A day out with your little lad
Frogs and snails and puppy dog tails – not all boys are made of these. Whether you’ve got a boisterous little lad on your hands or quiet one, there are plenty of places across the island where you can go to spend some quality time together. Here’s a list of 10 things to do with boys.
Indoor skydiving
The great thing about indoor skydiving is that you get the thrills in a safe environment, plus there are no weather conditions to worry about. Under the watchful eye of professionals, kids can skydive in the wind tunnel and choose either The Challenge (two skydives), or The Adventure (four skydives) package. Prices start from as low as $90 and your child must be at least seven years old.
iFly Singapore, #01-01, 43 Siloso Beach Walk, Singapore 099010, p. 6571 0000.
Obstacle courses
Let the boys climb, swing, crawl, and “fly” their way through this treetop adventure course in Bedok. There’s a total of 58 obstacles and five zip lines. Course include the Kids Course (from $32), which is great for those between five to ten years of age, and the more intense two and a half hour-long Grand Course that features a total of 34 obstacles for the kids to conquer. Before every session, there is a safety briefing and harnesses and helmets are provided.
Forest Adventure, Bedok Reservoir Park, 825 Bedok Reservoir Road, Singapore 479244, p. 8100 7420.
Kayaking
Explore one of Singapore’s most famous offshore islands Pulau Ubin via kayak! Sign up for the Mangrove Kayaking tour (from $60) and let professional guides lead the way as you paddle in pairs and get up close to flora and fauna , like kingfishers and otters (yes, really). Gear like lifejackets will be provided, so all you have to do is make sure everyone travels light and wears heaps of sunscreen.
Ubin Kayak, 100 Rowell Road, Singapore 208024, p. 6297 6998.
Go-karting
Speed, adrenaline, cool gear – it’s a testosterone dream. Over at Kartright Speedway, your son can become a race-car driver for a day, navigating twists and turns with you and his mates on low to the ground carts that sound like lawnmowers! Rules are straightforward: just listen in on the safety briefing, gear up, and you’re ready to go. Kids can ride single seater if 10 years and above, otherwise tandem up in a two-seater. Prices range from $25 to $65.
Kartright Speedway, 511 Upper Jurong Road, Singapore 638366, 6265 2206.
Leather-crafting workshops
This one’s for the budding hands-on craftsman. Sign up for a workshop and make leather products from scratch. There are different classes for various experience levels so if you’re a newbie, start with the Think Small programme (from $37), where you’ll be taught how to make items like keychains. For older kids, you might want to consider the other two workshops – Think Big (from $60) and Think Creative (from $42) – which allow them to make cool stuff like wallets and backpacks. Note: kids under 12 must be with a supervising adult at all times during lessons. To book a slot, drop them an email at [email protected].
Maketh Project, #02-02, 751 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198719.
Lasertag
Startegic indoor fun awaits at this laser-tag spot. Go with a small group and split into teams to see who can score the most points from hits on laser targets; there’s loads of game features that make the whole experience a super surreal one, including 3D sound effects and vibrating points on targets. Prices range from $15 to $36 per person, depending on how many missions you want to take up and whether it’s a peak or off-peak time.
LaserOPS, #B1-04/05/06 Dhoby Ghaut MRT, 60A Orchard Road, Singapore 238890, p. 6884 4890.
Prawning
This cute pursuit is the lesser known cousin of fishing, and also less messy. There are a few prawning places in Singapore and Hai Bin’s is a great place for boys to try their hand. You can BBQ your catch there but frozen prawns are available if they weren’t too successful and you want to fake it for them! Rates range from $18 to $33.
Hai Bin J, 241 Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim, The Village, Singapore 629143, p. 6265 2598.
Luge-riding
This is fun with a capital F. Skyline Luge Sentosa combines a Skyride chairlift ride to the top of the hill and a heart pumping Luge ride on the way down– a wheeled gravity ride where you maneuver a sloping path. The combo is $15 per person and children must be at least six years old to ride the Luge alone.
Skyline Luge Sentosa, 45 Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa, Singapore 099003, p. 6274 0472.
Mini golf
Grabbing clubs and whacking balls on a mini golf course provides plently of laughs for big and little kids. It’s challenging too! LilliPutt at East Coast is a themed indoor golf venue, where all 18 holes represent an iconic Singapore attraction. Tee off at the Merlion and get a hole in one at the Singapore Zoo!
LilliPutt, #03-05 Block B Big Splash, 902 East Coast Parkway, Singapore 449874, p. 6348 9606.
Trampolining
Heading to this indoor trampoline attraction will leave the kids bouncing off the walls – literally. Located in Tanjong Katong, AMPED is one place where cardio comes first. It’s made up of 5,000 square feet of interconnected trampolines which provides masses of space for amateur acrobatics – be sure that everyone listens to the safety briefing. When the kids have had enough of bouncing around, head to the Foam Pit, where they can jump into a bunch of soft foam blocks. Rates start from $9 per hour and socks must be worn at all times.
AMPED Trampoline Park, 2/F, 369 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 437126, p. 8669 4894.
Top image: iFly Singapore