They may be extinct, but dinosaurs will never go out of fashion when it comes to our kids. If you’ve got some die-hard dino fans and jurassic-loving juniors at home then you’ll seriously dig our round-up of the best things to do in Singapore, toys, books, clothes and films to get them roaring with glee. Read on for our dino-mite guide to the best dinosaur gifts and more!
The dinosaur-themed things to do
Walking with Dinosaurs: The Live Experience
Momma T-Rex knows how to keep bub happy… now you can do the same! Photography: Walking With Dinosaurs: The Live Experience.
Get in on the prehistoric action and enjoy some Jurassic jollies! Based on the award-winning BBC series, this $20 million production delivers an amazing dinosaur experience for fans of all ages. The live arena show boasts state-of-the-art technology that brings 18 life-sized dinos to life right before your eyes. Roar-worthy fun our littlies are going wild for. It’s only running for the next week or so though, so get your skates on!
Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk, Singapore 397691
When: 29 August–8 September
Cost: From $78. Find out more here.
DinoQuest
Quick! Catch DinoQuest quick before the end of the month! Photography: Science Centre Singapore.
News flash: the exhibition run has been extended for another month! Since its world premiere in June, this interactive, multimedia experience has attracted more than 80,000 people – pretty impressive, we think! Join paleontologist Prof V and her assistant Tex to uncover some dinosaur mysteries through holographic mapping, virtual reality, impressive AR technology and dramatic displays. Not to be missed.
Where: The Annexe, Science Centre Singapore, 15 Science Centre Rd, Singapore 609081
When: Until 29 September 2019
Cost: $18 per adult and $15 per child. Book tickets before you go via Sistec and find out more info here.
The Dino Show
Littlies aged five and up will love this stellar show that answers all their most pressing prehistoric ponderings and debunks common myths. Did dinosaurs fly? Did they have scales? What wiped them out? Did they eat doughnuts? Hmm, ok, maybe not that last one…
Where: Hall B, Maxwell Auditorium, Singapore Science Centre, 15 Science Centre Rd, Singapore 609081
When: Until 9 September. Check website for timings.
Universal Studios Singapore
Head to Sentosa for a dino-themed day! Photography: Universal Studios Singapore.
We love spending the day on Sentosa at the best of times, but did you realise you can get your dino fix there on the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure ride at Universal Studios? There’s a whole Lost World zone to explore to keep your little fans happy as a raptor (just check height restrictions before you go).
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
This museum has real-life dinosaur fossils! Get face to face with not one but three diplodocid sauropod fossils – these bad boys were among the largest and heaviest animals to ever roam the earth. The skeletons are more than 80 per cent complete, and two of them come with skulls – a huge rarity as far as sauropod dinosaurs fossils are concerned!
Where: Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377; lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg
When: ongoing. Open Tue–Sun & public holidays from 10am–7pm
The dinosaur reading list
Er, did we ever tell you how much we love books here at HoneyKids (our recently launched HoneyKids Book Club might be a clue!)? Books are a great way to inspire our little learners and get them interested in dinosaurs. Check out our four fave finds – they make a dino-mite dinosaur gift!
Ten Little Dinosaurs by Mike Brownlow
If you haven’t come across this hilarious book, then be sure to add to cart, pronto! The HoneyKids team’s kids all adore this counting rhyme about 10 darling dinos that seemingly meet their doom (spoiler alert: it’s a happy ending!). Loads of opportunity for awesome dinosaur sound effects too = winning.
Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs by Ian Whybrow
This oh-so-cute series of books about Harry and his (bucket full of) dinosaur pals is so adorable – we love the life lessons it shares with our littlies. The books have also been turned into a hugely popular TV series to further amp up the enjoyment factor!
Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
Remember your school days and all that talk of a humungous asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs? Well, turns out the real reason for them going the way of the dodo was an Underpants War! Cue all the LOLs as you and your sprogs read this much-loved tale.
Dinosaur Roar! By Paul and Henrietta Stickland
A modern classic that our petite preschoolers call for time and time again! The illustrations in this one are so gorgeous, and we love the simple rhymes. There’s even an app for iOS devices to bring the picture book to life!
The cutest dinosaur gifts
Clockwise from top left: Jellycat ‘Bashful’ dino toy from Mothercare, $28.90; Brainstorm dinosaur torch projector from Redmart, $16; Toys ‘R’ Us stretchy dinosaurs, $6.99 each; Galt Water Magic Dinosaurs from Tangs, $18.90.
There are soooo many cool themed toys and dinosaur gifts out there that we could go on all day! But to start off your collection, try a snuggly-saurus with one of our fave brands, Jellycat. Or how about a cool torch that doubles up as a projector? Come bedtime, you can project colour images of your fave dinosaurs onto walls and ceilings to transport your kid’s bedroom back in time! We also always favour some quiet colouring time (and the ‘no mess’ part scores big with us!) and imaginative play courtesy of some plastic models. The opportunities are endless! Just don’t expect it gift rapt-or… (groan!)
The roar-somest dinosaur clothes
We wish they did all this in our size! (Clockwise from top left) Boden surf suit, from GBP32, and glow-in-the-dark pyjamas, from GBP24; Cotton On Kids ‘Penelope’ T-shirt, $16.99; Next dinosaur anorak, from $39.
How cute-a-saurus! (Clockwise from top left) Next dress, from $9, and leggings, from $8; M&S mocassin slippers, $19.90; and John Lewis dinosaur bodysuits (pack of 5), from $25.
Dinosaur prints in childrenswear never go out of style, so you’ll never have to look far to find cute threads for your dino-loving tots. Head to your nearest shopping mall or browse online at some fab international sites that deliver to Singapore and go wild! Check out our fave finds above.
The best dinosaur films to watch
Who doesn’t love a good dino movie? While there have definitely been some great family-friendly movies over the years, there’s also been some (wait for it) ptero-ble ones. OK, we’ll get on with our top suggestions now and tricera-stop the puns…
Jurassic Park
Transport your kids to Isla Nublar and settle them in for Steven Spielberg’s roarsome dino flick – the first in the five-film franchise (there’s another one slated for 2021!). Don’t even waste your time with the third instalment, though – that’s 90 minutes of your life you won’t ever get back. It’s still scary decades on (1993. 1993!!!), so save this one for the not-so-teeny-weenies!
The Land Before Time
We remember howling into our hankies at this one when we were knee-high ourselves… but we still loved it! This animated offering follows an orphaned brontosaurus who teams up with other young dinosaurs in order to reunite with their families in a far-off valley.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
The third instalment of the much-loved Ice Age films continues to deliver the big belly laughs, so be sure to put this family-friendly animated flick on your list of dinosaur films to watch. Watch as mammoths Ellie and Manny expect their first kid, while Sid the sloth gets broody and decides to adopt three apparently abandoned eggs. Hilariously, they hatch into a trio of tiny T-rexes… eeek!
Top image: Boden
Like this story? Here’s more we think you’ll enjoy:
Your essential guide to Universal Studios Singapore
Best museums and exhibits in Southeast Asia to visit with kids
Playgroups in Singapore for kids under 5
Easy activities to do at home with the kids
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