SingaporeMotherhood | Family Fun
October 2016
17 Awesome Activities for Kids to Enjoy This Children’s Day Weekend and Beyond
Not sure where to take the kids this Children’s Day? It’s only fair that you bring them somewhere they can have a ball of a time. Here are 17 activities that will be pure fun for little people.
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Ah, Children’s Day. It was probably the day everyone looked forward to when they were a child. This year, Children’s Day falls on Friday, 7 October, and we all know what that means – the celebration gets to last the entire weekend. (yay!) So where will you head to celebrate with the kiddos this weekend? Before you start tearing your hair out, here’s a list of 17 places which are holding special activities in lieu of Children’s Day (bless them) or are just plain child-friendly!
1. Let junior hone his imagination in a drama workshop at ACT 3 Drama Academy
This Children’s Day, ACT 3 Drama Academy is giving your kids the chance to celebrate their imaginations while revisiting classic tales such as The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland! Let your child take part in their special Children’s Day drama workshops which will get them involved in story-telling, dramatisation, role-playing, and improvisation. Children aged three to twelve will get to play their favourite characters from fairytales while coming up with their very own versions of the classics!
When: 7 October 2016, Friday, 10am – 12pm and 3.30pm – 5.30pm
Where: 126 Cairnhill Road, S229707
How much: $60
2. Be marvelled by the Future World exhibition at the ArtScience Museum
Say hello to the ArtScience Museum’s first ever permanent exhibition, Future World! Be prepared to be thrilled by the numerous interactive exhibitions and displays that will be entertaining for both the young and old. There are a total of 15 different works by award-winning Japanese art collective teamLab for little (and big) hands to tinker with!
The highlight? Crystal Universe! It will have you walking into a room filled with 170,000 LED lights – their colours can be changed using an interactive technology. Crystal Universe (above) is so mesmerising that you will find it hard to leave! Do also look out for the Light Ball Orchestra installation, an interactive exhibition which allows kids to move the lighted balls around, causing the balls to change colours. Movements from other areas send ripples of colour changes in different directions as well!
When: ongoing
Where: 6 Bayfront Avenue, S018974
How much: $6 per child and $13 per adult (kids under the age of 12 enter free with every adult ticket purchased on Fridays)
Opening hours: 10am – 7pm daily
3. Go bonkers over balloons at the Barnyard Balloon Festival at The Centrepoint
Does your little one simply adore balloons? He’s in for a treat then! Visit the super cute balloon animals at the Barnyard Balloon Festival that features sculptures created entirely from balloons by balloon sculptor Lily Tan who happens to be a Guinness World Record holder.
Also, don’t forget to join the mall’s Balloon-tastic photo contest. All you need to do is snap the most creative picture of your family and upload it on Facebook and Instagram to win attractive gift cards! If junior wants to get hands-on with balloons, there are balloon sculpting workshops (1pm to 2pm and 5pm to 6pm) you can sign him up for with a minimum spend of $10 at the mall.
When: 30 September – 9 October 2016
Where: Level 1 Atrium, 176 Orchard Road, S238843
How much: FREE
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm daily
4. Have a paw-some time at the Furry Fun Carnival at City Square Mall
Everyone’s favourite pup rescue team is here in Singapore for the very first time! They will be in town till Sunday, 9 October – that’s just perfect for celebrating Children’s Day with all the lucky kids in Singapore! At the Furry Fun Carnival, you can look forward to seeing life-sized PAW PATROL vehicles – Chase’s Cruiser, Marshall’s Fire Fighting Truck and Skye’s High Flying Copter. There are also other activities to take part in, such as the dog-themed inflatables, the Dog Pirate Ship and many more!
When: now till 9 October 2016, Sunday, 6pm – 10pm (Monday to Friday), 12pm – 10pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Where: Level 1 City Green (Outdoor Park), 180 Kitchener Road, S208539
How much: $4 per pax (entrance to the carnival is free)
5. Go on a child-friendly theatrical adventure at the Esplanade
This Children’s Day, head down to Singapore’s iconic durian shaped theatre for not one, but two awesome child-friendly performances which are part of Octoburst 2016! The Little Red Riding Hood and Introduction To The Nutcracker will be on during the Children’s Day weekend. The two classics have been reworked in order to suit younger audiences – yay!
Be prepared for an imaginative and interactive theatrical adventure with the Little Red Riding Hood as you follow the two characters running and chasing each other while playing a game of “what-if” and “pretend”. Look forward to who takes on the role of the infamous Big Bad Wolf as you experience the story in a way that it’s never told before.
Alternatively, you can choose to marvel at an amazing ballet performance by dancers from the Singapore Dance Theatre as they depict the tale of The Nutcracker. This hour-long performance will include your favourite characters like Clara, the Snow Queen, and the Sugar Plum Fairy. There will also be a meet-and-greet session after the performance for little ones to meet their favourite characters! Don’t forget to snap a picture too!
Little Red Riding Hood
When: 7 – 9 October 2016, Friday to Sunday
Timing: Friday: 4pm, Saturday: 11am, Sunday: 1pm
Where: Recital Studio, 1 Esplanade Drive, S038981
How much: $20 per pax
Introduction to The Nutcracker
When: 8 October 2016, Saturday, 1pm and 4pm
Where: Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Drive, S038981
How much: $12 per pax
6. Let your children be grown-ups for a day at KidZania Singapore
Kidzania Singapore is definitely the place to be for curious young ones ever since its official launch earlier in April this year. In case you aren’t aware of what Kidzania is all about, it’s basically an indoor family edutainment centre which offers an interactive learning and entertainment experience for children. All within a kid-sized city! Kidzania has in store over 80 role-play activities in its sprawling complex. Upon entering, you will be greeted by a full-wing fuselage of a Boeing 737!
The role-play activities are divided into categories such as Automotive, Culture and Entertainment, Industrial, Public Services, and Retail. The best part? Kidzania offers 20% off walk-in ticket prices every single Friday – just perfect for Children’s Day this year! So make your way down to the island of Sentosa with your kids and watch them have a ball of a time role-playing their dream occupations!
What else is happening here this October? Healthy Habits, Happy Homes! This is an inaugural programme to share tips on holistic healthy lifestyle habits for daily life. Kids and adults alike can look forward to a series of activities and three weekends (Saturday & Sunday; 1.30pm – 2.30pm and 3pm – 4pm) of talks from KidZania Singapore and 11 in-park partners from 7 to 23 October 2016. From talks on common childhood diseases to trivia hunts across the park, KidZania aims to inculcate good habits from young, and foster family bonding!
When: Fridays
Where: Palawan Kidz City, 31 Beach View, #01-01/02, S098008
How much: from $58
Opening hours: 10am – 8pm
(See also: How to Have the Best Experience at Kidzania Singapore!)
7. Unwind at the Families for Life Children’s Day picnic at The Lawn @Marina Bay
If you are drained from the work week and aren’t in the mood to exhaust your remaining energy, how about unwinding with your family at the Families For Life Children’s Day picnic? This fun-filled family event has a whole bunch of activities lined up to keep you and your children entertained. Your kids are going to have some serious fun with hands-on activities such as Kite Decoration, Mini Games and more!
There will also be music performances and a special outdoor screening of Kung Fu Panda 3! Although registration is closed, the event welcomes walk-ins. However, it is on a first-come-first-serve basis, so be quick!
When: 8 October 2016, Saturday, 5pm – 9.30pm
Where: 8A Marina Boulevard, S018984
How much: FREE
8. Have some spook-tacular fun at Legoland Malaysia’s Brick-or-Treat Halloween Party Nights
Boo! Are you ready for a spook-tacular Halloween celebration with the kids? Head to Legoland Malaysia and scare yourselves silly at Brick-or-Treat Halloween Party Nights then! You could go on the Brick-or-Treat Trail by following a path and completing a Halloween activity inside each hut to receive a limited edition Halloween commemorative brick. Meet and greet the theme park’s roving Halloween characters along the way! If your children are the bravest of the brave, step into a maze with them and beware of the LEGO characters who will be out to scare you! Count the spine chilling characters you meet and get a grand prize at the exit.
Guess what? If your tot is dressed in a full Halloween costume, he will get to enter the park for FREE!
When: 7 – 8, 14 – 15, 21 – 22, 28 – 29 October 2016, 4pm – 9pm
Where: 7 Jalan Legoland, Medini, 79100 Nusajaya, Johor, Malaysia
How much: RM 85 per pax (admission charges to the park apply)
Opening hours: 10am – 8pm
9. Sing along to an award-winning musical at the Mastercard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands
Is your child the sort who loves song and dance? If you are nodding, how about treating him to a watching a musical this Children’s Day? But which one, you ask? Why, it just so happens that the award-winning Broadway and West End production, WICKED – The Musical, is back in town! It’s definitely one that your whole family will love. If you need some convincing, check out these 10 reasons you should take your kids to watch WICKED – The Musical at Marina Bay Sands.
When: now till 20 November 2016
Where: Grand Theatre, MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, S018956
How much: from $55
10. Learn all about a different culture at the Peranakan Museum’s Straits Family Sunday
Head over to the Peranakan Museum this Children’s Day weekend for a full day of family fun! Starting from as early as 10:30am, there will be a wide range of activities as part of the Straits Family Sunday that will keep both parents and kids occupied. Children can look forward to activities such as Dress Up and crafting. Admire your kids as they dress themselves up in the beautiful Baba and Nyonya costumes and don’t forget to take Instagram worthy pictures!
The crafting sessions will let you and your kids have fun while creating your very own adorable bag tag! There will also be a performance by ACT 3 International from which you can learn more about Peranakan culture. Don’t miss the live demonstration of traditional Peranakan beading as well!
When: 9 October 2016, Sunday, 1pm – 5pm
Where: 39 Armenian Street, S179941
How much: FREE
11. Get hands-on at The Big Draw at Playeum’s Children’s Centre for Creativity
The Big Draw is specially for kids aged 1 – 12 and their families! This year’s festivities feature free activities revolving around the theme of STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics.
The programme line-up includes the Amazing Shapes Trail where children are invited to hunt for various shapes around Gillman Barracks while collecting stamps along the way, the tinkering activity Power Up Gillman with Imagin8ors where kids use recycled materials and LED lights for their creations, and puppet theatre-making with Come and Make which invites little ones to create their own puppets and tell their favourite story!
The Children’s Centre for Creativity will be open all day with free admission for all visitors to catch the final month of the ongoing exhibition ‘Hideaways – Creating with Nature’!
When: 9 October 2016, Sunday, 11am – 6pm
Where: 47 Malan Road, Gillman Barracks, S109444
How much: FREE
(See also: 6 Ways Kids Can Experience Nature at Hideaways)
12. Get closer to nature at the Young Learners’ Festival at Science Centre Singapore
Parents of science geeks, rejoice! There is a series of fun and educational activities lined up at the Science Centre Singapore as part of its latest edition of the Young Learners’ Festival. This year’s theme? Nature’s Explorers! Kids will get to participate in hands-on activities and bring home their very own handmade souvenirs. In addition, young ones will get to immerse themselves in the Eco Garden and be awed by a delightful experience with nature. There’s also a science show for curious young minds to look forward to!
When: 7 October 2016, Friday, 1.30pm – 5pm
Where: 15 Science Centre Road, S609081
How much: $2 per activity
Opening hours: 10am – 6pm
13. Celebrate Halloween with Spooky Seas at the S.E.A. Aquarium
For the whole month of October, S.E.A. Aquarium will be hosting a myriad of Halloween themed activities for the little ones. From 2.15pm – 4.15pm during the weekends, have your kids thrilled by the Underwater Show at the Open Ocean Habitat as part of Spooky Seas. Here, you can witness spooky Skeleton Wanderers as they descend to the depths of the ocean in search of the Sea Fairies!
There will also be a crafting session at the Ocean Gallery during which your kids can let their imaginations run wild as they come up with their very own original creations! While you are at the S.E.A. Aquarium, be sure not to miss the attraction’s mascot, Mai The Manta, or the eerie skeleton divers for fabulous photo opportunities!
When: 1- 31 October 2016
Where: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Resorts World Sentosa, S098269
How much: $18 per child and $30 per adult (Singapore residents)
Opening hours: 10am – 7pm daily
14. Go wild with free entry for kids to the Singapore Zoo, River Safari & Jurong Bird Park
In conjunction with Children’s Day, the Singapore Zoo, River Safari and Jurong Bird Park will make every child’s day with their Free Entry For Kids promotion! For the whole month of October, kids who are aged 12 and below can enjoy a complimentary pass to all three parks with every adult ticket purchased! The Singapore Zoo will also be hosting a wide range of activities for the little ones throughout October; they include Animal Trail Tours, Arts & Crafts sessions and Get-to-know The Animals sessions.
So bring your little ones closer to nature this October and have them marvel at the many wildlife species at three of Singapore’s biggest attractions. Don’t forget to say hi to Canola, a manatee residing in River Safari who is also the park’s very own icon! Enjoy the charm that Jurong Bird Park has to offer before it relocates to Mandai in 2020. And of course, visit the iconic Singapore Zoo, and say hello to the peacocks, elephants and the polar bears!
When: 1 – 31 October 2016
Where: Singapore Zoo & River Safari: 80 Mandai Lake Road, S729826, Jurong Bird Park: 2 Jurong Hill, S628925
How much: FREE for kids under 12 with every adult ticket purchased
Opening hours: 8.30am – 6pm daily
15. Try your hand at modern farming at the Kiddie Carnival at Urban Farm & Barn
Urban Farm & Barn, located at the peak of Bukit Panjang Hill, will be organising two days worth of Children’s Day activities this weekend! Walk into a colourful Garden Carnival that consists of many different stalls with activities that will guarantee fun for children of all ages. These educational activities include playing with play-dough, creating seed bombs and planting crops! Has that gotten you excited? Come on down to the West side of Singapore for some jam-packed family fun!
When: 8 – 9 October 2016, Saturday & Sunday, 1pm – 6pm
Where: off Petir Road, Bukit Panjang Hill
Phone: 6526 7226
16. Make a donation to the Singapore Children’s Society while dining at The White Rabbit
The White Rabbit has been known to attract families with its family-friendly dining options and special events for occasions such as Mother’s Day, Christmas and Easter. This Children’s Day, the good people at The White Rabbit will be partnering with the Singapore Children’s Society (SCS) for a fundraising project. $5 from the price of every à la carte dessert ordered from now till 30 October 2016 will be donated to the SCS.
This project is held in conjunction with Children’s Day with an aim to raise awareness for children in need. It is also part of The White Rabbit’s plans to work more closely with charities in order help the underprivileged. Got a sweet tooth? Do some good while satisfying your dessert cravings then!
When: now till 30 October 2016
Where: 39C Harding Road, S249541
Opening hours: 12pm – 2.30pm and 6.30pm – 10.30pm daily
17. Enter and be amazed by the Magical Balloon World at Yew Tee Point
Ardent little fans of fairytales will be squealing in delight at this visual spectacle. Brace yourselves to step into a magical world of balloons! Once Upon An Enchanted Time at Yew Tee Point features all-time favourite characters from beloved fairytales such as Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, Jack and The Beanstalk, Beauty and The Beast, Alice in Wonderland and Little Red Riding Hood. Get this – they are all entirely sculpted from balloons! Plenty of photo-taking opportunities here for sure! And no sharp objects, please.
When: now till 9 October 2016, Sunday, 12pm – 8pm
Where: Level 1 Atrium, 21 Choa Chu Kang North 6, S689578
How much: FREE
Text: Aisyah Amin, Trip101.com. Additional text: Uma Nathan. We hope this action-packed list has inspired you to have a great Children’s Day weekend with your kids. However, if you’re still looking for more family-friendly activities, check out this article for more things to do with your kids in Singapore.
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