CHENNAI: C.H. Monica, who studies in the seventh standard at KTCT Girls’ Higher Secondary School, wanted the pink dog with a furry heart attached. Her classmates E. Maheswari and J. Tejasree nodded in agreement. Their vote too was for the pink dog. Then they started reeling off the rest of their wish-list. All the items they wanted were on display at Kidex 2008 – “Toys, coloured cycle, musical car, elephant-shaped soft toy and books.”

Kidex 2008, the three-day event for children organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) was inaugurated on Friday by Governor Surjit Singh Barnala at the Chennai Trade Centre in Nandambakam. Speaking to presspersons, Pradipta K. Mohapatra, chairman Kidex 2008, said that the exhibition, started in 2006, was conceived to provide children a wider exposure to products and brands. Over 30,000 visitors were expected to attend.

Apart from the exhibition, a workshop on parenting is planned on November 22 where parents, teachers and school principals would discuss and share their experiences.

Books, games, hammocks, educational software, writing instruments, handwriting improvement tools, mosquito nets and even CDs to stimulate the subconscious were some of the products on display.

The finale of a national competition on digital art conducted jointly by NIIT and CII will be held on November 23 and international chess champion Viswanathan Anand will give away prizes. Other events include a quiz competition on the environment, a spelling bee contest and animation workshops. A newsletter will be created by children during the event, assisted by Chandamama, a magazine for children.

The exhibition will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on days. Mr. Mohapatra said that this year Kidex would be held for the first time in Hyderabad from December 26 to 28. For more details, visit www.kidex.in.

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