokodil.rs (child’s name and surname, age, and the program they are registering for). Festival’s program download HERE

SATURDAY, JUNE 22 11:30 AM
LITERARY-ART WORKSHOP ‘WANDERING, READING, DRAWING, QUESTIONING’
Age: 7 to 11 years

With the coordination of our distinguished writer Jasminka Petrović, three important international authors and illustrators of contemporary literature for children and youth will be presented: Merce Gali (Spain), Desa Muck (Slovenia) and Arianna Papini (Italy). In addition to reading excerpts from their works, they will also be there to answer children’s questions, and the children present will also have the opportunity to bring the characters from the presented works to life through drawing, acting or in some other way.
The program is implemented within the Lit-Up project, which is co-financed by the Creative Europe program of the European Commission.

SATURDAY, JUNE 22 & SUNDAY, JUNE 23 10:30 AM – 12 PM
CREATIVE ART WORKSHOPS
Age: 4 to 9 years

Saturday’s workshop on painting everyday objects in the style of Petrykivka painting will be led by Natalya Trokhymets, known for promoting this art style in Serbia. Petrykivka painting is a traditional Ukrainian decorative art, recognized by UNESCO as protected cultural heritage. It features floral motifs used to decorate items such as mugs, plates, bowls, dishes, and furniture. In the workshop, kids will paint cardboard plates, wooden dishes, and create tempera paintings on paper. Their works will be displayed in the kids zone throughout the festival. The workshop is inclusive, with the presence of special education professionals who will assist children with developmental challenges.

On Sunday, an inclusive art workshop of creating stencils, drawings, and collages in the style of Pop art will be held. Children will be introduced to the works of famous artists who marked this movement, such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, James Rosenquist, etc. Pre-prepared stencil templates will be used to create a joint work on a large canvas with eco-friendly and non-toxic paints. The workshop will be led by art historians Maja Vuković Biserko and Milan Adnađ, with assistance from Natalya Trokhymets and special education professionals.

SATURDAY, JUNE 22 1 PM – 4 PM
CIRCUS SKILLS WORKSHOPS
Age: 7 to 15 years

Have you ever tried juggling or spinning a hula hoop? If you love the circus, are interested in circus skills, and would like to try some, join us for circus skills workshops conducted by our friends from Cirkusfera, Sofija, Olivera, and Milica! The workshops will cover three disciplines: hula hoop (starting at 1 PM), balance (starting at 2 PM), and juggling (starting at 3 PM)!

Each discipline is divided into three 50-minute workshops, each intended for one of three different age groups:
◾ 7-9 years
◾ 10-12 years
◾ 13-15 years
The maximum number of participants per group is 8.

Balance – Good balance is the foundation of many circus and performance techniques. Various exercises help establish balance on different objects.
Hula Hoop – A simple play item like a hula hoop aids in developing a wide range of motor skills and strength. Mastering this prop involves not only spinning it around one’s body but also performing isolation tricks in space.
Juggling – A technique that allows one to play with different objects such as balls, scarves, and hoops, developing coordination and reflexes.

Cirkusfera is an organization that has been developing contemporary circus, artistic animation, modern and street theater since 2008. It gathers multidisciplinary artists dedicated to affirming this art in Serbia. Through workshops and numerous projects, since 2016, it has focused on artistic circus education, considering the formation of young circus artists as one of its main missions.

SATURDAY, JUNE 22 & SUNDAY, JUNE 23 2 PM – 3:30 PM
GROUP WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A THERAPY DOG
Age: 4 to 10 years

Did you know that interacting with therapy dogs releases hormones in the human body that stimulate brain function and contribute to better psychological and mental well-being? Many studies have shown that dogs have a beneficial and therapeutic effect on humans. In the workshops, kids will learn interactively and engagingly:
–How to interact with a dog,
–What dogs need and what they like,
–What not to do with dogs.
Developing awareness of another being, its needs, and ways of communication is important for every child, as it helps in developing empathy and socialization.

The workshop lasts about 45 minutes and is divided into several segments:
–Introduction to basic rules
–Learning about the needs and emotions of a dog
–Therapy dogs Lara and Nana perform tricks
–Children play with Lara and Nana

The workshops are conducted by the PET Therapy Center ‘Prijateljska šapa’ (Friendly Paw) from Novi Sad. Prijateljska šapa is an organization established with the idea of helping children with developmental difficulties using specially trained therapy dogs. The organization has been around since 2014 and is the first and only one in Serbia using dogs for therapeutic purposes. Since 2020, it is the only organization from Serbia that is a full member of the Animal Assisted Intervention International.
Prijateljska šapa’s activities are divided into three parts:
–Individual treatments with children with developmental challenges using a therapy dog
–Group activities with typically developing children aged 4 to 10 years using a dog
–Training and education

SATURDAY, JUNE 22 4 PM – 5 PM & SUNDAY, JUNE 23 12 PM – 1 PM
THEATER PERFORMANCES FOR CHILDREN: PRINCESS AND THE PEA AND FOREST FAIRYTALE
Age: 2 to 12 years

We are the touring theater Ćira and we invite you to the children program of the KROKODIL festival, on Saturday, June 22 at 4 PM for our play ‘Princess and the Pea‘ and on Sunday, June 23 at 12 PM for the play ‘Forest Fairytale‘, in the park in front of the Museum of Yugoslavia in the kids zone!
Since the day we began our theatrical journey, we have strived to bring joy and bring kid’s dreams to life, without waking them up from those dreams. We bring big kids back to childhood, and teach little ones how to dream, spread kindness, and enjoy the beauty of life. We sing and dance to the world’s most beautiful melodies while experiencing various fairytales and stories for children. The love of play is present among the actors and kids, and it can be felt with all the senses.
Ćira will take you to the Land of Dreams, and the only question is – whose? Do you know that everyone has their own Land of Dreams where all wonders are possible?