Comics, puppets and trains: what to do with children this week
The education of adolescents and the increase of children attended in the CEDIAP: what has caught our attention the most this week
A long weekend is approaching, and with these storms it is very tempting to stay at home, but if the sun comes out, go back to enjoying the outdoors, which surely as a family you also need. As always, we have prepared a selection of activities for you to do with your children on October 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th, such as watching puppets at La Puntual, celebrating the Train Festival at the Railway Museum in Móra la Nova, or enjoying reading at the Girocòmic Fair in Girona.
We also propose a review of current events through the section To think about and we offer you the data and statements that have caught our attention the most.
Cultural and leisure activities
21st International Puppet Festival
If you are puppet lovers at home, from October 9th to November 1st you have the Barcelona International Puppet Festival at Teatre La Puntual, a small and cozy venue with 21 years of history and a stable program aimed at family audiences. This 21st edition features unexpected materials such as wood, scrap metal, or everyday objects as protagonists, which come to life when the curtain rises.
During the different weekends you will be able to see four shows that combine puppets, object theater, shadows, music, and humor, all of them for all audiences. Proposals such as Caminos,by the company María Parrato, about resilience; Posa-hi el cor, by the company with Italian roots Nina Theatre, with everyday utensils full of emotions; Pinocchio, by the English company Steve Tiplady, which brings a puppet in the shape of a boy to life; and La flor romanial, by the company Príncep Totilau, with traditional music from the Balearic Islands, in which the puppeteer himself transforms into a theater.
At the Móra la Nova Railway Museum
The Railway Museum in Móra la Nova has everything ready for a new edition of the Train Festival, which will take place on October 10th, 11th, and 12th. Take advantage of the open house at this landmark museum in the history of the railway in Catalonia.
An ideal opportunity to discover the world of trains and observe locomotives, vehicles, and other machines up close, located in a unique setting next to the old Móra la Nova station.
3rd edition of the Vila Màgica Festival
The Gràcia neighborhood turns into a magical town with the third edition of the International Magic Festival in Barcelona. An initiative promoted by various entities and institutions of the Gràcia district. With a diverse and inclusive program designed for all ages.
At the opening gala, the magic of the prestidigitator Fèlix Brunet will merge with the music of the mezzo-soprano Ángela Lorite, and there will also be a taste of close-up magic by David Valencia and Mag Jan. In addition to the traditional contest and the novelty of a special gala for the youth audience, which will be held at the Espai Jove La Fontana. Prepare yourselves to see shows that will surprise you, move you, and make you believe in magic.
Reading and entertainment in Girona
Girona becomes the home of comic book fans this long weekend. Once again, the Girona Trade Fair Palace hosts Girocòmic, where comics, manga, and entertainment are the protagonists.
Among the proposals, you will find conferences, exhibitions, workshops, displays, tournaments, masterclasses, and exhibits of favorite characters from the world of comics. Take a look at the children's workshops and autograph sessions, where you are sure to find your favorite authors.
Virtual reality, retrofuturism and emotion
Children also enjoy the Gran Teatre del Liceu thanks to the Petit Liceu program. This autumn it is inaugurated by The young Aida, a modern show with virtual reality, retrofuturism, and contemporary emotion.
A reinterpretation of the iconic Aida by Verdi, with musical arrangements that combine the essence of the original opera with new compositions and a technological and audiovisual staging that recalls the aesthetics of early video games. Join young Aida in reflecting on what is real in what we experience in fiction and what is fictional in what we experience in reality.
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Performing arts and nature for the whole family
A new family festival arrives, Aumon. A cultural and leisure proposal promoted by the Ponts City Council and designed for a family audience that seeks to become an annual reference event for families from all over the territory.
Throughout Saturday, the Parc de la Roca del Call, a natural space located on the banks of the Segre river, will host a lot of shows, workshops, and participatory activities to make both adults and children enjoy a day in the open air.
La Panera Art Center in Lleida
Do your children like collecting small pieces, little animals, and trinkets? Well, at the Espai Minipanera in Lleida there is an exhibition they will love: The warmth of beautiful things, by Martina Rogers, visual artist and cultural mediator. An exhibition of objects that, through play and connection with nature, invites you to open all your senses to capture the invisible.
This artist uses her hands as her main tool, and fuses various plastic techniques, such as drawing, engraving, ceramics, and animation. She knows very well how to transfer energy through clay modeling. The color, brightness, shape, and texture exude vital movement. Come and discover the warmth of beautiful things!
Television recommendations
On 3Cat's Super3
This month of October, the fourth season of Fang! has premiered, the school quiz show that promotes learning and mastery of the Catalan language among boys and girls. This year, the presenters, Shalana Rodríguez and Marc Andreu, debut a new set and format. A new edition with more episodes, where nearly 2,000 children in 5th grade of primary school from more than 70 schools in Catalonia will participate.
As in previous occasions, the boys and girls must demonstrate their knowledge and linguistic skills regarding the proper use of Catalan through various physical tests. Fun proposals in which participants play and get dirty, and which involve and excite the young viewers. In each program, the school that scores the most points wins and goes to one of the three semifinals of the program (one per trimester). The winners of these three finals will go to the grand final, which will be held in May. The winning class will win a fantastic day at an amusement park.
Food for thought
Neither fathers nor mothers, nor teachers, it is society in general
In recent days, it seems that there is a search for someone to blame for the poor educational results of children. The reference adults for these adolescents are their parents and teachers. Two important pieces of data can help us understand what is really happening. On one hand, one of the indicators of the dreaded PISA report is precisely family support and parental involvement. In the latest publication, the percentage of 15-year-old students who state that their parents ask them how school is going has dropped notably, from 77% in 2022 to 69% in 2025. On the other hand, the 2024 OECD TALIS study, which analyzes the pressure experienced by the entire educational system, confirmed that one in six secondary school teachers experiences their job with a lot of stress, six points more than in 2018. Therefore, if families are running out of quality time to dedicate to their children and teachers are overwhelmed, stressed, and exhausted, there is something failing in society in general.