SingaporeMotherhood | Family Fun
November 2021
20+ Exciting Year-end School Holiday Activities – Let’s End 2021 on a High!
After more than 11 roller-coaster months, we’re all ready to call it a year. But until 2022 actually rolls around, help your children make precious memories with these exciting year-end school holiday activities. They deserve it, and so do you! Whether you’re raring to get out and play or would rather stay home and chill, there are choices aplenty. Ready to get started?
FOR FUN UNDER THE SUN
1. KAWS:Holiday Singapore
You probably heard about the fiasco over this 42-metre-long inflatable cuteness down at Marina Bay. The courts had prevented the event from opening, but one day after its original launch date, gave it the green light. Thank goodness, because 2021 could do with more feel-good moments, don’t you agree? This adorable installation is American pop artist and father-of-two, Brian Donnelly a.k.a KAWS‘ signature Companion character. And it’s waiting to meet you and star in your Reels and TikToks!
16 to 21 November, 2pm – 9pm, The Float @ Marina Bay, free entry. More details here.
2. Jumptopia: Holiday Village
Good news! Kiztopia joins hands with Klook to bring back the second edition of its bouncy castle carnival. Spanning over 44,000 sqf, Jumptopia: Holiday Village is three times as big as the first edition — triple the fun! Jump to your heart’s content in 15 bouncy castles, including mazes, swings, slides, and even a ‘rock’-climbing wall. There’s an Adventure Zone for older kids and adults, complete with Zorb Racer and Bumper Challenge. A Toddlers Zone also ensures the little ones from one to three years won’t miss out.
19 November 2021 to 2 January 2022, 10am – 9pm, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, from $26 per person. More details here.
3. All Stars Superheroes Skate Camp
Whether your kids are veteran rollerbladers or complete rookies, they’ll love All Stars Superheroes Skate Camp. This popular school holiday camp offers an adventure on wheels and the chance to de-stress after a tough school year. Conducted by professional instructors from Skate With Us, it’s suitable for kids from 3 to 12 years. Camp fees also include inline skates, helmet and other protective gear, snacks and beverages, and a wet weather guarantee.
Selected dates from 22 November to 30 December, 9.30am – 5pm, Bishan Park/National Stadium/West Coast Park, from $228 per child. More details here.
(See also: Seriously Fun Skateboarding Lessons for Kids in Singapore)
4. Arts in Your Neighbourhood
In a blend of physical and digital programmes, Arts in Your Neighbourhood (AYN) transforms everyday spaces into art canvasses. Reimagine the heartlands in Tales Under the Neon Trees and trace the evolution of Jurong in A Fisherman’s Dream. Add your artwork to a digital aviary in The Bird Colouring Social Club and step into a Livelyyy augmented reality. This latest edition of AYN casts the spotlight on Bukit Merah, Jurong, Marine Parade, Serangoon, and Tampines.
Till 28 November, various venues, free entry. More details here.
5. Diving & Artistic Swimming Holiday Programmes
Does your kid already love to swim? If they can swim at least 25m in freestyle or breaststroke, why not introduce them to diving or artistic swimming? This school holidays, dive into a new sport or learn to dance underwater like our athletes did at Tokyo 2020. The diving programme is open to 6- to 13-year-olds, and at least 8 years to join artistic swimming. Both holiday programmes comprise a 10-session curriculum. Who knows? You may have an Olympic medallist in the making!
10 sessions from 29 November to 17 December, 10am – 11.30am, OCBC Aquatic Centre, $500 per child. More details here.
6. D’Ultimate XCape Carnival
The carnival at D’Ultimate XCape at Downtown East is in full swing. Uncle Ringo’s all-time favourite carnival rides are back, alongside classic carnival game booths. For a bouncy good time, head over to the Dino Inflatable Park, featuring a 10-metre-high inflatable water slide. Take part in craft workshops with Fara Design Studio at sustainable art gallery Galleria. And capture Insta-worthy art installation Lumi Towers, which guards over the SHOWroom pop-up container hotels. Speaking of, why not turn your carnival outing into a family staycation?
Till 20 March 2022, 12nn – 9.30pm during the school holidays, Downtown East’s Begonia Open Air Carpark. More details here.
(See also: 13 Places to Tackle Bouldering and Rock Climbing for Kids (+ Elliott Goes Upwall Climbing!))
7. Brickosaurs World
Did you know that Jurassic Park has just landed at the Singapore Zoo and River Wonders? Well, close enough, since you can get up close with a massive T-Rex and tiny raptors. In fact, you’ll meet over 60 life-size dinosaurs in Asia’s first-ever Brickosaurs World showcase. These prehistoric creatures took 8,548 hours to construct, using 1.5 million LEGO bricks! Embark on an immersive digital trail, dig for fossils, join craft workshops, and shop at the LEGO pop-up store. Every child ticket comes with a complimentary exclusive LEGO Minifigure too!
Till 3 May 2022, 10am to 6pm daily, Singapore Zoo & River Wonders, standard ticketing applies (40% off combo admission till 24 December). More details here.
8. Trashy Art 2021
Want to win cash vouchers and have your masterpiece exhibited at a PAssion Wave outlet for a year? Take part in Trashy Art 2021, the first-ever virtual contest organised by Project Blue Wave. Simply go on field trips to beaches, parks, and waterways around Singapore to collect trash. Then give it a new lease of life by turning it into a piece of art. The contest is open to individuals and groups of up to four people. Sounds like a perfect school holiday conservation project for the whole family, don’t you think?
Online submissions open till 30 November, free entry. More details here.
(See also: 10 Places to Volunteer with Kids in Singapore)
WHO SAYS MUSEUMS ARE BORING?
9. Children’s Season at the National Museum 2021: Get Curious! Stories of You & Me
Gear up for a fun-filled school holidays at the National Museum because Children’s Season is back! Explore Our Home and Our School, two interactive installations that showcase how home and school experiences have evolved. Have fun at storytelling and crafting sessions, playing games, writing to a senior pen-pal, and designing your dream uniform. Plus, meet Dennis the Otter, pick up a “Fantastic Critters” activity booklet and redeem limited edition prizes!
20 November to 26 December, 10am – 7pm, National Museum of Singapore, free entry (activity fees apply). More details here.
10. Fantastic Creatures at ACM – Children’s Season 2021
Pick up an activity trail booklet and go on a search for fantastic creatures at the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM). Each kid who completes the trail can redeem an Amazing Animals! DIY Puzzle Kit, while stocks last. There’ll also be immersive storytelling, child-friendly workshops, and engaging craft activities. This school holidays, explore a world where creatures real and mythical roam via activities both on-site and online.
20 November to 31 December, 10am – 7pm, Asian Civilisations Museum, free entry. More details here.
11. SDC 25th Anniversary Celebrations: Paper
Take part in a line-up of engaging activities and help commemorate Singapore Discovery Centre’s Silver Jubilee. Reimagine the Singapore Story with a paper art installation and then get crafty with paper. Next, follow the Kan Cheong Spider trail and take snapshots with SingaPAW standees to win exclusive prizes. Children from 5 to 10 years can also join Little Critters and Little Planters workshops. Collect complimentary Carnival Booklets and go wild with giant game booths, carnival snacks, and SingaPaw temporary tattoos! As the sun sets, gazing at the floating light installation on Discovery Lake will complete your day.
20 November 2021 to 3 January 2022, 11am – 8pm, Singapore Discovery Centre, free entry (activity fees apply). More details here.
12. Mini Holiday Camp: All About Sounds
For an exciting hands-on experience, join ArtScience Museum’s Mini Holiday Camp: All About Sounds. Journey through the galleries with in-house education specialists and engage in mini activities and fun demonstrations. Kids from five years and up get to create their own sound machine and become part of Orchestral Manoeuvres: See Sound. Feel Sound. Be Sound, the latest exhibition at the ArtScience Museum. While you’re there, catch a festival of live and virtual music performances that runs till 24 November.
23 & 30 November, 10.15am – 12.45pm, ArtScience Museum, $48 per child (includes 1 accompanying adult). More details here.
(See also: Virtual Realms: Videogames Transformed at the ArtScience Museum)
13. UNTAME & KidsSTOP Academy
There’s lots going on at Science Centre Singapore this school holidays. For starters, be part of a record-breaking event to reboot the world at UNTAME Day (20-28 Nov). Then see your favourite exhibits in a new light at UNTAME After Dark (3-5 Dec). KidsSTOP Academy Activities Week returns on weekdays (22 Nov – 17 Dec) to keep children from 3 to 8 years edutained. Older kids, journey back to see Dinosaurs of Antarctica at the Omni-Theatre. Then catch the roving Dinosaur mascot (20-21 Nov) to win exclusive merchandise.
Till 17 December, 10am – 7pm, Science Centre Singapore, standard ticketing applies. More details here.
14. PSM50: Celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Singapore’s Preservation Journey
Did you know that Singapore has been preserving precious historic buildings for 50 years? To commemorate this milestone, head down to one of our most iconic landmarks to learn more. PSM50 covers different aspects of preserving and celebrating all 73 National Monuments to date. Rediscover the 73rd — the Singapore River Bridges — and the soon-to-be gazetted as 74th — the Padang. Highlights include 3D models, artworks, pinholes to the past, and a VR experience of the Former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.
Till 2 January 2022, 10am – 7pm, National Museum of Singapore, free entry. More details here.
15. Otah & Friends: Camp Stardust
This school holiday, lace up your boots for a forest camping adventure at Camp Stardust. Be a Stardust Scout, navigate mazes with Otah, and earn courage badges to help a fallen star grow and glow. You’ll also meet Otah’s new friend, Sambal the Sambar deer, inspired by the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings. This is the fourth and largest and arguably the most fun Otah & Friends escape room to date! In case you were wondering, Otah & Friends: Blast Off at Gardens by the Bay and Otah & Friends: Grocery Run at Suntec City are still running too.
Till 20 March 2022, 10am – 7pm, National Museum of Singapore, from $19 per person. More details here.
(See also: Play Hide and Seek with Otah! (Otah & Friends: Volume 1))
16. Gallery Children’s Biennale 2021
Back in May, we witnessed the successful launch of the digital format of Gallery Children’s Biennale. National Gallery Singapore now invites kids to embark on an inspiring multi-sensory exploration of nine on-site installations. Each complements the online experience and theme of “Why Art Matters” in a tactile and interactive way. Kids can build their own cardboard homes, express themselves through magnetic fossils, contribute stories, and take part in storytelling sessions, sonic exploration workshops, and more.
Till December 2022, 10am – 7pm, National Gallery Singapore, free entry. More details here.
DECK THE MALLS WITH FUN AND LEARNING
17. NLB Experience Lab & Digital Doors
You may have already taken selfies with immersive wallpapers featuring National Library Board (NLB) eResources in 12 malls islandwide. Now journey even deeper via immersive installations that are roving from mall to mall. Take an audio-visual carousel ride to Korea or Paris and discover life-sized sculptures with nature-themed eReads. Go into the past and the future through Digital Doors and collect exclusive LAB25 Book Bugs postcards each week. Rediscover the joy of learning and discovery this school hols!
Till 19 December, various malls islandwide, free entry. More details here.
18. POP MART Molly’s 15th Birthday Party
Together with POP MART, CapitaLand is throwing pop art sensation Molly the biggest anniversary celebration across Southeast Asia this year-end. Discover Molly’s fantasy worlds in four thematic backdrops based on the series. It’s gonna be a Yummy Party at IMM, JCube, Junction 8, Plaza Singapura, and Westgate. Over at Bedok Mall, Bukit Panjang Plaza, Lot One, and Tampines Mall, explore One Day of Molly. Get nostalgic with Molly My Childhood at Aperia, Bugis Junction, Bugis+, Bugis Street, and SingPost centre. Finally, blast into space with Space Molly at Funan. There’ll be loads of shopping deals, photo ops, and games with prizes to win.
Till 31 December, CapitaLand malls, free entry. More details here.
(See also: Noteworthy November: What’s In, Out, and About for Families in Singapore)
TAKE TIME OUT FOR A STAYCATION
19. Family Funtastic Staycation at The Fullerton Hotels Singapore
Book a fun-tastic staycation at The Fullerton Hotels Singapore and enjoy specially tailored activities for the whole family. Children get special amenities such as ice cream passes, colouring activity sets, and Merlion Art Statue kits. They can also look forward to a range of exciting new activities from farm tours to koi fish feeding. More exclusive privileges include daily breakfast for two adults and two children, and 20 per cent off spa treatments.
22 November to 30 December, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore & The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore. More details here and here.
20. Gamers Staycay at Orchard Hotel Singapore
Are you a gaming family? If so, this 3D2N Gamers Staycay is perfect for you. You get to train with some of the world’s best in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, FIFA, E-racing, and Brawl Stars. Then harness your family’s prowess and pit your skills against fellow gamers to win attractive prizes in mini tournaments. Gaming guests enjoy two nights’ stay, daily breakfast, and daily $20 dining credit. Children under 12 years also dine for free at Christmas Buffet Dinner with every paying adult.
Selected dates from 26 November to 19 December, Orchard Hotel Singapore, from $400++. More details here.
21. Snow City Ice Hotel Gallery
Always wanted to experience staying at an ice hotel in Sweden, Norway, or Finland? Satisfy that winter wanderlust at Singapore’s first Ice Hotel Gallery. In a frosty -5 degrees Celsius setting, enjoy a drink at the Ice Bar, have a ‘daycation’ in the Hotel Room, and admire intricate ice sculptures. Okay, we admit, this isn’t exactly a staycation, but on the plus side, you can thaw out under the tropical sun when it gets too chilly! Admission includes access to the rest of Snow City, including the Snow Field and Arctic Snow Slide.
Till 31 December, 10am – 6pm during the school holidays, Snow City Singapore, from $17 per person (up to 20% discount on bundles). More details here.
(See also: Marina Bay Sands Staycation Review & Tips: have the best time with Family and Kids at MBS)
BONUS #STAYHOME GOODNESS
:: NEW! :: Kids Code with Apple
Coding is a useful 21st-Century skill for kids to learn. If you’re thinking of starting your little one on it, Apple has free virtual online coding sessions that kids aged eight to 12 years can easily follow on their own. Together with Apple facilitators, they’ll use the Swift Playgrounds app to learn how to programme instructions to move an adorable character named Byte. Once they’ve learnt the basics, download the free activity guide and watch the kids get creative!
Till 31 December, online. Sign up for the free Kids Code with Apple sessions here.
22. Playeum’s Everyday Creativity Festival 2021
Creativity isn’t just about the arts. To show that it is relevant to everyday life, Playeum is proud to present the inaugural Everyday Creativity Festival. The fully digital festival comprises a mix of guest sharing sessions, experiential workshops, and virtual play sessions for all. Playeum At Home returns to engage kids and their adults to create with everyday materials to solve real-life problems. All events are free, so if you can, do donate to help support their work with children from marginalised backgrounds.
18 November to 11 December, online, free. More details here.
23. Between the World and Us – A Think! Contemporary Primary School Virtual Exhibition
Singapore Art Museum’s Think! Contemporary Programme goes online for the first time in nine years. It features 18 artworks on the diverse experiences of Primary Four students in the time of the pandemic. Explore the thoughts of students from CHIJ Our Lady Queen of Peace, Geylang Methodist Primary, Haig Girls’, Mayflower Primary, and St Anthony’s Primary schools. At the same time, join the virtual art hunt (18 Nov – 10 Dec) and stand to win prizes!
18 November 2021 to 31 March 2022, online, free. More details here.
(See also: Have a Wacky Vacation with Nickelodeon this School Holidays!)
24. The Explorer Project
Follow Shaun, a black-naped oriole, in an exhilarating flight across our sunny island in Singapore Art Museum’s new intergalactic comic. It was illustrated by Annuendo, who was inspired by the relocation of The Explorer, a sculpture by Cultural Medallion recipient, Ng Eng Teng. On launch day (20 Nov), go on an accompanying interactive adventure with storyteller Kiran Shah. Then join visual storyteller Darel Seow in Fun with Sculptures (27 Nov), a digital workshop for kids.
20 November to 31 December, online, free (pre-register for activities). More details here.
25. Bazaar In the Garden @ Jurong Lake Gardens
Jurong Lake Garden’s signature event is back, and it’s gone virtual. Kickstart your day with a series of children’s programmes, from storytelling sessions about squirrels to learning about keeping guinea pigs. And don’t miss meeting Ottie the Otter! In the afternoon, join a talk on growing edibles in your high-rise apartment and gardening Q&A session with in-house horticulturist. Slots are limited, so register soon.
27 November, 9am – 4pm, online, free. More details here.
26. Māori-inspired Games for Kids
Remember all the fun we had with local childhood games, such as five stones, kuti-kuti, and chapteh? During #stayhome days this school holidays, try childhood games from another country. In Māori culture, many children’s games are rooted in the art of defending against warfare and weaponry. Tourism New Zealand shares fun games you can play at home with your brave little warriors. Click the links below to find out how to play!
- Tītītōrea – Dating back hundreds of years, this traditional game was played by warriors to improve hand-eye coordination. It involves two or more players passing two sticks according to rhythmic music.
- Hei tama tū tama – Proving that you don’t need much to have fun, Hei tama tū tama is a memory game only requiring your hands. It is one of many hand games called Tākaro ā-ringa that were designed to encourage mental dexterity.
- Whai – The origin of Whai is accredited to Māui (yes, the very same from Moana!), a demigod and hero of the Māori. Similar to our local Cat’s Cradle, players sharpen manual dexterity while creating simple to complex patterns with just a piece of string.
(See also: 15 Old School Games to Play with Your Grandparents)
Featured image: Brickosaurs World, Mandai Wildlife Reserve
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