Entertaining your junior league outdoors
No need to break the piggy bank, honey! We’ve scoured far and wide to put together our list of methods for memory making that might ease the burden on your pocketbook when it comes to having fun with the littlies.
1. Roam Chinese Garden
If the kids (or even yourself) are getting sick of Jacob Ballas, consider going further west to the Chinese Garden. Modeled on the northern Chinese imperial style of landscaping and architecture, your little tykes would be left impressed. Climb to the top of the seven story pagoda – the panoramic view of the garden and the Jurong Lake district is definitely worth it.
Chinese Garden, 1 Chinese Garden, Singapore 619795. Open daily 6am-11pm. Admission is free.
2. Bowling at Orchid Bowl
Orchid Bowl, located in Downtown East, is the first bowling facility in Singapore to feature miniature bowling. With their late night hours, we think this is also an excellent nocturnal activity if the littlies are allowed to stay out past their bedtime. Great for kids aged 5 years and up!
OrchidBowl@E!hub, E!hub Downtown East, 1 Pasir Ris Close #01-111, Singapore 519599, p. 6583 1622. Open Sun-Thu 10am-1am, Fri and Sat 10am-3am. $3.20 for students 21 year and below, $4.20 for the public. Shoes rental are $1.50 per pair.
3. Pack it up at West Coast Park
Head down to West Coast Park (another spot by the sea) for a picnic! Dubbed the ‘Play Centre in the West’, the park is equipped with loads of swings and climbing structures to win Junior over. If that’s not challenging enough, try the pedal go-kart, located near Car Park 2. Rental is $12 per half hour; trust us, a half hour is more than enough!
West Coast Park, parallel to West Coast Highway. Pedal Go Kart, open Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat and Sun 10am-7pm, closed on Wed.
4. Ride the Circle Line
Kids get to peer out into the tunnel from the large central windows in the first and last carriages on the automated trains on the Circle Line! Also, remember to check out the art done by local artists at each station. This activity is good for kids of all ages.
Circle Line, various locations islandwide. Fares start from $0.78 for adults and $0.36 for kids with child concession passes.
5. FREE Flicks
For every adult movie ticket purchased at Cathay Cineplexes, kids under 7 score a free ticket! Of course only to kid-friendly films are allowed under this deal (rated G, PG and PG 13), and for movies before 2pm from Monday to Friday.
Cathay Cineplexes, various locations islandwide. Tickets start from $8.50.
6. Get board
Bond with your tots without the use of technology! The Settler’s Café has a range of more than 600 board games – an absolute cure to boredom. The friendly staff is also trained extensively in over sixty games, which means you don’t have to go through the hassle of reading game rules, and risking irritable tots in the process.
Settler’s Café, 39 North Canal Road, Singapore 059295, p. 65350435. Open Sun-Thu 12pm-10pm, Fri and Sat 12pm-1am. From $6 for 3 hours of gaming and free flow soft drinks.
7. Aviation Recreation
Changi Airport makes a great (and affordable) day out for families, especially in Terminals 2 and 3. There are many indoor playgrounds for kids; we like the one in Terminal 3 near the one and a half story slide. Watch planes take off and land from the Aviation Gallery, which also provides a fun history lesson on Singaporean aviation. Conclude the outing with a ride on the Sky Train!
Singapore Changi Airport, Changi Airport, Singapore 918141, p. 6595 6868. Changi Aviation Gallery open daily from 6am-12am, The Slide@T3 open daily from 12pm-10.30pm, children’s playgrounds open 24 hours, Sky Train open 5am-2.30am. Admission is free.
8. Wild Wild Wet
Want more bang for your buck? Check out the Sengkang Swimming Complex for a mere price of $2! This neighbourhood recreation centre has an astronomical 8 water slides, including a couple for the tots who don’t yet meet the 1.2 metre height requirement for the big slides. For the ‘rents, an oversized Jacuzzi awaits.
Sengkang Swimming Complex, 57 Anchorvale Road, Singapore 544964, p. 6315 3575. Open Tue–Sun 7am–9pm. Admission costs $0.80-$2.
9. Favour Nature
Let your kids commune with nature! As part of the 2.1km Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk, the Bukit Chermin Boardwalk allows different views of Keppel Harbour, the lush greenery of Bukit Chermin, and the distant rocky cliffs of Sentosa. At high tide, spot schools of fish while crustaceans can be seen when the tide is low. Older kids might want to explore the nearby Berlayer Creek mangrove trail to get their thrills.
Bukit Chermin Boardwalk, Labrador Nature Reserve, Labrador Villa Rd, Singapore 119187. Admission is free.
10. Spend the Day with Animal Rescue
Kids love interacting with animals! While many animal shelters like Animal Lovers’ League and HOPE Dog Rescue require volunteers to be at least 16 years of age, SPCA is open to familial volunteering (your tot tags along while you volunteer). This is a great way to introduce the behind-the-scenes stuff to your littlies if you’re considering a pet. Otherwise, there are other volunteer options here.
Top image: Chinese Garden