Hang out with authors, join a craft session, get dad in a tutu and learn how to write your own stories… we’ve found all the fun things to do with the kids
The Singapore Writers Festival is back! If, like us, you love taking your little bookworms to browse the shelves in your favourite bookstore, spending many a happy hour at the local library, or even have your own dreams of becoming a published writer, you will be doing a little jig at the news that Singapore Writers Festival (SWF3) is back! The event this year kicks off from 4-13 November, and is jam-packed with fun stuff the whole family will love. The action for kids is taking place at Asian Civilisations Museum, Empress Lawn and The Arts House: we’re talking workshops involving big imaginations and LEGO, the chance to meet local and international authors plus storytelling sessions galore. There is so much happening this year! The theme this year is Sayang: a Malay word with multiple meanings that can be used as a term of endearment or a sense of regret. Dive into the magic of books with our guide to the SWF3 for families…
1. Hang out with your favourite authors
Our own kids absolutely love the idea that they can meet their fave authors: to them these guys are superheroes! SWF has excelled itself this year with international and local children’s writers by the bucket load, including David Seow (Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di series), Adeline Foo (Diary of Amos Lee), Sherlock Sam creators AJ Low and Jacqueline Harvey (Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose) lined up for storytelling sessions, writing workshops and meet-and-greet sessions. Grown-ups take note: If you have been utterly beguiled and left desolate in the wake of a big book with a little title recently, you may well be as excited as us at the news that Hanya Yanagihara, the writing genius who created A Little Life, will be hosting the Creating Lives Less Ordinary session on 11 November. Join her for her talk about what motivated her to create her extraordinary read. We. Are. So. There.
2. Create some fun memories at the Daddy Boogie Woogie workshop
Time for the daddies to get into the groove and show off some funky moves with kiddos age two to four years at this happy, free event: Daddy Boogie Woogie workshop. Join ballet dancing writer, Katie Van Camp, for a spot of jamming and a ton of fun: tutus for dad optional!
When: 6 November, 11-11.30am
Where: Empress Lawn, SWF3 Tent
Cost: Free but you will need to register.
3. Join a storytelling and craft session: Tiger, Hornbill and Penguin Have Tea at Raffles
Toddlers will adore Tiger, Hornbill and Penguin Have Tea at Raffles, the fun and colourful tale by Australian writer, Fleur Vella-Chang, which follows the animals from Singapore Zoo on their day off. Where better to spend your free time than having tea at Raffles? Join Fleur as she takes you and the little ones, age 18 months to three years, on a magical tour of Singapore with some very cute animal friends, before getting creative with some hands-on craft.
When: 5 November, 10-11am
Where: Asian Civilisations Museum, Shaw Foyer
Cost: Free. No registration required.
4. Get the creative juices flowing at the Twirl workshop
Little ones age four to six years will have a whale of a time pretending to be a bird, the wind or a tree (or even a whale!) at the Twirl session, an exciting free workshop designed to really get little ones feeling creative and uninhibited.
When: 13 November, 11-11.45am
Where: Empress Lawn, SWF3 Tent
Cost: Free but you will need to register.
5. Go on a crafty adventure and build a giant cookie-snatching robot
There is zero limit on imagination at the seriously cool Build a Giant Cookie-Snatching Robot workshop, where small tinkerers age two to four years will hang out with kids’ author, Katie Van Camp to create robots of their own. Bring your own recycled craft stuff from home (boxes, paper towel rolls, glitter etc) to create the fun characters from Katie’s Harry and Horsie series.
When: 6 November, 11-11.30am
Where: Asian Civilisations Museum, Shaw Foyer
Cost: Free. No registration required.
6. Pen your own pirate tale at the Write Your Own Pirate Story workshop
Join Adventures of Steampunk Pirates author, Gareth P Jones, as he navigates kids age 10 to 12 through through high seas adventure while encouraging the small barnacles to create their very own pirate-themed story at the Write Your Own Pirate Story workshop.
When: 5 November, 11.30am-12.45pm
Where: Asian Civilisations Museum, Shaw Foyer
Cost: $10 per person.
7. Tip your teens out of bed and send them to the LEGO Stop-Motion Filmmaking Playshop
SWF has got teens covered too, and they will love bringing their fave LEGO characters to life in this stop-motion animation playshop while creating a one-minute animated film of their own. Master Builders age 14 and up are welcome, and don’t forget to bring a thumb drive so that their film-making debut can be downloaded as a keepsake.
When: 13 November, 2-5pm
Where: The Arts House, Living Room
Cost: $10 per person.
8. Enjoy an out-of-this-world storytelling adventure with The Adventures of Squirky the Alien
Little martians age three to six can join author, Melanie Lee, as she takes them through an immersive storytelling and art jam sesh with her fabulous tale, The Adventures of Squirky the Alien. The event is free and kiddos even get to bring home a spaceship of their own at the end of the session which they can use for their next unearthly escapade!
When: 13 November, 12.30-1pm
Where: Asian Civilisations Museum, Shaw Foyer
Cost: Free. No registration required.
9. Discover the power of spices at the Spices Have Superpowers workshop
Parents and kiddos, age three to six, will love this spicy adventure where local authors and Indian culinary queens, Namita and Heetal, introduce you to the Spices Have Superpowers workshop. Expect storytelling and a spice blend creating lesson before getting your hands mucky and creating your very own spicy creation to use at home.
When: 12 November, 2.30-3.30pm
Where: Empress Lawn, SWF3 Tent
Cost: $10 per person.
10. Get crafty at the Sab and Friends: Monster to ‘Sayang’ session
Bring your own mini monsters to the Sab and Friends: Monster to ‘Sayang’ session where this kooky workshop encourages imagination and creativity in a craft session aimed at kids of all ages. Participants will create a monster with the sayang theme to bring home. Expect to have a heap of fun and leave a heap of mess in your wake!
When: 6 November, 12-12.45pm
Where: Asian Civilisations Museum, Lobby
Cost: Free. No registration required.
Photography: Sugarlight Photography