UPDATE (15 November 2016): Playeum's newest exibition, 'A World Full of Stories', opened to public on 15 Nov 2016.
UPDATE (21 July 2016): THREE more new attractions - two of them bring FREE for ALL - have been added to the list, bringing the total of attractions that opened this year to 15!
UPDATE (7 June 2016): With the opening of Singapore's newest Trampoline Park, TWELVE new attractions for kids have opened since the beginning of the year and we are just about halfway through 2016! I've updated the list with more details on the newly-opened attractions. Have fun! :)
We are closing in on the first half of 2016 and already, a flurry of new kid-friendly attractions have opened in Singapore. Who says Singapore is boring for kids?
Learning need not be confined to the classrooms and books, because kids learn a whole lot better than getting outdoors and making sense of the world through play. So the next time the holidays or weekends come along, here are 15 new adventures - of which 5 are FREE for all! - to discover together as a family this year.
1. PIP’s PLAYbox @ The Esplanade
Opened in February 2016, PIP’s PLAYbox is an activity space tucked away on Level 4 at the Esplanade designed especially for kids - AND it's all FREE! There is a kids craft station where kids will be able to churn out their own handicrafts. The crafts will vary throughout the time of year and depending on the season. Since it is nearing Easter now, kids will be able to make their own paper bunny.
If you know what is an OHP (Overhead Projector), you are probably as old as me. In one corner of the massive room stands an OHP where kids will be able to indulge in some shadow play.
PIP's PLAYbox also stocks a massive library of children’s books, complete with plenty of personal - and some secret too! - speaces for kids and parents to read together.
Need a little fresh air? Head to the mini playground just outside where kids can get active and even crawl inside the brick-red tower to get a kaleidoscopic view of the sky above!
Children’s toilets (shrunk down to the little adult size) and a nursing room are conveniently located just outside of PIP's PLAYbox.
Address: Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Dr, Level 4, Singapore 038981
Opening hours: 11am - 6pm daily
Cost: FREE
Website: www.facebook.com/esplanadepipsclub
2. Diggersite
Located at Raintree Cove, East Coast Park (near Burger King and beside East Coast Prawning), Diggersite offers little diggers to realise their dream of operating a real-life working excavator!
There are a total of three stations - 2 outdoor and 1 indoor. The favourite station arguably has to be the enclosed sandpit, where kids are tasked to scoop bricks out while operating an excavator.
The indoor station allows kids will be able to grab colourful balls using a giant claw from the comfort of a digger. Considering that the Diggers work like a real excavator with their hydraulically controlled arms, it is no wonder they are a hit with the kids!
Our Blog Post HERE
Address: Raintree Cove, 1020 East Coast Parkway, #01-04, Singapore 449878
Opening hours: 10am - 10pm daily
Cost: $7 per ride (5 minutes). Bundle promotion of $18 for 3 rides.
Website: www.facebook.com/diggersite
Instead, MOSH! is home to FIVE digital interactive activities which allow the little ones to create imaginary worlds of their own in an immersive virtual environment, designed to empower creativity through free play and expression.
Top two activities guaranteed to keep the kiddos enthralled include the Doodle Aquarium where they will be able to draw anything they want on a piece of paper, scan it and watch it join the underwater world on the screen AND Paper Plane Adventure which tasks them not only to fold their own paper planes, the paper planes transform into digital actual planes when they throw them against wall!
Our Blog Post HERE
Address: 31 Beach View #03-01, Palawan Kidz City, Sentosa, Singapore 098008 (A 5-minute walk from Beach Station)
Opening hours: 10am - 9pm daily
*MOSH! Playtime of 2 Hrs will apply during weekends and public holidays.
Cost: Adult $28 | Child $22 | FREE entry for kids below 2 years old
*Family Bundle at $48 includes entry for 1 Adult and 1 Child (10% off Family Bundles for MasterCard Holders)
Website: www.mosh.com.sg
4. Kranji Marshes
Spanning 56.8 hectares (half the size of Gardens by the Bay), Kranji Marshes is the largest freshwater marshland in Singapore. It is home to a combination of lush, marsh, woodland and grass habitats with more than 170 species of birds, 54 species of butterflies and 33 species of dragonflies lies in the north-western part of Singapore. And not only is it open to everyone, it is FREE to visit!
There are two main areas – one that is open to public and the core conservation area which can only be accessed via guided walks. For the public walk, the start journey begins at Kranji Gate which is located at the end of Neo Tiew Lane 2 (beside D'Kranji Farm Resort).
The walk is a relatively straight-forward linear one, a 1km route which ends at 10-metre tall Raptor Tower which offers a panoramic view of the entire Kranji Marshes. Suffice to say, scaling the tower is the highlight for the kids!
To complete an educational day out, be sure to head to the nearby Marsh Station where they can learn more about the birds and their respective bills and feet.
Address: 11 Neo Tiew Lane 2, Singapore 718814
Opening hours: 7am to 7pm daily
Cost: FREE
Website: www.nparks.gov.sg/kranjimarshes
For a glimpse into the original interiors of Chinatown’s shophouse tenants in the 1950s, visit the Centre as the colourful past of Chinatown comes alive within the walls of these three beautifully-restored shophouses on Pagoda Street. Re-opened in February 2016 after 1.5 years of renovations, every nook and cranny in the Chinatown Heritage Centre pulsates with the memories of yesteryear, offering an experience like no other as one is transported to Chinatown in the budding years of Singapore's establishment as a seaport.
One thing I love about Chinatown Heritage Centre - instead of just displaying every information in panels and words, everything is recreated from scratch to depict the actual living conditions back in the 1950s, from the decorations, furniture, the cramped living conditions - and even the toilet of yesteryears!
Visitors are allowed to step into selected living cubicles and experience first-hand what cramped
living conditions were like, allowing the kids to gain a deeper appreciation for the resourcefulness, resilience, and sense of community that came with communal living.
Other galleries depict the stories and struggles of the many “Sinkheh” (new migrants) – risking life and limb to embark on an arduous journey from the various Chinese provinces to the promised land of Singapore – including the raw, seedy and underground practices of gambling dens and secret societies. Best to visit with the grandparents as Singaporeans and PRs who are 60 years old and above enter FREE (valid until 31 July 2016)!
Our Blog Post HERE
Address: 48 Pagado Street, Singapore 059207
Opening hours: 9am - 8pm daily. Closed on 1st Monday of every month.
Cost: Adult $15; $20 (with guided tour) | Child (7-12) $11; $16 (with guided tour) | FREE for Senior Citizens aged 60 and above (until 31 July 2016)
Website: chinatownheritagecentre.com.sg/index.html
6. Wonderland Indoor Playground @ Waterway Point
The newly-opened Waterway Point in Punggol is home to a rather impressive FREE Indoor Playground. Adopting an 'Alice in Wonderland' theme, the fully padded WONDERLAND indoor playground features creatures like a bunny, butterfly and caterpillar set in a garden setting - and a mini slide!
Together with sensory play boards mounted on the walls, the play area should appeal more to toddlers and children aged below 7 than older children.
UPDATE: Happy Park, the outdoor playground at Waterway Point, has opened too! More photos HERE.
Our Blog Post HERE
Address: Waterway Point (83 Punggol Central, Singapore 828761), Level 2
Opening hours: 10.30am to 10pm daily
*Open to all children under 12 years old and below the height of 1.1m
Cost: FREE
7. Future World @ ArtScience Museum
The newest kid on the block, Future World is ArtScience Museum's latest permanent exhibition and officially opens on 12 March 2016. Kids will be able to imagine, play and explore in Singapore's largest digital art gallery, where 15 digital art installations come to life through cutting-edge science and technology!
Some of the really interesting installations include Crystal Universe (above) where you become the centre of the universe by stepping inside a scintillating and dazzling world of 170,000 LED lights and Light Ball Orchestra (below) which blends vivid lights with beautiful music together to create an orchestra of colours and sounds that change constantly. Children can experiment with creating their own music freely as they run and play among a multitude of light balls, changing their sounds and colours as they touch or throw them around!
But perhaps, the one installation that will capture their imagination is Sketch Town, where kids will be able to colour in and draw objects such as cars, buildings and sapceships. Scan these 2-D pictures and they become animated, and join the large town projected on a screen. Kids can even touch them as they move along for an added experience!
Oh and did you know? Children get FREE entry every Friday (up to four children under 12 years old) with every adult ticket purchased!
Our Blog Post HERE
Address: ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands
Opening hours: 10am to 7pm daily (Last Admission 6pm)
Cost:
Singapore Residents - Adult $14 | Child (2-12) $7 | Senior (65 & above) $11 | Family (2A&2C) $35 | Annual Pass (Individual) $90 | Annual Pass (Family) $150
Standard - Adult $17 | Child (2-12) $10 | Senior (65 & above) $14 | Family (2A&2C) $44 | Annual Pass (Individual) $90 | Annual Pass (Family) $150
8. KidZania Singapore
KidZania Singapore comes with NO rides or arcade attractions at all! Instead, kids get to participate in a variety of role playing activities specifically designed to educate and inspire kids aged 4 to 17, creating a kid-centric city experience from arriving at the airport, to visiting a city centre and exploring the city streets.
All in all, there will be a diverse range of over EIGHTY role-playing activities where kids will be able to earn money in the form of KidZos currency and use it to buy stuff or save it in the bank! So yes, KidZania Singapore is THE place where kids ditch their parents and go looking for JOBS! And trust me when I say the kids can never get enough of the job-hopping.
Check out my ultimate everything-you-need-to-know guide HERE!
Address: Palawan Kidz City. 31 Beach View #01-01/02 Singapore 098008 (Opposite Port of Lost Wonder)
Opening Hours: Sundays to Thursdays: 10am to 5pm | Fridays, Saturdays, School holidays, eve of and Public Holidays: 10am to 8pm
Cost: (For walk-in admission) Infants (under 2 years old) Free | Toddlers aged 2-3 S$25 | Kids aged 4-17 S$58 Adults aged 18-59 S$35 | Senior Citizens (aged 60 & above) S$25
*Online purchases are entitled to 5% discount off walk-in ticket prices
*Enjoy 10% discount off walk-in ticket prices when paying with a Maybank Credit or Debit Card
BOOK tickets online HERE.
Website: www.kidzania.com.sg
9. Playeum's A World Full of Stories
UPDATED!
Playeum is NOT an Indoor Playground with the tallest slide or biggest ball pit in Singapore. Instead, it is Singapore's first Children's Centre for Creativty and an independent charity which champions children through play and creativity. Located at Gillman Barracks, Playeum is a museum without walls which hopes to inspire children through self-directed exploration and learning and in the process, establish a culture of meaningful and impactful play.
Playeum has refreshed its exhibition with 'A World Full of Stories', which combines the fundamental facets of stories with play. Specifically designed for children aged 1-12, the exhibition offers a series of interactive and open-ended spaces for young minds to feed their creative imagination through role play, storymaking, illustration, writing, drama and puppetry.
Encouraging children to employ the active use of imagination through creative expression, ‘A World
Full of Stories’ consists of ELEVEN installations in total! Check out my preview guide HERE!
Address: Blk 47, Malan Road, Gillman Barracks, #01-23, Singapore 109444
Date: 15 November 2016 - 30 April 2017
Opening Hours: Tues - Sun: 10am - 6pm (Closed on Mondays)
Admission: $22 per child (1-12) | Accompanying adult: Free | Additional accompanying adult: $10
Getting there:
Nearest MRT Station (5 to 10 minutes walk): Labrador Park Station (Circle Line)
Nearest Bus Stop (3 minutes walk): Along Alexandra Road, Opposite Alexandra Point (Bus Stop Number 15059) - Available Buses: 51, 57, 61, 83, 97, 97e, 100, 166, 175, 408, 963 or 963E
*Free Parking on Saturdays (11am-7pm), Sundays and Public Holiday.
Website: www.playeum.com
10. Splash @ Kidz Amaze at SAFRA Punggol
If you are already familiar with the Kidz Amaze Indoor Playgrounds at SAFRA Jurong and SAFRA Toa Payoh, then the newly-opened Splash @ Kidz Amaze will bring a new level of excitement for the kids - a splashing good time, that's what!
The 5-storey SAFRA clubhouse in Punggol will boast a first of its kind indoor water playground in Singapore! With an ‘Enchanted Deep Sea’ theme, the mega three-storey facility is equipped with fun and interactive water play elements, including eight different play decks, five slides and a themed splash pad.
While the main water play structure is recommended for kids aged 6 years old and above, an entirely shaded area, with a much shallower water level, is specially reserved for younger kids including toddlers aged between 18 and 36 months.
Check out everything you need to know about the indoor water park HERE!
Address: 9 Sentul Cres, Singapore 828654
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 10am - 8pm | Fri - Sun, Gazetted Public & School Holidays: 10am - 9pm
Cost:
Kids (18 months to 13 years old)
OFF-PEAK (Mon - Thurs): Kidz Amaze Member $8 | SAFRA Member $12 | Public $16
PEAK (Fri - Sun, PH & Sch Hols): Kidz Amaze Member $10 | SAFRA Member $15 | Public $20
Adults
SAFRA Member $2 | Public $5
FAMILY PACKAGE (2A & 2C)
OFF-PEAK (Mon - Thurs): Kidz Amaze Member $16 | SAFRA Member $25 | Public $35
PEAK (Fri - Sun, PH & Sch Hols): Kidz Amaze Member $20 | SAFRA Member $28 | Public $40
*To be a Kidz Amaze member, pay a one-off membership fee:
- Junior member ( SAFRA-dependant member 5 years and below) $25
- Non-member ( Non-SAFRA-dependant member 5 years and below) $65
Website: www.safra.sg/Enjoy/Family/Splash-at-Kidz-Amaze.aspx
11. Butterflies Up-Close
Flutter your way to the Science Centre Singapore’s brand new colourful display where kids can learn about the fascinating transformation of a butterfly from an egg to a beautiful winged adult. They will be able to gain a deeper insight on how the butterfly behaves, interacts with the surroundings, and survives each stage of its life cycle to reach adulthood.
The highlight of the exhibit is undoubtedly the Live Butterfly Enclosure. Step into Singapore’s first and only indoor butterfly enclosure, where both humidity and temperature are carefully regulated to ensure that both plants and butterflies, sharing a close-knitted relationship, do well. With more than 500 butterflies from around the region including Indonesia, the Philippines and Australia, the 600 square metres enclosure is aimed at providing an immersive experience for both children and adults, in order to bring them closer to nature.
Address: Hall D, Science Centre Singapore, 15 Science Centre Rd, Singapore 609081
Opening Hours: 10am - 6pm daily
Cost: $10 (excluding Science Centre admission)
Website: www.science.edu.sg/exhibitions/Pages/ButterfliesUp-Close.aspx
12. BOUNCE Singapore
BOUNCE, one of the world’s best indoor adrenaline-packed arena that combines recreation, fitness and fun opens at the heart of Orchard Road as the newest trampoline park in Singapore!
Located at Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, BOUNCE features three zones on a 24,000 sq ft arena which consists of trampolines (including an Olympic grade, high performance area), X-Park (a ninja warrior-like obstacle course & the first in Asia), and Leap of Faith.
BOUNCE Singapore caters to almost everyone from kids aged three and above to youths, adults and fitness enthusiasts. And if you are planning to take the kids, there are SEVEN activities at BOUNCE for them to go bonkers over. Read my review HERE.
Address: #09-01, Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, 8 Grange Road, Singapore 239695
Opening Hours: Sun-Thurs 10am – 10pm | Fri-Sat 10am – midnight
Admission charges:
General Access - $24 for first hour & $19 for subsequent hour
(INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL: $19 for first hour & $14 for subsequent hour)
Junior Jumpers (at least 3 yrs old & under 110cm) - $17 for first hour & $12 for subsequent hour
Student Session (Student ID required) - $19 for first hour & $14 for subsequent hour (Mon to Fri only)
Website: www.Bounceinc.com.sg
13. Chestnut Nature Park (South)
Opened in April 2016, is Singapore’s first nature park with separate mountain biking and hiking trails, measuring 1.6km and 2.1km respectively. If you are planning to bring the kids for their first taste of hiking, great news - the hiking trail is slightly undulating and pretty straightforward.
 |
| Photo Credit: NParks |
 |
| Photo Credit NParks |
Opening Hours: 7am - 7pm daily
Cost: Free Admission
Website: www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/chestnut-nature-park
14. Orchid Bowl @ SAFRA Punggol
Boasting a total of 24 lanes, Orchid Bowl @ SAFRA Punggol has revolutionised the bowling industry with the widest and most innovative variety of on-lane entertainment.
Besides the standard family-friendly features like lighter bowling balls and bumpers along the lanes for kids, the bowling centre provides the wildest - and sometimes, wackiest - variety of one-lane entertainment options for families. It delivers extreme fun for everyone by offering themed games, personalised animation and different game formats.
Families will be able to choose from over 18 different themes with over 1,000 unique animations ranging from fairy tales, halloween, sports and many more... and even take their own photos and attach them to the respective bowler's name! And did I mention there is even bowling in glowing lighting too? But perhaps the most fun bit is the inclusion of 4 mini games that allow kids to bowl in a way that is easier to understand, faster to finish and uniquely aligned to their taste, much like how they can build their own Monster by striking down pins.
Yes, definitely the MOST kid-friendly bowling alley in Singapore yet!
Address: SAFRA Punggol, 9 Sentul Crescent, #05-03, Singapore 828654
Operating Hours: Sun - Thurs & PHs 10am - 1am | Fri, Sat & Eve of PHs 10am - 3am
Bowling Rates:
Website: www.orchidbowl.com.sg
15. Marine Cove Playground @ East Coast Park
After 4 years of closure, Marine Cove at East Coast Park opens once again! And this time, it sports several brand new amenities for families - including a massive children's playground.
The colourful 3,500sqm children’s playground is home to a range of play equipment suitable for children of varying ages with the 8m high tower being the focal point of the playground. Modelled after a lighthouse, the 3-storey tower is suitable for older children aged five to twelve years old, it consists of many play elements including three slides of different levels, a rope bridge and climbing net courses.
In addition to having a gated play area for toddlers, the playground consists plenty of inclusive features which allows special needs and wheelchair-bound kids to be able to join in the fun as well. Read my detailed review HERE.
The bar has indeed been set very high with the introduction of this FREE playground for all. Plus, all of the 5 eateries at Marine Cove have also incorporated kid-friendly elements, with some even having play areas within the restaurants.
Address: 1000 ECP, Singapore 449876
Cost: Free Admission
Email to a friend
5 comments :
Great! More nice places for the kids! Thanks!
Hi sharonk,
Your're welcome! Hope you and your family have fun exploring them! :)
Hi Kelvin,
Thank you for sumarising these exciting new play areas for kids.
David
Hi David,
You're welcome. Hope you find the post to be useful! :)
Thanks for sharing, especially the nursing room part.
Post a Comment