As the looooooong school holidays approach, we are turning our minds not only to fun things we can do with the kids around Singapore, but to fun festive things we can do with the kids around Singapore! We’ve booked tickets for the Christmas shows, and we snatched up spaces at end of year camps ages ago. But that still leaves us with lots of days to fill with kid-friendly Christmas cheer… Thankfully Santa’s elves have informed us that Christmas in Singapore is going to be super merry and bright this year, especially now we know where all the Christmas activity workshops for the family are at! We’ve found Christmas cooking classes for kids, some awesome parent and child workshops with a cool-yule feel and even the chance to make your own Christmas tree decorations and gifts!
1. My First Christmas Book Camp by Trehaus
Small bookworms age two to six years will get the literary feels at this Christmassy book camp over at Trehaus. Tomie dePaola’s tale, My First Christmas, will be used as the inspiration for interactive storytelling, craft activities, creative games and sing-along merry moments that the kids will adore. Head over to HoneyKidsGo to secure your spot and to check out the other book camps happening (The Little Christmas Elf and The Littlest Christmas Tree), plus nab a $6 discount too!
When: 28 November, 10am-12pm
Where: 442 Orchard Road, Singapore 238879
Cost: From $80 per person
www.trehauscowork.com
2. My Art Pencil Santa Sleigh Clay Class
We’re yet to find a child who doesn’t love getting creative with squidgy clay, so we know kiddos will love this festive class. Kids can make their own Santa Sleigh while they pick up kneading, carving and moulding clay skills: this one is suitable for tots age six and up, and the take-home finished masterpiece is absolutely guaranteed to brighten up your home at Xmas a treat.
When: 1, 8 & 15 December, 2-4pm
Where: Hougang Green Shopping Mall, 21 Hougang Street 51 #01-09, Singapore 538719
Cost: $45 per person
www.myartpencil.com
3. My Festive Wishing Charm at the Esplanade
We’ve long been fans of cute kid-hangout PIP’s PLAYbox over at Esplanade, and this Christmas we can expect more of the fab, free art ‘n’ crafts sessions we know and love. Celebrate December season is happening, and with it the chance for kiddos to pop in and create their very own festive wishing charm.
When: 1 December – 3 January, 11am-6pm
Where: PIP’s PLAYbox, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Cost: Free – no registration needed – just pop in!
www.esplanade.com
4. FUN-Tastic Fridays at Asian Civilisations Museum
If you fancy some fun, free Xmas craft activities for the little ones this holiday season, then embark on a voyage over to the Asian Civilisations Museum where not only can you adventure through the mysteries of the past with interactive character tours and stories, but they can dive into some cool Chrimbo craft too.
When: 2, 9, 16 & 23 December, 12-4pm
Where: ACM, 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555
Cost: Free
www.acm.org.sg/programmes/family-fun
5. Christmas Fun with Explorer Junior
Get your kids into the Christmas spirit (and outta your hair for a few hours) and send little ones for three days of Christmas Fun at an Explorer Junior Camp! Young minds will be encouraged to get creative and unleash critical thinking while they build a sleigh for Santa. Designed for kids age three to six, this one is perfect for tinkering and fiddling types! Sleigh-ride over to HoneyKidsGo to snag your spaces, and ho-ho-home in on the current $13 saving you’ll make if you book before 9 December.
When: Various dates from 2 December
Where: 442 Orchard Road, Singapore 238879
Cost: From $180 per person
www.trehauscowork.com
6. Home Sweet Home Gingerbread House Decorating Workshop
Looking for something fun and festive to do as a family? It doesn’t get much sweeter than this pre-Christmas workshop: decorating your own Gingerbread house! The two-hour session, over at the Shangri-La Hotel, will be run by pastry chef extraordinaire, Herve Potus, who will talk you through frosting, cookies and candy while you personalise your own edible masterpiece.
When: 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18 December 2016, 3:30-5:30pm
Where: 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350
Cost: $98 per child (who can be accompanied by up to two adults)
www.shangri-la.com
7. Make Your Own Christmas Ornaments Naiise Workshop
Get into the festive spirit and join Naiise at a creative parent and child workshop where you’ll get the chance to make gifts, holiday decorations and cute Christmas tree ornaments. You’ll use fun materials including polymer clay, which is easy peasy for little fingers to mould with, and you’ll have a jolly ol’ time creating at least four different Xmas decs to take home with you.
When: 10 December, 2-5.30pm
Where: Naiise @ Orchard Gateway, #02-24
Cost: $129 per person or $159 for parent-child combo
www.naiise.com/collections/workshops
8. Arthaus Festive Trinkets Camp
Little elves age three to six years will love getting creative over three mornings of Christmas craft at this fun Arthaus camp. Expect a plethora of DIY trinkets and decorations to hang on your tree, and the odd hand-made gift too! Make a booking and snap up the current promo deal, which will bag you an $11 discount
When: 12-14 December, 9.30-11.30am
Where: 442 Orchard Road, Singapore 238879
Cost: From $150 per person
www.arthaus.com.sg
9. Expat Kitchen Kids’ Christmas Baking
No need to leave the same ol’ mince pies ‘n’ milk for Santa this year: kids taking this Christmas baking class with Expat Kitchen will be whipping up festive goodies galore! Reindeer cupcakes, Snow White Christmas balls, Grinch fruit sticks and pita Xmas trees are on the menu for young chefs age four to eight years to serve up. Head over to HoneyKidsGo to bake your way to a yuletide feast.
When: 17 December, 10.30am-12pm
Where: 9 Norris Road #02-01, Little India, Singapore 208252
Cost: $55 per person
www.expat-kitchen.com/helper-courses/cooking-kids
10. My Art Pencil Snow Pine Canvas Class
Christmas is all about family, so we say get into a merry mood together while picking up some new art skills at a canvas class for beginners! Suitable for kids age six and up, this guided session will teach you to draw and paint winter pine trees (Christmas trees!) on canvas using acrylic paints – just in time to hang on your wall to jazz up your festive decor before New Year rolls round!
When: 30 and 31 December, various timings
Where: Hougang Green Shopping Mall, 21 Hougang Street 51 #01-09, Singapore 538719
Cost: From $34 per person
www.myartpencil.com