Outdoor activities for the whole family
Let’s face it: there’s no secret recipe to becoming healthy and fit. You’ve just got to lace up your sports shoes and head outdoors to #werk up that sweat. But instead of rushing to the gym or running tracks, you might as well jio the whole family and make it a bonding sesh at the same time.
Enter The Healthy Timeout Challenge, an initiative that encourages families to adopt a fitter lifestyle by heading outdoors. And there are many activities in Singapore to choose from, with some even being free-of-charge!
You can look forward to anything from yoga by the beach to archery and dragon boating – your planner will be filled in no time to help you clock in some necessary exercise.
Check out the full list of activities here.
1. Play on giant netted structures, slides and see-saws
Image credit: @pfong
Fort Canning Park isn’t just a go-to location for wedding photoshoots and picnics. Unbeknownst to most, it is also home to Jubilee Park, an epic playground that boasts a myriad of child-friendly obstacles.
Instead of running around the house, your kiddos will scale new heights and climb this colossal netted structure – the perfect way to release all that pent up energy.
Image credit: @nami_sg2017
Price: Free
Opening hours: 24 hours
Address: River Valley Rd, Singapore 179037
2. Operate construction vehicles
Image credit: @diggersite
Help your child unleash their inner Bob the Builder at Diggersite, where’ll they’ll wear vests and helmets and pretend to “work” at a construction site. Not only will they get to flex their imagination skills, but they’ll also learn more about workplace safety.
Image credit: @meowmelmeowmel
Your child will also get to operate their very own construction vehicle and complete games and challenges like knocking down bottles or scooping up sand.
Price: From $7
Diggersite Yishun
Address: 91 Lorong Chencharu, Singapore 769201
Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 1.30PM-9PM | Sat: 10AM-10PM | Sun: 10AM-9PM
Diggersite Suntec City
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, #03-348/349 (East Wing) Singapore 038983
Opening hours: Sat-Sun: 10AM-6PM
Website
3. Stretch it out by the water with free beach yoga>
Yoga by the beach with the cool ocean breeze against your skin seems like a luxury that not all of us can afford. Luckily, you don’t need to drop a monthly membership fee to experience this. PAssion WaVe @ East Coast brings you sun, sand and get this – free yoga by the ocean.
The best part? You can bring the whole family – each yoga session is curated with both the young and old in mind. Afterwards, grab a refreshing drink and sink your toes in the sand while the kiddos build sandcastles and play by the beach.
Price: Free
Date: 15th June 2019
Time: 10AM-11AM
Address: 1390, East Coast Parkway, Singapore 468961
Registration: Here
Website
4. Team up to form a dragon boat team
While everyone else plays sports on land, bring your kiddo, aged 10 and up for a Dragon Boat Orientation Programme at PAssion WaVe @ Jurong Lake. Newbies and seasoned athletes alike are welcome to delve into this experience and learn the basics of Dragon Boating, such as the proper way to paddle and the various commands.
Don’t worry, experienced instructors will be with you every step of the way to ensure you’ve got the proper form and technique. You can also check out other PAssion WaVe locations like PAssion WaVe @ Marina Bay for the Dragon Boating Orientation Programme on other dates.
Price: From $14
Date: 20th July 2019
Time: 10AM-12PM
Address: Jurong Lake Gardens, 100 Yuan Ching Road, Singapore 618662
Registration: Here
5. Try out different sports like rugby, floorball and baseball all in a day
If your kid hasn’t discovered his or her love for sports yet, the Sportshub Family Multi-sports Challenge, organised by Sport4Kids might be a good place to start. Your little bub will be introduced to a whole slew of sports like soccer, basketball, karate and rugby.
Image credit: @sport4kidssingapore
Besides picking up confidence and new sports skills, they might take a liking to a particular sport which you can then help them hone. Who knows, they could just be the next Joseph Schooling in the making.
Price: $50 for 1 parent and 1 child
Date: 8th, 15th & 22nd June 2019 | 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th July 2019 | 17th & 31st Aug 2019
Time: 1PM-2PM
Address: OCBC Arena Hall 3, 1 Stadium Drive Singapore 397629
Registration: Here
6. Hour-long activities like archery and trampolining
Say goodbye to dull holidays and hello to an hour of fun at Active Family by HPB for FREE. Children aged 6-12 years old can take aim and unleash their inner Robin Hood in activities like archery.
Happening every Saturdays and Sundays at 20 locations from now till 31st August 2019, you’re bound to find one near you.
Keep your eyes peeled for June Holiday specials like trampoline parks and nature walks – guaranteed fun for the entire fambam. See the full list of locations and activities, which vary according to the venue. You can register for free on the Healthy 365 app which you can download on Google Play and App Store.
Price: Free
Date: Now till 31st August 2019
Time: 8.30AM-6.30PM
Address: Various locations, refer to link here.
Registration: Here
7. Defy gravity with bouldering and rock climbing
Take your weekend to new heights and rock climb at The Rock School @ Our Tampines Hub with your family. Instead of fumbling on the wall on your own, take your climbing skills up a notch by taking part in the Climbing Exploration programme. It’s an hour-long group session led by an instructor to introduce you to the basics of climbing, inclusive of equipment.
Image credit: @ilovekateandjake
Each session can have a maximum of 4 people. Once the sesh is over, you’ll be on track to unleashing your inner spidey on the walls.
Price: $40/pair
Date: now till 31st August 2019
Time: 9.30AM-8.30PM
Address: Our Tampines Hub, 1 Tampines Walk, #02-81, Singapore 528523
Registration: Here
8. Sweat it out at a free mass Zumba
Put together dance moves and sick beats and you’ve got yourself a workout without feeling like ‘work’. That’s exactly what you can expect from the free Mass Zumba session at Our Tampines Hub. A professional Zumba instructor will teach you dance steps and guide you throughout the session.
Who cares even if you’ve got two left feet, you can still groove to the music and just have fun with it! All you have to do is head to the Tennis Courts @ Arena and register on the day of the event via the Active SG app.
Price: Free
Date: 3rd August 2019
Time: 8.30AM-9.30AM
Address: Our Tampines Hub, 1 Tampines Walk, Singapore 528729
Registration: Via the Active SG app. Download it now from the Google Play or App Store.
9. Flex your gardening skills at Gardener’s Day Out
Image credit: @nparksbuzz
Singapore isn’t a stranger to the term Garden City, so it’s only appropriate that there are regular events like Gardener’s Day Out. Happening every 3rd Saturday of the month, flex your green thumb and take part in free gardening and lifestyle activities.
Attend a talk and learn how to grow your own food like bell peppers at home. For a more hands-on experience, embark on the Bee Trail Tour to find out more about these seemingly scary insects.
There’ll also be tours of the gardens and plenty of activities for kids to keep them entertained, such as storytelling and arts and craft. Location, talks, demonstrations and activities vary for each event, so be sure to check the website for the latest schedule.
Price: Free
Date: 15th June, 20th July, 17th August and every 3rd Saturday of the month
Time: 9AM-3PM
Address: Hort Park, 33 Hyderabad Road, Singapore 119578
Registration: Varies according to events. Find out more here.
10. Play at a 7.5m high playground at Siloso Beach
Image credit: @linxxluxx
The playgrounds we used to play at back in the day were the ones below our HDB blocks. These days, kids have tons of sprawling playgrounds to choose from, but even those can’t compare to Nestopia at Siloso Beach, home to 2 of the longest slides in Sentosa.
Image credit: @xavvylicious
Kiddos aged 5 and up will be entertained for hours on end as they explore 17 play sections in this netted obstacle course that’s a whopping 7.5 metres in the air. Entry tickets inclusive of entry for 1 accompanying adult so parents can secretly live out their childhood too.
Price: From $8/hour for kids
Date: Now till 31st August 2019
Time: Mon-Fri: 11AM-9PM | Sat-Sun: 9AM-9PM
Address: 6 Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa 098995, Singapore
Registration: More info on rates here.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle together with the family
Getting into an active lifestyle is important to develop for everyone, especially for young kids, and it starts with a positive influence from their parents. With the right amount of nutrition from a healthy diet, outdoor activities at least once a week and sufficient sleep nightly, both young and old will be on track to living their best life.
Besides, you know what they say about all work and no play.
Register for The Healthy Timeout Challenge and stand a chance to win a staycation
If you needed any more reason to skip the Netflix plans this weekend, The Healthy Timeout Challenge rewards families for taking part in healthy activities together.
Completion of activities will give you HealthPoints which you can use to redeem prizes such as shopping vouchers from the Healthy 365 app. The top 3 participants that rack up the most HealthPoints will also stand a chance to score the grand prize of a family staycation at Village Hotel in Sentosa.
The winning family will receive a 1 night Family Room Weekend Stay in Village Hotel at Sentosa and entry tickets for 2 adults and 2 kids to Kidzania worth $800
Image credit: Health Promotion Board
Here’s how to convert your family exercise into even more rewards:
Sign up and collect HealthPoints in 3 simple steps:
- Download the Healthy 365 app on Google Play and App Store
- Open the ‘Challenges’ tab, select The Healthy Timeout Challenge and sign up your family for various activities
- Scan the QR code at the venue after each session to earn your HealthPoints
Image credit: Health Promotion Board
Time to switch up the 9-5 grind, put the assessment books aside, and treat the whole family to a well-deserved day out. Not only will you be doing your health a favour, but you’ll also be clocking some quality time together. For a list of activities here.
Find out more about the Healthy Timeout Challenge here
Read on for more kid-friendly activities in S’pore:
- What to do with your kids in Singapore
- Online parenting groups in Singapore
- Child-friendly Singapore restaurants
- Admiralty Park Playground
Cover image adapted from: @meowmelmeowmel, @pfong, @engkit
This post was brought to you by Health Promotion Board.