Touchy-feely fun at the mall

Learning Braille, being led by guide dogs while blindfolded and tasting without smelling will be some of the interesting science experiments making up a fun holiday programme.

Even though school is drawing to a close for the summer, there will be classes at the KwaZulu-Natal ScienceCentre, based at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping in Umhlanga.

The theme of the programme is the five senses.

The month-long programme, starting from December 10, will investigate what life would be like without sight, touch, taste, sound and smell. It is targeted at children from as young as six.

General manager of the ScienceCentre Candice Potgieter said the centre would be working with the South African Guide Dog Association.

"The guide dogs will showcase their abilities by leading blindfolded people through a darkened room," said Potgieter.

"We will have different noises and children can also touch different materials. It will show what it is like to be blind and led by a guide dog."

Children will also have an opportunity to read by touch in a Braille workshop and will be taken on a taste test.

"We will show them the different areas on their tongues and where things are tasted.

"For smell, we will present the children with a 'how would you taste without smelling?' experiment. Often, people rely on their smell for food because everything would taste the same if you could not smell it," she said.

While experiments testing hearing are still in the pipeline, Potgieter said they were thinking of doing a "DNA detective act" in which children use their hearing to create a scene in their minds.

Adults wanting to learn more, can get involved in a "dinner in the dark" experience, which will take place later in December. Guests will be blindfolded while they are served dinner.

"When doing so they will know how sight becomes so important when eating. We will give them an idea of what they are eating and it will be food they can eat with their hands," said Potgieter.

Potgieter said they wanted to help other nonprofit organisations while using science as a tool to reach out.

The centre will be donating 10% of its gate entry for the holiday period to the SA Guide Dog Association.

The programmes run from 11am until 2pm daily and will cost R25-R30 per person. For more information, call 0315668040.