Parents, brace yourself. School holidays in Singapore are upon us. Instead of getting occupied with school homework and term activities, your energetic and easily bored kids now stay at home. That doesn’t bode well.
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Whether it’s because your kids have been working so hard and deserve a treat, or, you just don’t want to be home alone with antsy kids, you should plan some things to do with your kids this school holidays.
Here are our top picks on things to do in Singapore with kids that cost anywhere between free to over $500:
Admiralty Park is the largest park in Singapore where a river runs through (Sungei Cina). Isn’t that poetic? But this won’t be something that will get the kids too excited.
What will get them truly excited is the record number of slides in the Admiralty Park playground — 26 slides in total — designed to take advantage of the hilly ground the park is on. You have to try the 34-metre long slide, the widest and longest in a public park in Singapore. If your kid’s competitive, you can go on the Double Barrel Slides with him and see who will emerge the faster from the 23-metre long, 9-metre tall tube slides. They’re the longest and tallest tube slides in a local public park!
The best part? It is FREE!
Address: 31 Riverside Rd, Admiralty Park, Singapore 739087
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National Art Gallery is known being kid-friendly with many workshops and activities. Currently, at Gallery Kids, there is a Pattern Maker exhibition where you can create minimalist art using shapes that are inspired by Kim Lim and Rasheed Araeen’s artworks.
Find out more about the other kids’ activities and programmes ongoing at the National Art Gallery here.
Address: 1 St Andrew’s Rd, Singapore 178957
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Not into the commitment of a pet but your kids love them? For a small fee (from $9.50 for students and up to $12.50 for adult entry on weekends), We’re The Furballs Dog Café at Bugis+ lets you pet and play with their dogs for two hours, and you get a free drink as well.
The doggies are super friendly and quite hyper so expect to have them climb into your lap for a cuddle or beg you for food. You can buy doggy treats to bribe the snootier ones to come to you.
Watch out for one corgi who has an insatiable appetite and has been known to step over his buddies just to get to the food in your hand. The cafe only admits children 10 and older.
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If you book through Klook, you get a standard drink and a dog treat bag for only $11.90, and can stay for 1.5 hours.
Address: #07-07, Bugis+, 201 Victoria St, Singapore 188067
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Not a dog person? There is The Cat Cafe nearby in Bugis too so you can hop over to spend some time with kitties after your romp with the canines. For $15, you can stay there all day with a free drink.
The cats are less exuberant so it can be a more calming experience. Kids from 6 and up are allowed. It charges $16 per entry, and the fee includes one free drink.
Address: 241B Victoria St, Singapore 188030
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Kidz Amaze is a great indoor playground with a labyrinth of slides, tunnels, climbing structures, bridges and ball pits where kids can entertain themselves, while you sit at the side with a watchful eye.
There are three Kidz Amaze outlets to choose from: Toa Payoh, Punggol and Jurong. If your child is a toddler or preschooler who may be tentative in large spaces or averse to boisterous kids, the Kidz Amaze in Toa Payoh is less intimidating. Plus, it has a Toddler Zone for those under three so your tot won’t get trampled by an older child (ouch).
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urong’s Kidz Amaze will wow adventurous little ones with its sheer height – five storeys of mazes to explore. Splash @ Kidz Amaze, the Punggol indoor playground, is a wet one with 8 play decks, 5 slides and a themed splash pad. While it’s a great place to get wet and wild in any weather, do keep in mind that it gets chilly especially at night!
The best thing is, after an outing like this, the kids usually get so exhausted, they will have a really good nap when they get home.
It costs $14 for the Kidz Amaze playgrounds at Toa Payoh and Jurong and $16 for Splash @ Kidz Amaze Punggol for off-peak hours.
For peak periods, it costs $18 for Kidz Amaze Toa Payoh and Jurong, and $20 for Splash @ Kidz Amaze Punggol. Do note that adults also require an entrance fee of $2 each.
Addresses of Kidz Amaze outlets:
- Kidz Amaze Safra Toa Payoh (293 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 319387)
- Kidz Amaze Safra Jurong (333 Boon Lay Way, Singapore 649848)
- Splash @ Kidz Amaze Safra Punggol (9 Sentul Crescent, Level 3, Singapore 828654)
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A little coding may come in handy for your child in today’s digital age. Saturday Kids is where coding is introduced to kids from age seven.
Programming, electronics, digital art and design thinking are some of the courses available. The workshops are so fun that you might want to sign up yourself! They offer programmes like “Make with micro:bit & Python” where your kid can learn Python programming skills use microbits to make gadgets (11 to 14-year-olds).
Addresses of Saturday Kids outlets:
- 1 Jalan Anak Bukit, Bukit Timah Plaza #02-41, 588996
- 1 Marine Parade Central #08-03 Parkway Centre, 449408
- 301 Upper Thomson Road #02-15 Singapore 574408
- 10 Square 181 Orchard Road #10-01 Singapore 238896
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Organized by the same company that brought you the Bubble Tea Factory, Otah and Friends is the first otter-themed escape-room style attraction in Singapore.
The objective of this exhibition is to find Otah (a two-metre tall otter statue) in his little home. While it might seem deceptively easy, finding Otah can be kinda tough with a 15 minute time limit.
Tickets are available at $15 per pax (minimum 2 pax) with private group bookings available. Get your tickets here.
While kids might not necessarily appreciate the history of the Orient Express, trust us when we say they’ll love being able to see and touch an old train up close!
History buffs will love how the exhibitors have restored some of the items, documents, and furniture displays and staged parts of the train to show in the style of some of its famous guests.
Tickets are available at $25. Family bookings are also available starting at $88. Get your tickets here.
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Opened some time in 2019, Jubilee Park in Fort Canning Park has fun slides, swings and nature-inspired play areas.
There are also a rope bridge and several bouncy nets for kids to expend all their energy on!
Turn your visit to the playground into a fun family affair by going on a picnic as well. Alternatively, make your way to Robertson Quay for a slew of family-style restaurants.
The Gallop Extension was actually opened in 2019 but two features have recently been added to make the play area even more fun.
One of the features, The Como Adventure Grove, has swings, slides, and fun textured areas for kids to climb on. There are also community play tools like mini shovels and scoops for sand play for use. Just remember to place them back for others to use!
The Botanic Gardens itself is a great place to explore and has plenty of dining establishments for you and your family to enjoy.
The origami-style playground in Yishun follows the cute one found in Jurong West.
Kids will love the rope climbing aspect of the playground and all the swings available.
If you don’t actually live in Yishun, make it a point to explore the neighbourhood while you’re there!
Text: MoneySmart / Additional reporting: Natalya Molok