9 Kid-Friendly Museums And Libraries To Visit in July 2023
An engaging educational experience awaits
We'll be the first to admit it: we never really liked museums and libraries as children. But the exhibitions and installations today are immersive, engaging, and designed to interest your little one in exploring art and science — and make for great family days out. From ink painting to tinkering projects, these hands-on activities are sure to excite the kids.
The Future World: Where Art Meets Science Exhibition at Marina Bay Sands is Singapore's largest interactive digital playground — and a virtual kaleidoscope of colours and experiences. Its interactive digital installations are split into two main parts: City In A Garden, and Exploring New Frontiers.
Sensory Odyssey: Into the Heart of Our Living World Exhibition
If the Future World Exhibition is old news for you, head over to the Sensory Odyssey: Into the Heart of Our Living World Exhibition. It is a multi-sensory experience that leaves all visitors in fascination and wonder at our ecosystems and biodiversity. This is a good starting point to nurture a deep love for nature in your kids, and inform them of the importance of protecting our planet.
Admission is at $21 for adults, and $17 for children.
Happening 10am-7pm (last entry 6pm) daily, from 27 May – 29 Oct 2023, at 6 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018974. Visit their website for more information and ticket registration.
In the National Gallery alone, there are two spaces for your kids to explore:
1. Keppel Centre For Arts Education
The Keppel Centre For Art Education comprises imaginative and immersive spaces such as an Ink Studio that allows for the exploration of ink painting, and a Mural Play room with magnetic elements the kiddos can piece together. These dynamic exhibitions are simplified for easier visualisation yet amplified for boundless imagination. Discover the unique environments and art styles in the play spaces, pick up some crayons and doodle your best in the art corridor.
Admission is free.
The Keppel Centre For Art Education is held at L1 City Hall Wing, National Gallery, 1 Saint Andrew’s Rd, Singapore 178957. Visit their website for more information.
2. Children's Biennale
If the kids are still bouncing with energy after the Keppel Centre for Art Education, send them over to the Children’s Biennale just a few steps away.
The Children’s Biennale showcases 11 interactive artworks by ten artists surrounding the theme: ‘Let’s Make a Better Place’. The free storytelling and drawing activities here help the little ones broaden their perspectives on art, spark their imagination, and reflect on how they can build a more promising future for all.
The Children’s Biennale is held from May 27, 2023 to Mar 31, 2024. The National Gallery is at 1 Saint Andrew’s Rd, Singapore 178957. Visit its website for more information.
At Peranakan Museum, set foot into the culture of Peranakan communities in Southeast Asia and browse through their comprehensive collection of Peranakan objects. Since its reopening in February 2023, it has revamped itself to include contemporary expressions of Peranakan culture, as well as new installations aligned with their themes of origins, home, style, and identity.
Learning resources for kids are provided, such as the Anak Anak labels in the galleries which pose questions and spark active thinking. There's also an exploration zone on the 3rd floor to relax with your children.
Admission is free for Singaporeans/PRs (present your IC for verification purposes).
Open daily from 10am - 7pm (Fridays till 9pm), at 39 Armenian Street, Singapore 179941. Visit the website for more details.
SAM is currently at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, with a barrage of contemporary art installations by South-East Asians. These might be more suitable for teenagers aged 13 and above, in order to grasp concepts portrayed by abstract pieces.
Admission is free for Singaporeans.
Open from 10am-7pm daily, at 39 Keppel Rd, Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Singapore 089065. Visit their website for more details.
Calling all dinosaur and nature enthusiasts! Lee Kong Chian National History Museum (LKCNHM) comprises 15 thematic zones to enthrall you with the wildlife of Southeast Asia, from the beginning of time until now. With over 2,000 natural history specimens on display, immerse yourself in the visuals and sounds of our rich Southeast Asian biodiversity.
Open 10am-6pm (last entry 4.30pm) from Tues-Sun, at Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum Faculty of Science National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377.
Introduce your children to the mind-boggling yet fascinating world of STEM at Science Centre Singapore. Jam-packed with exhibitions and interactive activities, there's something for everyone, from dinosaurs to outer space. For the deep thinkers, you can discuss the ethics in STEM over a delicious dinner at the Science Café session. Enjoy 20% off your tickets with the code EARLYJULYCAFE (valid till 14 July).
Happening at 15 Science Centre Rd, Singapore 609081. Opening hours differs for each exhibition/activity. Check out their website for the full list of activities.
National Library Board's Read!Fest is going places for its 8th edition this year. Prepare yourself for an immersive and interactive pop-up showcase at Funan Mall, a charity book drive, author talks and many other programmes online, in libraries, a wet market, and a void deck of a housing block in Ang Mo Kio.
Read!Fest is ongoing from 23 June to 31 July 2023 at multiple locations. Visit their website for more information.
On L4 of the new Punggol Regional Library sits a permanent exhibition space featuring the history unique to Punggol. A collection of iconic memories presented through engaging infographics, these stories were contributed by members of the Punggol community for visitors to learn the rich history of Punggol.
Don’t miss the popular TinkerTots and Toy Library on L1, a learning and reading space for children aged six years and below, while Spark!Lab is a DIY tinkering space for seven to 12-year-olds. There’s also the World and Us Zone, featuring reading materials from around the world – including books donated by international libraries, Embassies and High Commissions – on themes such as geography, culture, and migration for children aged four to 12 years.
The Punggol Stories Installation is open from 10am to 9pm daily, L4 Punggol Regional Library, 1 Punggol Drive, One Punggol, Singapore 828629.
Pre-schooler publication Thumbs Up Little Junior celebrates its 10th birthday with a pop-up installation. You could call it a cardboard playground in the form of a yummy-looking "cake".
It is currently situated at Jurong Regional Library until July 30, before heading to Punggol Regional Library from Aug 5 to 25.