Things to do with kids in Singapore
Parents can surely relate to this: the weekend is approaching and you’ve got 2 whole days to entertain your young ones. You sure as heck don’t want to stick them in front of the TV all day, and you want to have some quality time with them, so what shall you do? Head to the same ol’ playground? Or try something new?
Well, we’ve got you covered. These things to do with kids in Singapore will tide you over every weekend of the year, be it activities for outdoorsy families or animal lovers. Plus, they include plenty of learning opportunities, of course.
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When are the school holidays in Singapore?
The school holidays in 2024 are on the following dates:
- Mid-year term break: 25th May – 23rd June 2024
- Term 3 break: 31st August – 8th September 2024
- End-of-year term break: 16th November 2024 – 1st January 2025
For schools that are also used as venues for the GCE O Level examinations, the year-end school holidays start earlier, on 26th October 2024.
– Nature activities to do with kids in Singapore –
1. Go longkang fishing at Qian Hu Fish Farm
Image credit: @kzliang via Instagram
Kids and fish are almost always a failproof formula – and you don’t have to fork out a tonne of money for them to ogle colourful marine and aquatic creatures for a few hours. Bring them to farms such as Qian Hu Fish Farm to wander through rows of tanks and aquariums, housing creatures such as discus and stingrays – all available for purchase if you have a tank at home.
Kids can even try out longkang fishing and experience a fish spa for themselves, then wind down at the onsite cafe.
Those intrigued by fish farming can also check out this Agriculture and Fish Farming Sustainability Tour.
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2. Play goat farmer for a day at Hay Dairies for free
Farm animals are part and parcel of every other kids’ nursery rhyme. So, bring them to meet some friendly goats at Hay Dairies, the only goat farm in Singapore.
With over 800 animals calling the farm home, kids can learn how to milk a goat, feed some friendly billies, and even have a taste of fresh goat milk.
3. Pet & feed exotic turtles at the Live Turtle & Tortoise Museum
Tortoises have feet, turtles have flippers – that’s the easiest way to tell the commonly associated reptiles apart. Now that you know that, put that knowledge to the test with a visit to the Live Turtle & Tortoise Museum.
The place houses a collection of more than 30 different species of tortoises, turtles, and terrapins in different enclosures. But this isn’t a museum just for viewing these gentle creatures, you can get up close to pet and even feed them.
Look for Connie, the owner, while you’re visiting. She has tales and fascinating facts to share about these animals.
4. Catch a glimpse of the last century at Bukit Timah Railway Station
Image adapted from: @asriloqmann via Instagram
You’ll barely feel that you’re in modern-day Singapore at Bukit Timah Railway Station. The restored station gives you a glimpse into the romance of long-distance train travel – just think of it as a local version of Taiwan’s Shifen Old Street, where you can find a cafe, a heritage gallery, and bright yellow wagons for kids to explore.
Image credit: @yellowlemonie via Instagram
Wander along the train tracks for your Na Xie Nian IG shot before relaxing at 1932 Story cafe for some bites and a drink.
5. Step into the Jurassic period at free dino-themed attractions
Image credit: Changi Airport Group
The Jurassic period intrigues all of us, but especially the kids. For the tiny tots who can’t get enough of dinosaurs, there are several dino-themed attractions scattered around Singapore – and no, we’re not just talking about Changi Jurassic Mile.
Image credit: @causewaypointsg via Instagram
At Causeway Point, dive headfirst into the world of T-Rexes at a free-entry rooftop water playground. And over at Gardens By The Bay’s Jurassic Nest Cafe and Food Hall, dinosaur statues are dotted all over the safari-concept food court, and above your seats.
Animated Jurassic Nest shows with life-sized dinos happen every hour in the alfresco area and indoor dining hall, and your kids can also see plants and fish with a genetic heritage that can be traced back to ancient times along the Jurassic Encounters Trail.
6. Enjoy a stroller-friendly visit to the cool Tropical Montane Orchidetum
Babies, for obvious reasons, aren’t the easiest companions for an outdoorsy day out. But at the National Orchid Garden’s Tropical Montane Orchidetum, moms and dads don’t have to worry about struggling with strollers thanks to the wide pavements and gently sloping ramps.
Enjoy a walk around the enclosure located within the Singapore Botanic Gardens, which recreate the vibes of a high-elevation forest, while you wheel your tot around with ease. On a hot afternoon, escape the heat of the attraction’s cool glasshouse, with soothing Genting-like temperatures of around 20°C.
7. Go on a kid-friendly hiking trail
Flat waterfront boardwalks at MacRitchie Reservoir.
Over the last couple of years, we’ve gone deep into the forests and nature reserves and parks of Singapore, discovering and paving new trails along the way. Indiana Joneses, take your kids along with you for a weekend hiking adventure. There are tonnes of well-developed kid-friendly hiking trails to visit for a day out that the entire family can enjoy.
Dairy Farm Nature Park has nature-themed trick-eye photo ops while the Singapore Botanic Gardens has a ridge with child-friendly educational signboards.
8. Visit animals of the land, water & sky at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve
The 4-in-1 Mandai Wildlife Reserve, comprising the Singapore Zoo, the Night Safari, River Wonders, and Bird Paradise will provide a full day or more of edutainment for the kiddos.
Start with the Singapore Zoo with over 2,000 animals to observe. You can conveniently cover the River Wonders after that, to wave hello to adorable pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia or go on a boat ride with the Amazon River Quest to spot Amazonian wildlife like tapirs and jaguars.
While you’re at it, do give Bird Paradise a visit as well. Let your tot feed colourful starlings, fish-loving pelicans, nectar-drinking lories, and flightless cassowaries. Make time for the twice-daily Wings of the World and Predators on Wings shows at the Sky Amphitheatre, where you can see birds show off their natural abilities with their trainers.
When evening comes, walk on over to the Night Safari to ride the tram that’ll bring you around to all the exhibits, complete with audio commentary.
P.S. If the kiddos can’t get enough of animals, there’s also KidzWorld you can take them to. The re-opened park at the zoo has animal feeding and a petting zoo with goats and rabbits. There are also playgrounds with interactive elements that use special binoculars and an app to engage the kids.
9. Sample a farm-to-table meal at Bollywood Farms
Image credit: Bollywood Veggies
If you’re looking for an outdoor activity beyond the usual nature parks and reserves, head to Bollywood Farms, tucked away in the Kranji countryside. The 10-acre farm is a rustic gem offering a taste of kampung life with tours and activities.
You can go on a self-guided tour that’ll lead you around fruit plantations and irrigation canals. Kids can also have their first taste of a farm-to-table dining experience here at the in-house Poison Ivy Bistro, with a seasonal menu created using their own fresh produce.
Make Bollyword Farms a part of a weekend countryside getaway in Singapore. The surrounding area is also home to attractions such as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and the Kranji Marshes. You could try squeezing everything into a day, but we recommend booking a night at Kranji Sanctuary Resort, which is minutes away from these attractions.
– Entertainment activities for kids in Singapore –
10. Catch a movie from $5 at Jewel Changi’s kid-friendly Shaw Theatres Dreamers
The movie sound volume here is softer than usual, and the lighting is dim but not pitch-black.
Image credit: @slhchen via Instagram
Putting your kid in a cramped and dark space with loud noises is, well, a disaster waiting to happen. But that’s not to say fun movie nights are out the window. Jewel Changi’s Shaw Theatres Dreamers is made just for our tiny ones with every bit of the experience being kid-friendly.
From Shaw Theatres Dreamers, there are many more kid-friendly things to do at Jewel Changi and Changi Airport. Terminal 3 has, the world’s tallest slide, a free play zone at B1 and ST3PS, which has free movie screenings. At Jewel Changi, there’s the Canopy Park, which has a myriad of activities like slides and foggy lawns to explore.
11. Visit S’pore’s largest inflatable indoor playground at Bouncy Paradise
Image credit: Bouncy Paradise via Facebook
Bouncy Paradise is the largest inflatable playground in Singapore with a 20-lane rainbow slide, 5 giant ball pits, rock climbing walls, wipeout-style challenges, and trampolines.
Make it a playdate with your friends’ little ones as well – the kids can go nuts, expelling their unlimited well of energy in this humongous 20,000sqft space.
12. Spend a full day with heart-pumping activities at Adventure HQ
Here’s an upgrade from your neighbourhood playground: Adventure HQ at HomeTeamNS Khatib is a 2,800sqm play zone filled with thrilling activities. They’ve got suspended obstacle courses, the tallest indoor slide in Singapore, an artificial cave network, and our favourite of all – an 8m-tall parabolic slide with some free-fall action.
Plus, Singapore’s first Call of Duty-like airsoft arena TactSim is within the same building for the kiddos who can’t get enough of FPS games.
13. Visit an arcade with a mini-bowling alley & photo booth
Arcades may not be the same as they once were, but their heydays are not over. In fact, at certain arcades, things are only just picking up, with “wilder” activities and more high-tech games.
From bumper cars to mini-bowling, arcades in Singapore are gradually getting revamps that’ll thrill kids and the young and heart alike.
Remember Neoprints? Your kids won’t, but getting a family group photo here will be a good chance to show them our hangout activities from the past. You can find similar machines at Timezone VivoCity and at Moo Character Town at Jewel Changi.
Moo Character Town
Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, #B1-295/296 Jewel Changi, Singapore 819666
Opening hours: 24 hours, Daily
Contact: Cow Play Cow Moo website
14. Dive into a sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream
Kid or not, ice cream has got to be one of life’s ultimate guilty pleasures. Have the family go ham with free-flow ice cream, from classic Potong sticks to soft serve cones, at the Museum of Ice Cream Singapore.
Hailing from San Francisco, the pretty pink attraction is home to lots of cute backdrops to snap tons of photos with. While navigating the 14 themed rooms, find swings, a bouncy castle, and even a massive sprinkle pool you can hop into.
15. Let the kids explore the 7-gallery Children’s Museum Singapore
Image credit: Children’s Museum Singapore
Run by the National Heritage Board, the Children’s Museum Singapore has something for every kid – aspiring time-travellers can head to a room modelled after colonial Singapore, fans of flora and fauna can explore a paper sculpture room that pays tribute to Southeast Asia’s nature, and even 2-4 year olds who may not be able to catch up with their older siblings have their own free-play room with an interactive hawker food cart.
A heritage talk for kids (left) and an activity station teaching kids all about healing plants found locally (right).
Image credit: Children’s Museum Singapore
Your museum experience won’t end after you leave either, as the museum organises regular art competitions that let kids show off their creativity and engage with Singapore’s culture and history by drawing in response to prompts and challenges.
16. Take them on a shopping spree at a warehouse toy store
The large warehouse shop is just a stone’s throw from IKEA Tampines.
Image credit: @t_fortoys via Instagram
It’s time to stow away the iPad and take your little one out to pick some real toys at T for Toys Store. Your shopping basket will be filled with activity sets, costumes, art and craft materials, and building blocks in no time at all. The best part is, prices are known to be super affordable here, with toys starting from just $1.
17. Scream your lungs out at Universal Studios Singapore
The Battlestar Galactica ride.
It’s going to be tough for your kids to be bored at Universal Studios Singapore, especially when there are 24 rides available, character meet-and-greets, and 6 themed zones to explore. Older and bolder kids can get an adrenaline rush on the Battlestar Galactica roller coaster while younger ones can go on gentler rides such as Puss In Boots’ Giant Journey.
Puss In Boots’ Giant Journey.
If you’re tired from the heat, head indoors for one of the shows such as the immersive Shrek 4-D Adventure. You can also meet some of your favourite cartoon mascots and movie characters at the meet-and-greet sessions.
18. Be a fireman for a day at an SCDF fire station open house
Image credit: @p3iling12 via Instagram
Fire station open houses are a great opportunity for children to learn about the stations’ inner workings. Most fire stations in Singapore hold open houses every Saturday morning, during which your kiddo will get a chance to sit in a fire engine, slide down a fireman’s pole, and even see a fireman’s hose in action!
Don’t stop there – add on a visit to the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery, a free-entry 2-storey museum in the Central Fire Station that’ll give the kids a more intimate look into the behind-the-scenes happenings in the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
(Closed) NERF Action Xperience theme park
Another throwback to the prime era of great childhood games is NERF Action Xperience. Zombie City takes kids into a simulation of an apocalyptic city with moving and still targets to shoot, while Capture the Flag is a PVP dream come true – you’ll get to fire at your opponents without holding back.
– Sports & adventure activities for kids in Singapore –
19. Take on a challenge with X-Scap8’s aerial skateboarding & cycling
Here’s one for the older kids ready to take on a challenge: among X-Scap8’s slew of new activities are high elements courses and aerial skateboarding and cycling. That’s not all – those who prefer to do ground-level activities can have a ball of a time at the bottle-smashing zone, take a swing at the golf simulator, and challenge one another at the arcade.
The Smash Lab, where you can break bottles with safety gear.
Kids can also enjoy a smashing time – literally – at X-Scap8’s bottle-smashing zone, and try classic arcade games such as Pac-Man at the mini arcade.
20. Chase new heights at kid-friendly rock climbing walls
Image credit: Glen Francis via Google Maps
Rock climbing doesn’t have to only be for grown-ups. There are plenty of rock climbing and bouldering gyms in Singapore, and the kiddos aren’t left out of the fun. Head over to Climb Central at i12 Katong for cartoon-themed walls that are kid-friendly.
The young ones can also scale the walls of UpWall Climbing at Downtown East, Pasir Ris, or Climb at T3 at Changi Airport.
21. Try a virtual kid’s course at Five Iron Golf
Image credit: Five Iron Golf
Family days out won’t be subjected to Singapore’s erratic weather at indoor golf simulator Five Iron Golf. Adult ranges aside, they’ve also got golf clinics every weekend afternoon that are made just for the young ones, with golf balls and kid-sized clubs provided.
22. Attempt wakeboarding at Singapore Wake Park
Image credit: @singaporewakepark via Instagram
If you’re missing Bali’s waves but can’t fly there soon, you can still do some pretty cool water sports at Singapore’s very own Wake Park. With secure line systems to pull you across the water, the park is suitable for beginners as young as 6 to try their hand at wakeboarding and cable-skiing.
You can choose between different systems, depending on whether you want to go on your own or if you want to wakeboard with others at the same time. For beginners, it’s probably better to go for an individual session, so that the instructor can focus solely on you for your first few tries.
After your sesh, refuel at the on-site Coastal Rhythm Cafe & Bar from which you can also spot visitors riding the waves.
23. Conquer the ziplines at Forest Adventure
Image credit: @linggermaine via Instagram
Forest Adventure has 3 different high-element obstacle courses for all ages, with the Kids Course with 22 crossings and 2 zip lines catering to children aged 5-9. There will be instructors and safety precautions to make sure that your entire experience is danger-free.
24. Beat the heat at free water playgrounds
Play @ Heights Park Toa Payoh
With the hot and humid weather, your little one will thank you for any chance given to splash around at a free water playground. Make a visit to Toa Payoh for its new Play @ Heights Park, a wet and dry playground that’s nestled among towering HDBs.
Clusia Cove.
Westside folks won’t be left hanging – you guys can head to Jurong Lake Gardens’ serene Clusia Cove playground instead. Easties, take your kids to Splash-N-Surf at Kallang Wave Mall where they can have fun running around the fort, going down the slides, and getting refreshing spritzes of water from the fountains. And Northies can splash around in the Jelutung Harbour Park water playground in Sembawang.
25. Get bouncing at a trampoline park
Image credit: @bouncesingapore via Instagram
Energetic kids will love trampoline parks where they can bounce to their heart’s content. Places such as BOUNCE have trampolines, basketball hoops, and obstacle courses for all-out fun. And Amped Trampoline Park at Raeburn Park even has a bouncy air court where kids can shoot hoops or kick a ball with their buds for 50 minutes at a time.
– Educational & cultural activities for kids in Singapore –
26. Visit aesthetic museums such as the National Gallery & ArtScience Museum
Sketch Town at ArtScience Museum.
Museums don’t just provide interactive games and activities for your child, but also teach them about various topics such as art, technology and culture. The ArtScience Museum has a permanent Future World exhibition where large interactive screens can turn your crayon drawings into animals.
Art and craft activities at the National Gallery Singapore.
Image credit: National Gallery Singapore
The National Gallery Singapore houses the kid-friendly Keppel Centre for Art Education that your family can visit as many times as you wish. Apart from its public play spaces and educational interactive installation art, they also have activities including family art workshops and storytelling sessions.
Note: Even though general admission to the main galleries of the museum is ticketed for visitors from abroad, the Keppel Centre is free for all.
27. Experience winter in the tropics at Snow City Singapore
Image credit: @linda.cla via Instagram
Get your kids away from Singapore’s sticky heat and head to Snow City Singapore for a change in scenery and temperature. The sub-zero compound has 3-storey high snow slopes that’re 60m long for them to slide down.
Image credit: Snow City Singapore
Your kids can explore igloos, have a go at the bumper cars, and stroll into the Ice Hotel Gallery which displays ice sculptures and furniture. Do bring their own winter hats and waterproof gloves if you have them for more fun playing in the snow.
28. See natural phenomena come to life at the Science Centre Singapore
The Science Centre Singapore will fascinate your child with everything from typhoon simulators to VR experiences that will virtually take them into outer space. Step into The Mind’s Eye, a permanent exhibition with optical illusions that’ll enthrall the little ones. The rainbow-coloured Mirror Maze, laser maze, and fear exhibits are among the many other stations that’ll make time fly.
Let the kids try operating machines such as cranes at KidsSTOP.
While there, you can also pay KidsSTOP a visit. The zone is designed to let children play and learn in different themed zones, such Flight & Space, which lets them make their own constellations, and The Big Dream Climber, which features a 9m climbing structure with a music room at the top.
29. Interact with Singapore’s story at the Singapore Discovery Centre
Image credit: @sin_kok_wai via Instagram
Singapore Discovery Centre, built to commemorate Singapore’s past and present, is great for kids because of its interactive exhibitions, 4D simulator rides, and games. It boasts one of Singapore’s largest escape rooms – the Black Lake Facility – and the XD Theatre Ride with motion and weather effects.
The Black Lake Laser Battlefield.
Image credit: Singapore Discovery Centre
Also check out an AR gallery retelling significant Singapore historical moments, and pedal boats which your kids can ride while you steer them on the nearby lake.
30. View sharks and stingrays at the S.E.A. Aquarium at Sentosa
Image credit: @playinsingapore via Instagram
The soon-to-be Singapore Oceanarium, S.E.A. Aquarium is a gorgeous underwater world of unique marine creatures. The see-through tunnels of the aquarium give you a view of the sharks and stingrays in the aquarium while the Open Ocean Habitat has art and craft sessions to keep your kiddo occupied.
Educational programmes for kids are held here from time to time, some letting them roleplay as ocean conservation workers and some bringing them to have a close-up look at sea life with on-site aquarists and scientists.
31. Snap optical illusion-style photos at the Trick Eye Museum
Image credit: @river_nadine_lara_naomi via Instagram
Any kid would be thrilled at the optical illusions at the Trick Eye Museum, where 2D backdrops actually show up as 3D images when seen from a certain angle. You can spend hours here posing to your heart’s content as you pretend to skydive, for example, or ride a unicorn.
Image credit: @sonic.yxy via Instagram
The museum now includes 2 rooms with AR technology, so your kids can interact with virtual motion effects, including fire and water, visible through an app.
32. Stargaze with a telescope on a clear & cloudless day
Don’t leave after visiting the Science Centre Singapore’s quirky optical illusions and interactive exhibits. Hang out till late to catch their stargazing sessions every Friday night ($17/pax). Here, you can gaze through their powerful telescope to spot stars, planets, and faraway galaxies. Pair this with their accompanying digital planetarium shows for a night out the kids will love you for.
Alternatively, use our stargazing spot guide combined with the Meteorological Service Singapore’s cloud coverage tracker to find a good public stargazing spot.
33. Make your own bikes at Unspokin to explore easy cycling trails
Bikes aren’t just customisable at Unspokin’s bicycle workshops. You’ll get a shot at building your very own bicycle from an assortment of parts. Choose the colour for your frame, handpick different components from handles to pedals, and put everything together with the help of a professional.
The 4-hour-long session gets the kids in touch with every nook and cranny of their 2-wheelers – plus, it’s a good conversation starter when you come across other families pedalling along Singapore’s many cycling routes.
34. Check out vintage toys at the Mint Museum of Toys
Image adapted from Mint Museum of Toys
If it’s one thing that kids love for sure, it’s toys, and the Mint Museum of Toys is stocked to the brim with over 50,000 of them. The museum houses a world-class collection of vintage toys and collectables, many dating from the 1840s to the 1980s, that show how toys have evolved from way before your time to your child’s.
You might just recognise characters such as Popeye, Superman, Felix the Cat, and the Flintstones. The museum also holds themed kid-friendly events and limited-duration activities announced on its socials, so do time your visit to coincide with one.
35. Join a kids’ activity at your local community centre or residents’ committee centre
There’s no need to venture beyond your neighbourhood for your kid to interact with new friends or to learn about their culture and community, as local community clubs (CCs) and residents’ committee (RC) centres regularly hold child-friendly events and classes at affordable prices.
Events include field trips to factories or family-friendly events, festival-themed storytelling, art and craft project workshops, skill courses from first aid to programming for kids, and classes run the gamut from speech and drama to playgroups to LEGO- and robot-building.
– Indoor activities for kids in Singapore –
36. Have a meal in a restaurant where kids eat for free
Bouncy castle at Cafe Melba.
Image credit: @cafemelbasingapore via Instagram
Food: the glorious thing that keeps us all alive, made even better when it comes free for your hungry hippo child. There are plenty of restaurants out there where kids can eat free – think ramen, vegan food, and even buffets.
Check out Cafe Melba at Goodman Arts Centre and Mediapolis where kids eat for free every Monday and Tuesday with every meal purchased. Depending on which location you visit, there’s an open space for the little ones to scamper around, a kid’s corner, and even complimentary colouring sheets.
List of Cafe Melba locations.
37. Avoid the sun by heading to indoor playgrounds
Image credit: @w00sunny via Instagram
Some days are just too hot for us to go outdoors, so it’s great when we can retreat into the cool comfort of indoor playgrounds, conveniently located within malls. Try out the pastel-coloured Smigy Playground PLQ, which is the largest indoor playground in the east, complete with a driving circuit, castles, and a ball pit with a digital game screen.
Image credit: Klook
Or, drop your child off at The Polliwogs, complete with a pastel play area exclusively for toddlers.
Check out our article on the best indoor playgrounds in Singapore for more ideas.
38. Drop by a window decal & sand art craft kiosk
Star Arts at Westgate.
Image credit: Star Arts via Facebook
Many malls such as Westgate and City Square Mall have art kiosks, where you can sit down and rest your legs while your child releases his or her inner Picasso. They’ll give your kids the opportunity to spend 1-2 hours painting wall decals or doing sand art, which they can later bring home.
39. Treat the family to a kid-friendly staycation
Castle-themed suite at the Shangri-La.
Image credit: Shangri-La
Give the family a treat by taking them to one of the several kid-friendly hotels in Singapore for a staycay that will have everyone well-refreshed and entertained. One of these is Shangri-La, home to themed rooms and Buds at Shangri-La, an in-house curated indoor playground where parents can drop their kids off and enjoy some couple time.
Image credit: Pan Pacific
Alternatively, Parkroyal Marina Bay has a family staycation in burrow and jungle-themed rooms. Both of these feature bunks for kids to climb on, as well as a host of activities, such as board games and Nintendo Switches to keep them occupied throughout their stay.
Image credit: @parkroyalcollectionmarinabay via Instagram
The kicker, however, are their complimentary Terrarium Milk Pudding Workshop and Urban Farm Tour that’ll have kids exercising their creative muscle and learning more about growing plants on rooftop gardens.
40. Cultivate a love for reading at public libraries
Woodlands Regional Library.
Image credit: @aqilahreads via Instagram
Encourage a love for reading in your little one by taking them down to libraries such as Woodlands Regional Library. It features a forest-themed corner with a giant artificial indoor tree and make-believe pond, as well as a sensory learning centre with books and toys of varying textures.
library@harbourfront gives you a panoramic view of the sea, with deck chairs laid out for you to take in the great view as you read. The newly revamped Central Public Library also has an underwater-themed space complete with AI features and coral pillars as decor.
Read our article on child-friendly features at public libraries.
41. Make your own pancakes at Slappy Cakes
Image credit: Slappy Cakes Singapore
DIY pancakes. Need we say more? Slappy Cakes lets you and your kiddo choose from a wide range of batters for your pancakes, which you can squeeze out into your desired shapes with a nozzle bottle.
Toppings such as chocolate sprinkles and fruits can be added to your creations. Not only will your kids be well-entertained, but you can also turn your visit into a brunch outing.
42. Run around at Pororo Park, a themed jungle gym
Image credit: Pororo Park Singapore
Pororo Park‘s indoor playground revolves around Pororo the penguin himself and his different cartoon animal friends. Kids can thoroughly explore a themed playground featuring a Pororo Express train track, sensory Hinoki wood pit, jungle gym and ball pit, and bouncy castles.
There’s even a mini supermarket where children can play pretend chef, and the on-site Loopy’s Cafe with a kid-friendly menu.
43. Have a thrill with the rides at Sentosa 4D AdventureLand
Image credit: Sentosa
A day out at Sentosa means guaranteed thrills for the kids, and these don’t have to stop if you’re hit by Singapore’s unpredictable rainstorms. Sentosa 4D AdventureLand, located at Imbiah Lookout, is an indoor, interactive virtual reality game zone where you can embark on log rides down a river, an adventure on a fantasy island, a cowboy-style shootout, or a ride through a ghostly mine.
Check the 4D cinema’s screening times in advance so you can arrive on time to experience action movies with simulated fog, rain, wind, and every bump and jolt as if you were the main character.
Catch an array of adventures, including a scary ride and action-adventures such as Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.
44. Cuddle dogs & cats at a pet cafe
Image credit: Meomi Cat Cafe via Facebook
Cat cafes in Singapore such as Meomi Cat Cafe will let your children enjoy a meal and learn how to interact with the cute kitties milling about. The friendly staff will also share the background stories of your newfound furry friends. Tip: come later in the day as the cats tend to nap when the sun’s out.
Image credit: @whatthepugcafe on Instagram
If your kids are dog people, then What The Pug dog cafe will make your heart melt completely. Each ticket includes a 45-minute pug-petting session, a canned drink, and an instant photo, plus you can purchase $3 treat bags for your child to feed the dogs and practice tricks such as getting them to sit.
This cafe only serves drinks, but you can also play one of the many board games available there.
45. Go prawning without worrying about mozzies at FishBugis+
Image credit: Ed Chua via Google Maps
Located on the 7th Floor of Bugis+ is FishBugis+, Singapore’s only rooftop indoor prawn fishing pond and bar. Since the prawning pool is comfortably air-conditioned, no one has to fight the onslaught of mozzies or spray on a layer of sticky insect repellent.
Image credit: FishBugis+
Restless kids can also head to the children’s longkang fishing pond. As for parents? You can relax at the in-house fish spa or crack open a cold one while the kids run free.
46. Make your own chocolate bar at Mr Bucket Chocolaterie
Show me a kid who’ll turn down a sweet treat – I’ll wait. Even if sugar isn’t ordinarily part of your little one’s diet, let them indulge for once with their own chocolate bar from Mr Bucket Chocolaterie.
The fun DIY activity will have kids picking out toppings such as nuts, pretzels, and even dried fruits, which will be mixed into melted dark or milk chocolate. Once the bar solidifies, it’s theirs for the keeping – or eating – if they so wish.
(Temporarily closed) Airzone
Head down to Airzone at City Square Mall, where nets that hang 2-5 storeys high will give you a bouncin’ great time. As the world’s first indoor suspended net playground, it’ll have your kids jumping into a ball pit and zooming down long slides that’ll take them from one storey to another.
After you’ve bounced your heart out, grab refreshments and drinks or enjoy smart TV entertainment at the lounge, where lockers to store your barang, phone chargers, and shoe racks are also located for your convenience.
– Outdoor adventures for kids in Singapore –
47. Bring your kid to a summer or end-of-year camp
While your kids are still young, the June and December holidays should be packed with fun and activity, not monotonous tuition. Bring them to a summer or end-of-year camp in Singapore to socialise with new friends and learn new skills in an interactive manner without the pressure of grades.
From coding and robotics camps to gymnastics and field sports, art, music, dance, drama, and second language immersion camps, Singapore’s educational centres and international schools have something for everyone – you’ll wish you were a kid again.
48. Go glamping on Lazarus Island
City kids used to the comforts of modern-day plumbing and air conditioning may not be too keen roughing it out camping in Singapore. But they’ll probably enjoy a touch of it with glamping. Over at Into The Woods on Lazarus Island, the entire fam can stay in a wood cabin or opt for a seafront glamping tent big enough for 4.
Before you ask, there’s AC, a mini fridge, TV, and even Wi-Fi. The toilets and bathrooms are situated about a 3-minute walk from the campsite though. Hey, the kids have got to learn a thing or two about living outside their comfort zone.
Don’t worry about not having anything to eat. You can get meal kits for adults and kids from Into The Woods. Everything is prepped for you, but you’ll have to cook the food yourself.
49. Have fun for the whole family at Splash Tribe
Kids and beach clubs don’t sound like they’re a good mix, but you’ll be surprised at the offerings at Splash Tribe. It’s not just a place for mum and dad to laze around by the pool, your mini-mes get to have their share of fun with water slides, spray jets, and splash buckets.
Go all in with family friends and book yourselves a 2-storey gazebo. You’ll be able to check on your kids as they play in the water from the comfort of their sofas and hammocks.
Splash Tribe is part of the newly-upgraded The Palawan @ Sentosa, which has a host of other family-friendly activities like mini golf at UltraGolf, go-karting at HyperDrive, and a water obstacle course at HydroDash.
50. Reminisce at old-school playgrounds
Take a walk down memory lane by bringing your kiddo to some of the old-school playgrounds that you once played at. The Dragon Playground at Toa Payoh is a classic icon, designed back in 1979. Another one is the mosaic-tiled Clock Playground at Bishan. Your children will be having a ball on the duck spring riders and clambering up the ladders to head down the slides.
Read our article on old-school playgrounds.
51. Snorkel among fish at Adventure Cove Waterpark
Image credit: @erikahocson via Instagram
Adventure Cove Waterpark is not just any water theme park – they’ve pulled out the big guns with their Ray Bay attraction, where you can wade in water and feed stingrays. Or, snorkel at the Rainbow Reef and enter the underwater world of many different brightly-coloured fish amongst the reefs.
Race your kid on the Dueling Racer slides as the two of you plunge down on mats to see who reaches the finishing line first. Or team up together in Spiral Washout as you both hang on to your floats and spin round down the slide at top speed.
52. Get an adrenaline rush with the Skyline Luge
The Skyline Luge Sentosa is a thrilling experience where you and your child can zoom down slopes and tracks on a vehicle that moves with gravity and momentum. Before you ride the luge down the hill, you can opt to take the Skyride, a chairlift that will let you soar above the canopy of trees with a Sentosa sea view. After getting to the top, choose from 4 luge trails to zoom down.
For a more memorable experience, come on Friday or Saturday nights when the tracks are colourfully lit and you can see a sparkling view of the sea around Sentosa as you ascend via the Skyride.
53. Have a splashing great time at Wild Wild Wet
Image credit: @gyurizzing_ via Instagram
The water theme park Wild Wild Wet has undergone a revamp in recent times with new rides such as Torpedo, an 18m-high slide that keeps you going at 70km/hour, for daring children craving that adrenaline rush. For younger children, there’s the Shiok River, where all they have to do is relax on a tube float as the currents sweep them along gently.
Pro-tip for families: book a cabana that comes with a curtain, mini-fridge for drinks, Wi-Fi, and a fan to cool off in between slides.
(Closed) Diggersite
Image credit: @the.hnsibs via Instagram
Let your little one experience being a builder for a day at the construction-themed Diggersite, where they’ll don safety helmets and vests and operate a mini digger, alongside other small-scale construction machinery.
Things to do with kids in Singapore
Everyone always seems to be occupied these days – with adults cramming deadlines at work and children occupied with school, family time does seem to be getting increasingly rare.
Instead of heading to the same places over and over again, toss the phones aside and head out with the kiddos to form some new core memories together. You’d never know just how much you might enjoy yourself!
Check out what’s near you with this list of activities on TSL’s Google My Maps.
If somehow, you need more activity ideas:
- Free kid-friendly water playgrounds in Singapore
- Family-friendly activities this June school holidays 2024
- Kid-friendly things to do in Jewel Changi
Cover image adapted from: Five Iron Golf, @linda.cla, @erikahocson, @river_nadine_lara_naomi, @mud.krank, Singapore Discovery Centre, Klook, @wearethefurballs, @diggersite, @playinsingapore, Bollywood Veggies, @vvens
Originally published by Persis Gan on 20th March 2019. Last updated by Gracelyn Lim, Ezekiel Sen, Kezia Tan & Raewyn Koh on 24th May 2024.
A portion of this content may contain referral links to products. Our opinions remain our own.