Kids Activities for June School Holidays 2012

(Daddy compiles)

SEE THE UPDATED LIST HERE!

The JUNE School Holidays are upon us! No need to wake up thaaat early in the morning to send Ash to school... BUT much as I love the thought of being able to squeeze in a few more minutes of sleep every morning, the holidays usually pose another set of problems for us parents.

HOW ON EARTH DO WE KEEP THEM OCCUPIED?

Luckily, there are always tons of holiday activities targeted at families with kids. And since I don't want to rack my brains in the midst of ranting monkies, I figured I better do my homework now and search for activities to tire enrich my kiddos this June School Holidays.

And so, presenting my June School Holidays 2012 KIDS Activities List... Hope that you will find it useful too!

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Army Open House

26 & 27 May (Public); 9am to 8pm

F1 Pit Building, Free Admission

For the first time ever, the annual Army Open House will be held at a location outside of an Army Camp! And we monkies had a Sneak Preview on Tuesday, so stay tuned tomorrow for our review and tips to make the most of your visit to AOH!

The adrenaline-packed event features a wide array of dynamic displays and exciting activities for adults & kids. In commemoration of 45 years of National Service, the Open House will also include a showcase of the past, present and future of the SAF titled NS45. Trust us, there are tons of activities there... because we didn't have time to try out all of them! For more information, click HERE.

Gardeners' Day Out @ HortPark

9 June 2012; 9am - 6pm

HortPark 

Get your hands busy with the many activities lined up for one and all - ranging from tours around the garden to workshops on how you can grow your own vegetables. Highlights include a Gardening Bazaar, a Mobile Library by NLB Public Libraries, a Butterfly Garden Open House and Lifecycle exhibits. FREE admission.

Co-opaliciouz 2012

9 June 2012; 3pm - 8pm

Marina Barrage

Head on down to the Marina Barrage for a Family Day Out of FUN! Expect loads of carnival fun activities, mass storytelling sessions, song & dance performances, and even fireworks. FREE admission. For more details, click HERE.

National Runway Cycling & Skating 2012

17 June 2012; 8am

Paya Lebar Airbase 

Jointly organised by SAFRA National Service Association (SAFRA) and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), the National Runway Cycling & Skating 2012 event aims to promote a healthy and active lifestyle, as well as encouraging families to get together for a day of fun and family bonding. Families and non-competitive racers can take part in the Family and Leisure categories. Best of all, the Family and Leisure Cycling/Skating categories are free for all to participate! Click HERE for more information.

Family Day Out Carnival

23 June 2012; 11am - 6pm

Waterfront Promenade @ Marina Bay Sands

The great outdoor Carnival will feature exciting activities fun for everyone, young and old. Look forward to enriching bonding activities, exciting games, entertaining stage performances, and attractive lucky draw prizes! Don't miss the chance to win big in the Family Talent Time Competition or the Family Look-alike Fashion Show. FREE admission. For more information on other related events, click HERE.

June School Holidays @ Forest Adventure

28 May - 24 June 2012

Forest Adventure (825 Bedok Reservoir Road)

Besides the main attraction of the Obstacle Course, little adventurers will be able to cuddle, pat & feed little farm animals too! Expect guinea pigs, rabbits (including rare earless rabbits) and lots of birds! Wow Experience will also be back with their all times favourite outdoor games such as the Zorb and Bloop balls as well as an exciting Combat Skirmish arena on the Forest Adventure ground. For more information and costs, click HERE.

THE FESTIVALS

Singapore Arts Festival 2012

18 May - 2 June 2012

FREE, Esplanade Park

One thing's for sure - there'll be lots and lots of playing for everyone in the family. The Kids Arts Village is the heartbeat of the Festival Village. It fires up your exuberant spontaneity through a multisensory arts experience spotlighting young Singapore talents. The arts discovery journey is sprinkled with an innocently magical touch — all the programmes at the Kids Arts Village have been curated by a selected panel of 10 to 12-year olds.

Time	Performance & Activities at the Kids Arts Village (18 May – 2 Jun Daily)
4:00PM	Tangle (40 Mins)	Splash Art & Crafts: Splash Art Planning UV Art Fest Goes Green
5:00PM	Tangle (40 Mins)
5:30PM	The Young Ones! Performance Showcase (60 mins) 16 days of different performances
6:30PM	Tangle (90 Mins)
8:00PM	Pop over the Main Stage for other exciting live performance! Daily till late	Fest Goes Green till 10:00PM
9:00PM	Spooky Stories by Children (60 Mins) Only on Fridays & Saturdays

For more details regarding the various events, kindly visit http://www.singaporeartsfest.com/2012-festival/kids-arts-village/

Children's Season 2012

18 May - 24 June 2012

Jointly organised by National Heritage Board and the Museum Roundtable, Children’s Season 2012 offers a plethora of children-centric programmes and engaging family activities that will inspire, engage and educate the little one. This year, Children’s Season will involve 21 museums throughout Singapore.

Click here for more information: http://www.museums.com.sg/cs12/

EVENTS HAPPENING THIS JUNE HOLIDAYS

- Art Garden 2012 at Singapore Art Museum (18 May – 12 August) - RECOMMENDED!

The much-loved Art Garden returns this May for the third year running with an engaging range of contemporary artworks by Singaporean and international artists that will appeal to you and your young ones. The only exhibition in Singapore dedicated to showcasing art suitable for children, works at Art Garden address topical and open-ended issues. Admission charges apply. For more information please visit http://www.singaporeartmuseum.sg/exhibitions/details.php?id=95

- Style it the Army way at Army Museum of Singapore (18 May – 24 June)

Come 'Style it the Army way' or even style it your Army way. Is the Army only about pixelated prints? This time you get to tell us what your Army style is. Change into the uniforms, engage in battlefield fighting and test the mini armouries. Regardless of your age, style it and until you experience it, you will never know if it fits. $3 per child, $5 per adult. Recommended for children aged 6 and up. For more details on activity timings and admission charges, visit www.armymuseum.sg

- Who Wants To Be A Policeman? at Police Heritage Centre

18 & 25 May; 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 June 2012 (Fridays)*: 10.30am, 2.30pm and 4.30pm 
19 May; 2, 16, 23 & 30 June 2012 (Saturdays)*: 9am and 11am 
*Visits are by appointment only. Duration of tour will be about 1 to 1.5 hrs.

This Children’s Season 2012, young visitors to the Police Heritage Centre can put on mini police uniforms and have their photographs taken! They can also enjoy exciting tours and take part in a fun colouring activity. Be the first 150 children to drop by and stand to receive free goodies! Free admission. Recommended for children aged 5 to 12 years old. For more details and to register, call 6478 2123 or visit www.spf.gov.sg/sites/spfheritage/intro.htm

- Children's Fiesta at Infocomm Experience Centre (iExperience)
(19 – 20 May & 26 – 27 May: 10am to 6pm)

A weekend of fun activities at iExperience awaits you – get crafty when you participate in art and craft sessions including oil pastel colouring, digital drawing, and balloon sculpturing! Free admission. Recommended for children aged 5 to 12 years old. To pre-register, call 6820 6880 or email iexperience@ida.gov.sg. For more details and the programme schedule, visit www.iexperience.sg

- ter-ba-BOM! – A Heritage Hunt at Malay Heritage Centre, Visitor Centre 

(From 1 June: Fridays, 3pm to 6pm & Saturdays, 11am to 2pm & 3pm to 6pm)

ter-ba-BOM! returns with a new exciting heritage hunt around Kampong Gelam. This year, Heritage Hunters will take on the role of Haj pilgrims from colonial Singapore. Armed with a map, a shopping list and a dedicated tour guide, Heritage Hunters will navigate the streets of Kampong Gelam and locate the items they need for their sea travel to Mecca. Free admission. Recommended  for children and teens aged 7 to 13 years old. Limited to 16 participants per session. Email NHB_MHC_Programmes@nhb.gov.sg to sign up.

- Design Your Own Drama! at Reflections at Bukit Chandu & Memories at Old Ford Factory

Reflections at Bukit Chandu: Saturday, 26 May, 10am to 5pm

Memories at Old Ford Factory: Saturday, 23 June, 10am to 5pm

Put on your thinking caps, get your creative juices flowing and manage your very own drama troupe! Children will create their very own drama performance on any topic about life during the Japanese Occupation – from designing the storyline, developing characters and even dictating what costumes the performers wear. Through the activities, children will understand the hardships of war and better appreciate the peace and harmony enjoyed today. Free Admission. Recommended for children aged 5 years and up. To register, please email June_Pok@nhb.gov.sg

- Island Adventures! at National Museum of Singapore, Level 1 (26 May - 22 July: 10am to 6pm) - RECOMMENDED!

Find out what it was like to travel on a ship to an island called Singapura 200 years ago and what Singapore looked like back then. Participants will get a chance to explore and discover how Singapore has changed and developed over the years into the garden city it is today and make use of the many interactive showcases to incorporate their own creativity and aspirations into a collective historical narrative. 

$5 per participant (includes handling fees and educational materials). Free admission for children under 3 years old (not inclusive of educational materials). Free admission on Open House days: 19, 26 & 27 May, 23 & 24 June and 21 & 22 July 2012

- Children's Season Open House at Singapore Philatelic Museum (2 & 3 June: 9am to 7pm)

Children can create and exhibit their own artworks at Be 'A Peace of Art', where participants stand a chance to win prizes for Best Individual Painting, Best Overall Painting, and Best Neighbourliness. Or make your very own dragon craft and embark on a quest to learn more about festivals in Singapore that feature dragons at the Imagine Dragons exhibition. Free admission to galleries. For more details, visit www.spm.org.sg

- Children's Season at Asian Civilisations Museum (9 & 10 June; 9am to 7pm)

Join our storytellers on a magical journey through the museum galleries. Learn stories about special objects, go on a gallery trail to explore hidden and beautiful treasures, and collect our fun goodie bags. Watch out for colourful dance performances and creative craft workshops for kids featuring beautiful motifs from the Patterns of Trade special exhibition. Free admission. For more details, visit www.acm.org.sg

- It's a Child's Play! at the Peranakan Museum (16 & 17June; 9am to 7pm)

Be one of the first to explore the new special exhibition based on Emily of Emerald Hill, a local Peranakan play by Stella Kon. See exciting drama performances and make a print with designs inspired by Emily. Browse for quirky items at the flea market and be entranced by riveting storytelling, dances and live musical performances. Watch an engaging puppet demonstration and create your own puppet to bring home. You can also make your own tasty pineapple tart. Free admission. For more details, visit www.peranakanmuseum.sg

Festival of Biodiversity

26 May - 16 June

Celebrate Singapore's biodiversity through lots of exciting nature activities lined up for kids this June school holidays!

- Hardy Driftwood in A Wetlands Adventure (26 & 27 May; 1pm to 1.45pm; Function Room, Singapore Botanic Gardens)

The Hardy Driftwood animation series is set in situations familiar to children and highlights the adverse impact seemingly harmless actions can have on our environment. The series encourages the children to take positive actions to protect the environment through simple and practical solutions within their abilities. For kids aged 4 years and above. Free. No registration required. Space is available on a first come first serve basis.

- Prawn and Fish Demo at Sungei Buloh (26 May; 9am; Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve)

Embark on this journey back to the past, where Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve used to be prawn and fish farms. Learn about the importance of mangroves as a spawning place and nursery for prawns and other life. The traditional method of prawn harvesting will be demonstrated and how the tidal influence play a part in this activity will be brought to life. Suitable for older children. For more details. click HERE.

- Pasir Ris Mangrove boardwalk tour (2 & 30 June; 5pm; Pasir Ris Park)

There are fascinating mangroves at Pasir Ris Park! We went for a similar walk in April and enjoyed it LOTS! See our review HERE. We saw lots of crazy tree climbing crabs, delightful giant mudskippers, cool monitor lizards and nesting herons, even watersnakes! FREE. Suitable for kids and families. Pre-registration required. Click HERE for more details.

- HeART for Nature - FREE workshop for kids (2 & 9 June; 9.30 - 10.30am; Lower Peirce Reservoir Park)

This FREE art workshop helps children to delve deep into their hearts to express nature in various themed art activities like drawing, fingerprinting, origami, puppet making. The children will also learn about our natural heritage. Suitable for children aged 5 to 8 years (with parental supervision). Pre-registration online HERE.

- Fun walk along the Southern Ridges (16 June; 9-11am; Mount Faber Park, entrance of Henderson Waves)

Take your family on a leisurely stroll through the Southern Ridges, a soothing sanctuary of greenery that is steeped in history and home to some of nature's greatest gifts of flora and fauna. Highlights of the FREE tour include the Henderson Waves, Sembcorp Forest of Giants, Forest Walk and Singing Forest. Pre-registration required. Contact 6471-5601 or NParks_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg.

- Chek Jawa boardwalk tour (16 June; 9.30am; Chek Jawa Info Kiosk, Pulau Ubin)

The Naked Hermit Crabs will introduce you to Chek Jawa without getting your feet wet. There are monitor lizards, fiddler crabs, spiders, rare plants, wild boars, mudskippers and lots of fruit trees. If we are lucky, we might even spot the Oriental Pied Hornbill, White-bellied Sea Eagle and the giant Atlas Moth. FREE. Suitable for kids and families. Email nakedhermitcrabs@gmail.com  to pre-register.

ACE! Festival 2012

18 May - 10 June

Witness a wonderful melting pot of theatre productions, creative workshops and fascinating fringe activities that will entice the young and old! The theme this year is “Explorations” and everyone is invited to explore the arts; not just stories, but experiences, environments, cultures, sights, sounds and even smells.

ACE! Festival 2012 will take place at the new Goodman Arts Centre and Alliance Française Theatre, and will feature a wonderful selection of local and international productions, events, happenings and unexpected surprises!

Act!: Look out for Just So? (18-31 May); a fun-filled musical with pearls of wisdom, Our Island (2-10 Jun); an international collaboration showcasing physical comedy at its finest and Hare Brain (29 May-3 Jun); a critically acclaimed re-telling of the classic Aesop’s fable The Hare and the Tortoise.

Create!: Let your imagination run wild with a selection of workshops designed to unlock the creativity in you. From pottery to creating batik designs to crafting recyclable pieces of art from trash – those little hands will be kept really busy!

Excite!: Fringe activities (18-20; 25-27 May; 1-3; 8-10 June; 11am-5pm) serve to complement the festival activities. From roving magicians, balloon sculptures to fun station games, get in on the fun in ACE!’s carnival atmosphere!

Click HERE for more information and detailed listings on ACE! Festival 2012.

NTUC Income Kite Festival Singapore 2012 

Kite Weekend Extravaganza; 9 & 10 June 2012

480 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh; 11am - 8pm

Come and join in the fun at the annual Kite Festival! There will performances by Singaporean and Malaysian kite masters and kite making workshops where you can learn how to make your very own 'Fringes Delta Kite'. FREE admission.

CARTOON CHARACTERS

Dora The Explorer Live! "Search for the City of Lost Toys"

25 - 29 May 2012

Drama Centre Theatre, NLB

Help Dora and her friends find the City of Lost Toys in this all-new musical adventure! Starring Dora the Explorer from the popular Nickelodeon animated series, this live show also includes her cousin Diego, Boots the monkey and the entire gang as they journey through the number pyramid in search of Dora's missing teddy bear, Osito.

For showtimes and tickets, click HERE.

Barbie I Can Be... Rock Star

26 May - 24 June 2012

City Square Mall, Level 1 Atrium

2 - 10 June: 
Barbie I Can Be... Rock Star Mini Concert (Mon - Fri: 7pm; Sat & Sun: 1pm, 4pm & 7pm)
Barbie I Can Be... Rock Star Meet & Greet* (Mon - Fri: 4pm & 7.30pm; Sat & Sun: 1.30pm, 4.30pm & 7.30pm) *With a min. spending of $50

16 - 24 June:
Barbie Makeover and Photo Shoot (11am - 8pm)
Parents can redeem a free makeover session and costume dress up for their kids with a minimum spending of $50.

Spider-Man Meet & Greet at Frasers Centrepoint Malls

18 May - 5 June 2012

Details below

Have fun with Thomas & Friends

28 May - 10 June

Parkway Parade

Have fun in the first ever Thomas & Friends Inflatable Playground and Party! Be sure to also take part in the Thomas & Friends Party where kids can learn how to make a 3D train, a pop up train card and a train controller hat. There is also a photo opportunity with Thomas & the fat controller. Kids can take home all the handicraft works and a photo memento in an exclusive Thomas & Friends photo frame. Simply spend $80 (max 3 same day receipts) to let one child participate.

Disney Princess Academy & Pageant

28 May - 16 June 2012

VivoCity & Alexandra Retail Centre

This June school holidays, girls (4 to 12 years old) can have an enchanting time celebrating childhood fantasies at the Disney Princess Academy and Pageant. Every little princess can take part in some truly regal activities that will bring their dreams to life. Details below.

Charlie and Lola's Best Bestest Play

31 May - 10 June 2012

DBS Arts Centre

Charlie and Lola’s best bestest play is a heart-warming story brought to life by the magic of puppetry and music, based on the hit television series and global phenomenon Charlie and Lola.

For showtimes and tickets, click HERE.

Discover Chuggington: It's Training time

5 - 24 June 2012; 1pm - 9pm

Downtown East

Details below

Hi-5 Live Show and Meet & Greet

6 - 18 June 2012

United Square

Showtimes: Mon - Sun (No shows on Tues); 1pm, 4pm & 7pm
Spend a min. of $30 in a single day receipt for a photo pass. Limited to first 60 families per session.

Madagascar 3 Meet & Greet

7 - 17 June 2012

Marina Square

Meet & Greet Timings: 
Tues - Wed; 2pm & 7pm
Thurs - Sun; 1pm, 4pm & 7pm
Limited to first 50 families per session. No min. spending required.

OTHER EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Science in the Mall - X-ploring Dinosaurs!

25 May - 3 June 2012; 11am - 9pm

Plaza Singapura, Main Atrium

Journey into the world of the Dinosaurs: 11am – 9pm daily
Get ready to come up close and personal with the animatronics dinosaurs. You will be amazed at what you will discover on your journey into the world of dinosaurs. For the first time, we would bring the largest number of dinosaurs to the Mall!

Stage Game timings: 1.00pm, 4.00pm and 7.00pm (daily)
Science Show timings: 1.30pm, 4.30pm and 7.30pm (only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
Bring your kids to take part in our stage games with our host! Answer his questions correctly and you may win tickets to the Science Centre, Omni Theatre movie as well as Snow City tickets! Do not miss our science shows by our Science Educators who will engage you with their demonstrations.

Safari @ Changi

26 May - 24 June 2012; 12pm - 10pm

Changi Airport T3, Departure Check-in Row 11

This event features a giant Safari play area for kids to explore and challenge themselves to fun and interactive activities. They get to ride on the Safari animals and discover South Africa. Photo opportunities are available for the entire family alongside snippets of interesting information on the destination. Spend a minimum of $20 ($15 for Changi Rewards members) on a same-day single receipt at any airport outlets.

Holiday Fun at the Singapore Zoo

26 May - 24 June 2012

Primate Affair (26 May - 17 June; various timings)
This June School Holidays, Singapore Zoo celebrates man's closest cousin with fun activities showcasing our collection of 39 different primates (almost half of which are endangered). Have loads of fun as you learn about the differences among the various primates and especially for kids, don't forget to pick up your binocular freebie on the way in to complete your primate adventure (whilst stocks last). For more information click HERE.

Zoolympix (16 - 24 June daily; 10am - 4pm)

Zoolympix 2012 celebrates the survival of the fittest! Find out interesting traits of the primates and learn how it helps them to survive in the wild. Join the challenge and pit your skills against the agility, speed and dexterity of our primate cousins. Burrow into the life of a naked mole rat, match your brain power to that of an elephant’s or buzz around like a busy bee and more!

All participants of Zoolympix 2012 get to take home a souvenir in our Sure-win Lucky Dip and a chance at winning attractive prizes in our Grand Lucky draw! Register at Treetops Trail by purchasing your Zoolympix passport at $2 per booklet.

Sentosa Storytelling Comes Alive!

1 - 24 June 2012; 11am - 7pm

Images of Singapore Forecourt, Sentosa

"Storytelling Comes Alive!", an international award winning event, combines reading, listening, acting and watching a play as multisensory experience. Besides Storytelling sessions, there are lots of interactive fringe activities to entertain everyone. Come on down for a fun-filled adventure of giant story books where characters come alive! FREE admission.

Harry Potter - The Exhibition

2 June - 30 September 2012; 10am - 10pm

ArtScience Museum 

This June, the ArtScience Museum will be transformed into the magical world of Harry Potter featuring items and settings from the popular film series. Get up close and personal with your favourite costumes and props such as Harry’s wand and eyeglasses, Hermione’s Yule Ball gown, the Golden Snitch - all displayed in settings inspired by locations like Hogswarts, the Gryffindor common room and the majestic Great Hall! For more information and ticketing, click HERE.

Jurong Regional Library Anniversary Carnival

3 June 2012; 12pm - 8pm

Jurong Regional Library 

Join in the carnival and celebrate the anniversary of the library with a slew of activities including batik painting, pyssla beads, nail art and photo taking. FREE admission.

SAFRA Sprint Kids 2012

16 - 24 June 2012; 10am - 7pm (Sat & Sun)

Parkway Parade 

Sprint Kids 2012 is the biggest ever Kids Sprinting Event in Singapore. Sprint your way to over S$10,000 in cash and prizes! Do also take part in our brand new category “Tots Sprint” specifically catered for the younger kids, age 1 to 2 years old! This event is open to all kids between the ages of 1 to 9 years. For more information and to sign up, click HERE.