My husband and I spent a bit of time at Waterstone Village today with my son for their Winter Cookies and Crafts activation. The event was hosted by Curro Somerset West Sitari Estate, and it felt like a very deliberate, well-thought-out way to introduce the school to the local community through the universal language of arts and crafts.
The setup was divided into three distinct stations: cookie decorating, drawing, and face painting. We had booked our spot in advance, and after a quick sign-in process, we were handed an individualised cookie box. Inside were three winter-themed cookies shaped like a snowflake, a mitten, and a hat. It also came with three mini piping bags of icing, a sachet of colourful sprinkles, and some Smarties for toppings. My son took the task very seriously, making sure to pipe every last bit of icing onto the cookies — because why leave anything behind when you have three bags of piping at your disposal?
Once the cookies were sufficiently decorated, we moved over to the drawing station. They handed out winter-themed colouring pages and provided plenty of colourful wax crayons, glue, scraps of paper, and glitter glue. It was a proper sensory experience for the little ones. The final stop was the face painting station, where my son walked away with a cute Spiderman design.
In terms of logistics, the activation was positioned right in front of Spur, between the pharmacy and the flower shop. While this is arguably the area with the most foot traffic in the mall, it did feel a bit congested at times. When we arrived, it was quite crowded, and I couldn’t help but think the Pick n Pay atrium might have offered a bit more breathing room for a setup of this scale.
Reflecting on the experience, I found the individualised kits were a nice touch, though I do think there is something special about collective activities for children this age, where they can communicate with one another. I remember a similar activation at the Helderberg Centre during Easter that featured a community art wall. Watching a blank canvas transform into a masterpiece as different kids added their touch was a real highlight, and perhaps something similar could have worked well here to build that sense of shared creativity.
The branding for Curro was visible throughout the area, with posters, flyers, and promotional items like pens and lollies available. The staff were efficient, tidying up the tables to ensure the space was fresh and ready for the next child. I appreciated that while we had booked, they were also accommodating walk-ins, allowing families who happened to be passing by to join in the experience.
I also found myself curious about the Curro experience itself. Rather than feeling like an extension of the classroom, the activation came across more as a community event sponsored by the school. That isn’t necessarily a drawback—it suited the relaxed, drop-in format—but I think there may have been an opportunity to weave in a few more elements that reflected Curro’s teaching style or classroom environment, giving families a deeper sense of the school’s identity.
That said, the activation was a smooth and enjoyable outing. It was clear that a great deal of effort had gone into the planning, and seeing the children fully engaged with glitter glue and icing made for a wonderful way to spend a winter morning in Somerset West.
Best of all, the tables were certainly left much cleaner than my kitchen counter would have been after attempting the same activity at home.
I’m a wife, mother and local publisher who traded Johannesburg and two years abroad for life in Somerset West. Through HelderbergStuff, I share lifestyle stories, local discoveries and noteworthy developments across Somerset West, Strand and Gordon’s Bay. For media and collaboration enquiries: marina@helderbergstuff.co.za
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