August ahoy! Time really flies when you’re raising your kids. They grow up too fast, with toddlers turning into teens in a blink of an eye. We’re not here to Cat’s In The Cradle you, but it might be time to pencil in family-bonding activities in the agenda.
We’ve found 11 new kid-friendly things to do in August, from mermaids to dinosaurs to NDP events, for you to have a meaningful time with the tots.
For more kid-friendly ideas, check out:
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
Parents – you know how much of a major milestone it is when your kid turns 1. Full fanfare with cake and a mega party are expected for such an occasion. Now here’s another cub who’s just made their first trip around the sun: Le Le the panda.
Come 5th August to 11th September, River Wonders is throwing a birthday bash and everyone’s invited.
Image credit: @jaykaylin
For $36 a ticket, you can score a day-to-night entry with the Panda-stic Party bundle. You’ll get to peek into panda life at the Giant Panda Forest and feast on panda-themed macarons and cookies as part of the party.
Then after the sun sets, take a stroll through the LED bamboo forest to snap more family pics. You can even go ham with glow-in-the-dark paint in an art jamming session for you and your little ones. Best. Birthday. Ever!
Price:
Adult: From $20/pax
Child (3-12 years old): $14/pax
Address: 80 Mandai Lake Road, River Wonders, Singapore 729826
Opening hours: Fri-Sun 10am-7pm, 7.30pm-11.30pm (Closed Mondays to Thursdays)
Contact: 6269 3411 | Panda-stic Party website
The view from Blk 333 Kang Ching Road near Jurong West Stadium.
Image credit: @eleejy
The National Day Parade (NDP) is finally back in full swing, after 2 years of more subdued celebrations at home.
From 6th-7th August, rally your inner kampong spirit by getting your tickets to NDP @ Heartlands for free carnival games and performances for the occasion. No matter where you stay, there’s one within your vicinity for your family to mosey on down to:
The view from the south shore of Bedok Reservoir near Bedok Stadium.
Image credit: @han.photographer
For families who’ve unfortunately missed out on the ticket balloting hubbub, chin up, because there’s no need to head all the way to the CBD for some firework fun. Instead, you can catch the free firework displays right at your heartland doorsteps in 5 neighbourhoods:
In order to avoid any “Daddy, why can’t I see anything?” upsets, just be sure to make your way down before 8.15pm, when the fireworks are set to spark off.
NDP @ Heartlands
Price: Free, tickets required
Date: 6th-7th August
Time: 4pm-9pm
Address: Various locations, check website for details
Contact: 6818 1888 | NDP @ Heartlands website
Fireworks @ Heartlands
Date: 9th August
Time: 8.15pm-8.25pm
Address: Various locations, check website for details
Contact: Fireworks @ Heartlands website
Image credit: The Singapore Mermaid
Singapore has a mermaid, and no it’s not the Merlion. Meet Syrena, Singapore’s first ever mermaid who has been making a splash since 2015.
This August, take a dive with her at Mermaid Tales. Every weekend will be a water nymph fantasy as Syrena and her siren pals put on performances, meet-and-greets, and hand out glitter tattoos to kids at Wild Wild Wet.
Image credit: @ceegee0905
Aspiring mermaids and mermen between the ages of 4 and 10 can also attend a $50 Mermaid Tail posing workshop, which includes a Child Day Pass to the waterpark.
Adults aren’t left out in the mermaid fun. Purchase a weekday ticket at $20, and you’ll get a free welcome drink and reusable mermaid straw from Ola Beach Club. This exclusive deal is limited to the first 100 people.
Book tickets to Wild Wild Wet.
Price: From $20/pax
Address: 1 Pasir Ris Close, Wild Wild Wet, Singapore 519599
Opening Hours: Mon & Wed-Fri 12pm-6pm | Sat-Sun 11am-6pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Contact: 6581 9128 | Wild Wild Wet website
Image credit: Singapore Repertory Theatre
Those of us with siblings can attest to this – it’s a love-hate relationship between brothers and sisters. It’s no different in Gretel and Hansel, a kid-friendly production by the Singapore Repertory Theatre.
Follow Gretel and Hansel as they navigate through a dangerous forest while learning to get along and protect each other. The entire play is 50 minutes long, the perfect length for even the flightiest of kids, and will be presented in Mandarin, although an English version is coming up in September.
Book your tickets to Gretel and Hansel (Mandarin).
Price:
Standard: From $26/pax (weekday) | From $36/pax (weekend)
Family package for 4: $99 (weekday) | $133 (weekend)
Address: 20 Merbau Road, Singapore 239035
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 10am & 2pm | Sat-Sun 11am & 2pm
Contact: 6733 8166 | Singapore Repertory Theatre website
If you’ve got a little Einstein on your hands, check out the Unspokin bicycle workshop. It is the perfect hands-on activity for any budding engineer who enjoys tinkling around with mechanical parts. They’ll get to customise their own 2-wheeler from handlebars to saddles and even picking out a frame.
With parts chosen, you’ll then start assembling the bicycle with the help of the workshop facilitators on deck. 4 hours later and – tadah – you’ll have your own bike that you built with your own 2 hands.
There’s no better way to say “we’re family” than whizzing down the bicycle path on a matching set of bikes.
Price: $1,300
Address: 3 Lorong Bakar Batu, #05-03, Singapore 348741
Opening Hours: Tue-Fri 2pm-8pm | Sat 11am-6pm | Sun by appointment only
Contact: 8286 3160 | Unspokin website
Punggolites, Northshore Plaza I now has a sister, complete with a Safari-themed dinosaur food court and a pirate ship playground. It’s Northshore Plaza II, which boasts multiple sea-view lookout points for the kids to play eye-spy at, and romantic waterfront restaurants for Mom and Dad, like The Dancing Crab.
Check out dining deals at The Dancing Crab.
Once bellies are filled, get the fam to take a stroll around the dragonfly pond facing the sea. The mall is also right next to the Punggol PCN, where you can cycle or walk home to burn off extra calories.
Address: 418 Northshore Drive, Singapore 820418
Opening Hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Northshore Plaza website
Black Lake Laser Battlefield.
Image credit: Singapore Discovery Centre
Here’s another National Day lobang for you and the fam. On 6th, 7th and 9th August, Singapore Discovery Centre has a host of events lined up for the patriotic weekend. For older kids with a more competitive streak, sign them and yourself up for the laser tag tournament.
Image credit: Singapore Discovery Centre
While you wait for teams to compete, head down to the concourse for the all-day pasar malam. There’re free carnival games to play plus food booths serving local delights for those in need of a snack.
If you’re in need of something with more Singapore spirit, take them up to the roof for the silent disco. Put on headphones and bop your way through remixed versions of NDP classics.
Price:
Laser tag tournament: $120/team of 5 pax
All other events: Free
Address: 510 Upper Jurong Road, Singapore 638365
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 12pm-7pm | Sat-Sun 11am-8pm
Contact: 6792 6188 | Singapore Discovery Centre website
You may also check out tickets to permanent exhibitions at Singapore Discovery Centre.
Image credit: KKDay
If your kid has a thing for giant prehistoric lizards, don’t question it. Just bring ’em down to Marina Square’s ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure Park and give them the field day of their lives.
The park offers animatronic viking rides, a Tree-cera-top treehouse playground and a spinning dinosaur egg ride. And if your kids are tad too young for those, there are also ball pits, mini slides, bouncy castles, and a T-rex photo booth here.
Price: From $28
Address: 6 Raffles Boulevard, #03-208, Singapore 039594
Opening Hours: 10am-9.30pm, Daily
Contact: ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure Park website
Image credit: @aishaasaravanan18
By now, you probably already know that Singapore Botanic Gardens is a UNESCO Heritage Site. It’s an impressive title, and if you’ve wondered about how this accolade came to be, head to the Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival for the answers.
There are kid-friendly activities aplenty, like an animated storytelling on the gardens’ heritage, that will surely pique little ones’ interest right away.
Image credit: @jinglebellsedition
For kids with a thirst for adventure, you can take them along the free heritage trail to embark on a crossword puzzle quest that spans across the whole Botanic Gardens. It’ll be a fun family workout for the brain and bod.
Children’s Storytelling: Libby at the Botanic Gardens
Price: Free
Date: 7th August
Time: 10am & 10.45am
Address: 1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Visitor Services Counter at Tanglin Gate, Singapore 259569
Contact: 6471 7138 | Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival website
Image credit: Studio Ghibli Collection
It’s undeniable that Studio Ghibli films are able capture the hearts of kids and adults alike. Take that magic from movie nights to real life by recreating inspired scenes with a photoshoot around Singapore.
Image credit: Under the Stars
Check out the grassy knolls in Jurong Lake Gardens that bear quite the resemblance to the hills in Howl’s Moving Castle. Or if you’re nearer up north, the Lorong Halus Red Bridge in Punggol gives major Spirited Away vibes and comes with a breathtaking view of the Punggol Serangoon Reservoir.
Check our guide on Studio Ghibli places in Singapore for more locations and directions.
Image credit: Gardens by the Bay
Finally, a reason to stay up past bedtime. The Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp National Day Concert 2022 is a free show that will feature drone performances, comedy skits, and your fave National Day songs. It’s a 1-day event only, so mark your calendars for 6th August to catch the event on the lawn near the Supertree Grove.
It’s a star-studded cast with local celebrities like Alaric Tay and Chua Enlai in the flesh. Plus, songbirds Benjamin Kheng, Annette Lee, and Taufik Batisah will be sharing their golden vocals on stage.
Admission is ticketed and limited, so chope your seats while you still can. If you’ve missed out on tickets, you can still watch a livestream at the Supertree Grove.
Price: Free
Date: 6th August
Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm
Address: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
Contact: 6420 6848 | Gardens By The Bay website
And that’s August for you: action-packed and full of variety. Make the most out of these kid-friendly events – especially the free ones – and we guarantee a “Best Parent Award” on the horizon.
For more activity ideas in August 2022:
Cover image adapted from: Mandai Wildlife Group, The Singapore Mermaid, @han.photographer
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