This Children's Day, celebrate the joys of childhood by hanging with your wee ones at these cool hotspots.
This Friday, it’s all about the kids: yep, get set for the annual Children’s Day in Singapore! Celebrated on the first Friday in October, it’s a chance for kindergarten and primary school kids to let loose and enjoy a day off from all that learning. And, to help you mark the occasion in style, we’ve rounded up our picks for the best things to do on Children’s Day in Singapore. Take your pick from theatre shows and workshops to pop-up activities and play sessions, and reward your kids for well, just being kids!
ACT 3 Drama Academy: Stars and Planets
Tiny thespians and drama queens (and kings) will love ACT 3 Drama Academy’s amazing line-up of Children’s Day programs. Kids aged from three to seven can choose from two space-themed drama workshops that will encourage them to use their imaginations and build confidence – that’s what we like to hear! Love ice-cream? Then don’t miss the gelato-making workshop. Young ‘uns aged seven and up can settle in for a gorgeous rendition of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince, as storytellers share how a pilot learns the true meaning of life from a very special child.
Where: ACT 3 Drama Academy, 126 Cairnhill Road, ONE-TWO-SIX Cairnhill Arts Centre, Singapore 229707 and 681 Punggol Drive, #05-04 Oasis Terraces @ Punggol, Singapore 820681.
When: Friday 4 October
Cost: Drama workshops cost $60, gelato workshop costs $50, and The Little Prince (at Cairnhill) costs $15. Various times available at both locations for workshops, see website for details.
Octoburst! A Children’s Festival
We’re big fans of the Octoburst! Children’s Festival, and it’s easy to see why. Fun, friendship and imagination unite at Esplanade from 4–6 Oct 2019. While the entertainment extends throughout the course of the weekend, it all starts on Children’s Day itself, with a fabulous line-up of interactive performances from around the world, plus workshops that encourage play and family fun. Grab the littlies and troop down the waterfront to a soundtrack by the boys and girls from Kinderland Marching Band and Maha Bodhi School Symphonic Band. Parents, mark your calendars! Keep an eye out for the Club Med booth – visitors stand a chance to win a holiday for four!
Bouncy Paradise
We’re going to just put it out there: Singapore’s. Largest. Indoor. Bouncy. Castle. Playground. If that has you jumping for joy, hotfoot it down to Bouncy Paradise on the double! It’s all good, healthy, air-con fun, meaning it’s the perfect indoor activity should the haze show its ugly face on Children’s Day. Don’t forget your socks!
Where: 200 Pandan Gardens (PeopleUp Enrichment Hub)
When: Until 6 October. Open 3–9pm Thursday/Friday, 10am–9pm Saturday/Sunday, and 10am–9pm on Children’s Day (4th Oct)
Cost: $10 for unlimited play! Kids below 3 do not need a ticket if they are with paid visitors.
Plaza Singapura Dessert Museum
Oh, hello, Singapore’s first ever dessert museum pop-up! For a fun indoor activity that looks as fun as it looks tasty, head down to Plaza Singapura this Friday. You and your tiddlywinks can jump, swing and play your way through five colourful rooms decked out with giant doughnuts, larger-than-life gummy bears and more sweet-as-candy decorations.
Where: Plaza Singapura, Main Atrium, Level 1
When: 4–27 October; Sun–Thu 10am–10pm, Fri & Sat 10am–2am
Playeum’s Make Your Mark
Starting Friday but continuing into Saturday as well is Make Your Mark at Playeum over at Gillman Barracks. This Children’s Day weekend, creators of all ages are invited to celebrate the role of mark-making and drawing (so long as it’s not on our sofa or walls!). If your kidlets enjoy doodles, sketches and drawings, they’ll be in their element here. There’ll also be fun art activities, workshops, roving artists and visual exhibits. Sign us up!
Where: Playeum, 47 Malan Road, #01-23 Gillman Barracks, Singapore 109444
When: Friday 4 October & Saturday 5 October, 10am–5pm
Cost: $15 per person or $48 for a bundle of four.
Seed Heritage
When it comes to our favourite childrenswear brands, Aussie label Seed Heritage is definitely up there. And even more now its Wisma Atria store is hosting a Children’s Day celebration! Head in-store for a balloon-sculpting activity especially for kids. And maybe you. Go on, you know you want one really…
Where: Seed Heritage, Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238877
When: Friday 4 October, 12–4pm
Our Tampines Hub
From free water play areas to the best outdoor playgrounds for kids, we’re all about free fun! If you’re the same, then get yourselves over to Tampines Hub if you’re stuck for things to do on Children’s Day. There’s a three-day fiesta for kids aged three and over with non-stop play at OTH Festive Walk East! Fun-filled activities range from a 20-metre zipline and pinata games to craft workshops and free treats.
Where: Our Tampines Hub, 1 Tampines Walk, Singapore
Amazonia Children’s Day Festival
We’e fans of indoor play centres at the best of times, but when we’re looking for things to do on Children’s Day, then double brownie points if there’s celebratory festivities. Head over to Great World City and head to Amazonia for its kid-friendly activities – there are even fun things for parents, too! The awesomeness includes a live food station, magic show, giant Jenga, carnival games, a treasure hunt and impact wall games. For the grown-ups, there’s a YouTube workshop, wine sampling (hell yes) and pilates. Goodie bags too for the first 200 kidlets!
Where: Amazonia, Great World City Level 3, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, Singapore 237994
When: Friday 4 October
Cost: Children aged 1–3 $32; 3–15 years $42 (inclusive of two hours’ playtime, child’s ticket inclusive of two adults). Carnival games tickets sold separately at $10/carnival sheet. For tickets, email [email protected] or call 6235 4510/6836 2544.
Happy Children’s Day, everyone!
