Activities for Children
If you enjoyed the simple pleasures of growing up in Singapore, your child will have that and more to choose from in the buzzing Singapore calendar for kids today.
More than any other city in Asia, Singapore is child-friendly and safe, with an amazing array of world-class opportunities for children, ranging from education to culture and lifestyle.
Activities
The museum scene is flourishing. Galleries range from the philatelic to the cultural and historical, all with exhibits and activities that cater to the young patron. The Mint Museum of Toys has one of the finest collections of vintage toys in the world, and the grand old National Museum of Singapore holds an annual Children’s Season during the mid-year school holidays.
The legendary Singapore Zoo has been distinguished by ForbesTraveler.com as one of “The World’s Best Zoos”. Both the open concept exhibits as well as the large Rainforest Kidzworld water play area make this a favourite to visit time and time again, along with its sibling, the Night Safari.
Engage hands, hearts and minds at the Science Centre, which has hosted international-scale exhibitions such as Da Vinci the Genius, and the Singapore Discovery Centre.
Singapore is greener than ever, with countless parks and gardens to explore or picnic in. The Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden is just adjacent to the sprawling Botanic Gardens, and provides unique learning and discovery experiences. And while you may have previously been adept at the art, climbing a tree now comes with all the bells and whistles.
The various private country clubs also offer premium facilities for children as well as professional coaching in sports or dance.
Otherwise, classes for everything from swimming, golf and tennis to cartoon drawing, ink painting and pottery, and music, dance and drama to cooking, chess and abacus are prevalent by community centres and private operators, and especially popular during the school holidays.
Teens have their own space at *SCAPE Youth Centre in the heart of town.
Sentosa is still Singapore’s favourite playground, and is set for greater things with the Universal Studios theme park at Resorts World. Current amusement parks include Escape and Wild Wild Wet in the East.
Festivals
While the Chinese New Year Chingay Parade still marches on, it has taken on a whole new personality and flavour with international participants, making it Asia’s grandest street and floats parade – a spectacle for any child.
The exciting National Day Parade has similarly moved from strength to strength, incorporating the most stunning of high-tech effects. Also held around the same time is the recently introduced Singapore Fireworks Celebration s presented by competitors from various countries.
Relive your own childhood by celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with the children at the Chinese Gardens. More than a stroll around the neighbourhood, the Singapore Lantern Festival involves dazzling street light-ups and bazaars, floating lanterns down the Singapore River, cultural shows, and a mass procession. Be tempted also by the mooncakes which have taken on new forms and flavours, including ice-cream and chocolate. Don’t forget to keep the liquor-filled ones away from the kids!
Other festivals feting children include the Prudential Children First! arts festival, which attracts top performing companies from around the world. The Asian Children’s Festival incorporating KidsASIA! is a mainly interactive event which celebrates the joy of childhood in Asia. The Singapore Heritage Fest will immerse you once again in the diversity of our cultures and introduce children to their rich heritage.
Eating out
For casual dining, Go-Go Bambini is popular with both kids and adults because of its large exciting indoor playground for the youngsters, and library-cum-cafe and nail spa for mums.
Dining with the little ones has never been a problem. Now even fine dining restaurants like the Equinox Restaurant offer a children’s menu. One Ninety at the Four Seasons Hotel has a separate playland open for its Sunday brunch, where children enjoy their own buffet while playing and being entertained.
Shopping
Shopping in Singapore is always a pleasure, no less for the kids! Malls such as United Square near the Novena MRT station, and Forum the Shopping Mall and Tanglin Mall in the Orchard precinct are practically dedicated to children. They have many shops catering to a young clientele, offering fashion, toys, books, music schools, gyms and even photo studios. Major department stores like Takashimaya have entire floors dedicated to children’s apparel and toys, while boutiques offer international brands like Zara and Fox for the kids, as well as home-grown label LIFEbaby, which sells New Asia fashion for children. Most bookshops carry a wide range of children’s titles, and the young ones will be happy to know that Toys”R”Us operates a chain of stores here.