100 Holiday Activities for Kids (Part 4)

Finally, we approach the finish line! We hope that you have found the list to be useful thus far. :)

Part ONE is here, Part TWO is here and Part THREE is here.

On with the LIST!

During school holidays, most PLACES OF INTEREST in Singapore become a flurry of activity -with loads of holiday programmes targeted at the young ones.

76. Zoo Hoo! at the Singapore Zoo

Lots and lots and lots of ZOO HOO! Fun is happening at the Singapore Zoo from 19 Nov to 18 Dec 2011 (Weekends only). Click on the picture below for more details!

In addition, kids between 5 to 12 years old can apply to be a Kidzranger! Don a special Kidzranger vest, pin on a Kidzranger pin and experience the life of a zookeeper in this fun-filled 1 hour tour. Details as follow:

Venue: Rainforest Kidzworld
Date: Weekends only
Time: 10.30am & 3pm
Price: $10 (excluding Zoo admission)


77. Hatch Day Eggs-travaganza at Jurong Bird Park

Dates: 3-25 December (Saturdays and Sundays only)
Activities are free but usual Park admission rates apply

The newest attraction to the Bird Park opens on 22 Nov - the Birdz of Play waterplay area! Woot! We must definitely pay it a visit soon!

And there are lots of other activities to celebrate the hatching of this new addition!

Hatch Day Party
Kids will meet the cuddly and friendly egg mascots, Dodo and Didi at this free party. Both guardians in the Land of Eggs, they are overjoyed about a beautiful and exotic egg that they have uncovered. With the help of a magical stethoscope, Dodo has determined that today will be the day that this rare and beautiful egg hatches! Kids will also watch a magic show by the Egg Wizard and learn how to perform Dodo and Didi’s signature egg dance.
Time: 12.00noon
Venue: Birdz of Play

Join the Water Dippers at Waterplay!
Come have a bucket of laughs with the Water Dippers! Dressed in wet suits, big snorkel masks and flippers, the Water Dippers will entertain with heaps of physical comedy and slapstick antics. Armed with water guns and water buckets, they will play with the kids at the wet play area for a splashing fun time.
Time: 11:30am and 12:45pm
Venue: Birdz of Play

Eggnimal Craft Booth
Kids can show off their brilliant art-and-craft skills and learn how to make adorable animals and birds out of plastic eggs.
Time: 10am – 4pm
Venue: Birdz of Play

Send your Egg-mas Greetings
With Christmas just round the corner, kids can visit the booth to design their very own Eggmas e-card and send their personalised Christmas greetings to friends and family for free!
Time: 10am – 4pm
Venue: Entrance of Jurong Bird Park

Meet & Greet Dodo and Didi
Kids will get a chance to come up close to the cuddly egg mascots, Dodo and Didi, and take a fun picture with them.
Time: 9:30-10:00am and 3:30-4:00pm
Venue: Entrance of Jurong Bird Park and Birdz of Play

Meet the Birds
At this session, kids will get to meet our talking Amazon parrot, Quincy and come up close and take a photo with our beautiful cockatoo and macaw.
Date: 17, 18, 24, 25 December
Time: 2:00pm – 2:30pm
Venue: Birdz of Play


78. Looking for something unique, and perhaps a tad weird? Try Haw Par Villa.

I'm sure all the Daddies & Mummies who grew up in Singapore do remember this place along Pasir Panjang Road. This Chinese mythological theme park - if it can be called one -  contains over 1,000 statues and 150 giant tableaux centered around Chinese folklore, legends, history, and Confucian ideology.

With the Circle Line now right at its doorstep, it is so convenient to bring the kids to re-visit their parents' childhood memories. Pity they can't make the MRT run through the Ten Courts of Hell, eh?
- Opening Hours: 9am to 7pm (Admission is FREE)


79. Escape the heat at Snow City

Go sliding down a 60-metre long snow slope, or just let the kids have fun at the Little Penguin's Snowy Children Playground where a slide and mini house will keep them entertained.

For more information, click here: http://www.snowcity.com.sg/snowcity2/index.php or read about our past experience: http://cheekiemonkie.blogspot.com/2008/12/snowplay.html


80. Escape the heat too, at Wild Wild Wet

If the kids prefer to keep cool by getting drenched instead of freezing, then the huge Waterpark at Wild Wild Wet will be perfect! And for the month of December (Weekends only), take part in 4 Mr. Men & Little Miss Telematches to win prizes.

Click here: http://www.wildwildwet.com/ for more information or read about the fun we had here: http://cheekiemonkie.blogspot.com/2009/01/wet-wet-wild.html


81. Go all playful at Singapore Discovery Centre

From now til 8 Jan 2012, check out a new exhibition titled, "YOURS PLAYfully, Singapore" where the word PLAY is showcased in many forms. Learn more about the simple childhood games that our parents and grandparents played, and even present games like dance dance revolution & kinect games! There's also a giant slide that adults can slide down too.

For more information, visit here: http://www.sdc.com.sg/whatsnew.html


82. Learn more about Chinese culture at the A Moving Masterpiece: The Song Dynasty as Living Art Exhibition

A Moving Masterpiece: The Song Dynasty As Living Art is a stunning and ‘moving’ technological showcase of the historic Song Dynasty painting, “Qing Ming Shang He Tu”, a 128m by 6.5m animated reproduction with moving and talking characters which was the hit of the China Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo last year.

Combining the best of art and technology, the exhibition will be presented in an immersive and engaging way for visitors and is suitable for school-going children. Details as follow:

Dates: 7 Dec 2011 to 6 Feb 2012
Time: Mon - Fri: 12pm to 9pm and Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: 9am to 9pm
Venue: Singapore Expo Hall 3
Ticketing: Click here - http://www.amovingmasterpiece.com/visitors.html

Click here: http://www.amovingmasterpiece.com/index.html for more information.


83. Christmas at Sentosa Boardwalk

- Merry Marionettes: Join skating elves, dancing penguins and clowns in a very special Christmas puppet show for the whole family!
Dates: Every Sat & Sun in Nov; Every Fri, Sat & Sun in Dec til 25 Dec
Time: 7pm & 8.30pm

- Circus Swingapore: Catch the circus performances and open trial sessions on trapeze & aerial hoops!
Dates: Every Sat & Sun in Nov; Every Fri, Sat & Sun in Dec til 11 Dec
Time: 6.30pm to 10pm


84. See how Storytelling Comes Alive! at Sentosa

Returning once again, let kids immerse in the stories of Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks & the 3 Bears and Pinocchio which are narrated with a giant story book & puppetry.

Dates: 26 Nov - 26 Dec (Every Wed - Sun)
Venue: Images of Singapore Forecourt, Sentosa
Story Times: 11.30am, 2.30pm & 5pm


85. Shop for interesting produce at the Farmers' Market at Loewen Gardens.

It only happens on the first and third Saturdays every month (8.30am to 2pm) at this section of Tanglin Village at Dempsey. And the stuff that are on sale there are stuff that one doesn't usually find at the supermarket - from gourmet meats, wines, organic vegetables, cheeses, and homebaked goods.

For the month of December, there is only ONE market date scheduled due to the festive season. And it's on 10 December between 8.30am to 2pm, where the Yule Market will be filled with carol singing, Christmas goodies and even a jazz band!

And in case you can't make it, there's also a Farmers' Market held at 60 Robertson Quay on 26 November as well!

Check out our Market experience here: http://cheekiemonkie.blogspot.com/2010/06/transformers-in-farmers-market.html


86. Zip through the forest with Forest Adventure at Bedok Reservoir

If you are like us monkies, who can't seem to keep still, then maybe maybe going through an aerial course built through trees comprising of ladders, swings, trapezes, nets and zip lines might just be the answer!

I went on the Mini Obstacle course some time back, and I've already told Daddy I am itching to try out the Kids' Course at the Bedok Reservoir one! And now, di-di can join me too because he too has reached the minimum height of 1.1m. For older kids who are above 1.4m, they can start on the Grand Course (read: more thrilling, more excitement, more fun!).

Forest Adventure is located within Bedok Reservoir Park. If you are driving, use Carpark A on Bedok Reservoir Road. Opening hours are from 10am to 6pm daily (except Mondays). For more information regarding prices, click HERE.


87. Transform into a speed demon at Kartright Speedway

Located at 511 Upper Jurong Road, let older kids experience the thrills of go-karting on a 750-metre long karting race track. Do note though the minimum height requirement is 1.40m.

For more information, kindly visit Kartright Speedway's website.

88. Or if you prefer to let someone else to do the driving, the Duck Tours should be a good bet.

Get all amphibian as the kids get ready to embark on a land and sea adventure on a amphibious emodelled war craft.

Photo courtesy of www.ducktours.com.sg

Tickets cost $33 for an Adult, $17 for a Child and $2 for toddlers (Age 2 & below).


89. Go on a guided Nature Walk.

Organised by the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, the walks allow participants to explore and learn about the nature in wild places in Singapore. Public Walks organised include Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Pulau Hantu, Bt Timah Nature Reserve and Sisters Island.

For more details, please click here: http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/workshop/nature_walks.html#public
*Do note that for ALL walks, only children aged 7 years and above may attend.


90. Go Island Hopping to Kusu Island and St John's Island.

Who says we can't island hop in Singapore?

Go visit the Wishing Well and Tortoise Sanctuary on Kusu Island or if you fancy a different kind of beach getaway, stay in a Holiday Bungalow on St John's Island.

To get to the Islands, purchase the ferry tickets at Marina South Pier. It costs $15 for an Adult & $12 for a child (1-12 yrs old) per return trip to one Island. For more information regarding ferry schedule, click here: http://www.islandcruise.com.sg/


And if you still can't get enough of Nature, then there are even more PARKS in Singapore that appeal to kids too.

91. Go trekking or cycling along the Southern Ridges.

The Southern Ridges comprise of a 9km chain of green & open spaces that span the rolling hills of Mt Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, Kent Ridge Park before ending at West Coast Park. Phew, sounds tiring! But fret not, one can choose to enter at different connections to the Ridges - of which the Henderson Waves and Alexandra Arch are the two which are the more prominent ones.

We attempted the Henderson Waves a few years back (http://cheekiemonkie.blogspot.com/2008/08/riding-waves.html) so I guess it is high time we pay a visit back again soon. And this time, we shall go on the Forest and Canopy Walk!

For more details regarding the different trails at the Southern Ridges, click HERE. It even has very useful pdf DIY e-guides for downloads too.


92. And if you need more jungle-bashing nature-trekking, then the TreeTop Walk at MacRitchie Reservoir Park is ideal.

The TreeTop Walk is a free-standing suspension bridge that connects the 2 highest points in MacRitchie and offers a bird's eye view of the community of the plants and animals that live in the forest canopy.The total length of the walkway is 250m and the highest height from the forest floor is at 25m.

But do take note that distance to the entrance of the TreeTop Walk is 4.5km (1.5-2 hours walk) from the MacRitchie Reservoir Park and 2.5km (45min-1 hour walk) from the carpark at Venus Drive. And that is only ONE-way. Which probably explains why Daddy hasn't brought us there yet. :P

The TreeTop Walk is open from Tuesdays to Fridays between 9am to 5pm and Weekends between 8.30am to 5pm. It is closed on Mondays, except for public holidays.


93. Go to the newest Park in town - the Punggol Point Park.

Opening hot on the heels of Punggol Riverside Promenade and Punggol Waterway (as mentioned in our 100 Holiday Activities for Kids - Part 2),  Punggol Point Park is the newest addition to the Punggol Promenade family.

It has 2 giant lily ponds, a sand-filled kids playground and a viewing deck that offers views of Pulau Ubin and Straits of Johor.  Also, it has the 1.2km Punggol Point Walk which links up to the Punggol Riverside Promenade next year when the middle section (Nature Walk) opens.

Map courtesy of The Straits Times

94. Go fly a kite at Marina Barrage.

Well, actually not necessarily to fly a kite but that's what most people do at the Marina Barrage. But picnicking and admiring the spectacular sunset, or just letting the kids run free on the vast open grass, are just as enjoyable family activities too!

It certainly makes for good photo-taking too... because the last time when we were there, Daddy took this photo which remains as one of his faves til today.

95. And since we are in the midst of the School Holidays, why not forgo some sleep and join in the hustle and bustle at the Jurong Fishery Port?

Take in the sights, sounds and of course smells at the Jurong Fishery Port where it really comes alive after midnight when all the fishing vessels start to unload their day's catch. Just the sight of so many different types of fishes and how the auction of fishes are done should be enough to offset the lack of sleep

Don't go too late though... erm, like us. We went there after the sun has arisen and well, this is what we saw.

All CLOSED! At least the smell was still lingering in the air. Heh.

But we did see the many fishing vessels that were docked at the port, with their numerous boxes of seafood stacked on top of one another.

96. Have a superb waterplay time at our public Swimming Complexes.

Our public Swimming Complexes around the island have been spruced up over the years, with some of them  boasting fun water facilities comparable to Wild Wild Wet at Downtown East.

Think Wave Pools, Tall Spiraling Water Slides, Lazy Rivers, River Rapids, Water Playgrounds, Toddlers' Pools - you will find them at some of the newer swimming complexes. And with admission fees ranging between $1-$2 for an Adult & $0.50-$1 for a Child, it's a no-brainer.

These are the ones worth checking out: Choa Chu Kang Swimming Complex, Jurong East Swimming Complex (http://cheekiemonkie.blogspot.com/2010/04/swimming-song-song-ke-jurong.html), Sengkang Swimming Complex and the newly-opened Pasir Ris Swimming Complex.


97. Bowl over the kids with Kids Bowling!

There are quite a number of bowling alleys in Singapore that cater to kids, like the ones at Orchid Bowl at E!Hub, SAFRA Yishun, SAFRA Tampines, The Chevrons & Orchid Country Club, as well as Kallang Bowl at Kallang Leisure Park.

These bowling alleys have bowling balls which are light enough for kids to use and are equipped with side bumpers so that kids would be able to hit some pins and wouldn't be rolling money down the longkang, literally.


98. You don't have to fly to enjoy Changi Airport.

We love going down to the Changi Airport - not because we love to jet off to another country (well, we loved that too actually but that's besides the point. :P) - but because we love the open spaces there, especially in T3.

From the Aviation Gallery, Interactive Art Booths, Kids Playground to Singapore's tallest indoor slide (12m high! Gulp!), we never get bored during our time at Changi Airport. Oh, and there's still the skytrain for us to take too!

For more information, please visit http://www.changiairport.com/at-changi/fun-for-the-kids.


99. Audition to be the next star percussionist with Urban Drum Kids.

Urban Drum Kids is a new percussion initiative started by Urban Drum Crew, a local percussion group that plays many different percussive instruments and music.

Photo courtesy of www.urbandrumcrew.com

Urban Drum Crew have performed for a variety of corporate, community and governmental events locally (F1 Grand Prix 2008 & 2009, Temasek Holdings, Singapore Youth Olympic Games, etc) and overseas (Midosuji Parade: Osaka Japan, Sacheon International Percussion Festival in South Korea).

And now, they are looking for kids aged 6-12 years old to form a Urban Drum Kids group, who will be trained and given the opportunity to perform professionally thereafter.

Visit this website: http://www.urbandrumkids.com for more details of the Audition and to sign up for it.


100. Catch a movie at the Cinemas

If all else fails (and the weather too), there is always the Cinema for the kids to catch a cartoon this holiday season.

Movies showing now: The Adventures of TinTin, Happy Feet 2, Barney's Big World Adventure (only at Cathay Cineleisure Orchard & AMK Hub).
Opening on 24 Nov: Puss In Boots
Opening on 1 Dec: Arthur Christmas
Opening on 8 Dec: The Muppets
Opening on 15 Dec: Alvin & the Chipmunks 3 - Chipwrecked


WOOT! Daddy did it!!!

ONE HUNDRED activities for us kids this school holidays! Hope you would have at least picked out a few activities for your family too.

Have fun, and enjoy the festive season with your loved ones! :)