With the March holidays on the horizon, you’re likely to be on the lookout for kid-friendly activities that’ll keep the young ones entertained. And there are tons to do with the kiddos.
From catching awe-inspiring dinosaur sculptures at the Singapore Zoo to a sweet Chupa Chups lollipop-themed experience at Changi Airport and discovering weird but cool facts about wildlife at Gardens by the Bay, scroll down for a list of events and activities to have fun with the fam.
If you’ve been keeping up with Le Le’s updates then you would have already known that the panda cub has joined his mother in her exhibit over at River Wonders. The seventh-month-old cub weighs in at a whopping 15.86kg and has recently graduated from his nursery. Before his debut, the animal care team has carefully baby-proofed the space before he was allowed to roam and explore the exhibit.
In celebration of this milestone, River Wonders has also lined up a slew of activities for you and your family to enjoy. In the month of March, don’t miss out on the Stu-PANDA-ous Meet and Greet session, where you will get the chance to take photos with the adorable panda mascots. And if you’re up for the challenge, be sure to try the Giant Panda Quiz that’s happening from 12 to 31 March, where you get to test your knowledge on all things pandas.
But if that’s not enough, you can always go for the Panda-Mania Tour, where you get to enjoy an exclusive experience that’s accompanied with a private tour of the Giant Panda Forest, panda-themed craft activities and a delicious and hearty lunch in a VIP room.
Visit Mandai’s website for more information.
The first of its kind, Grand Park City Hotel has just introduced a new augmented reality staycation, just in time for the school holidays. Some of the few things you can look forward to in the “A Space Odyssey” staycation include a specially curated Space Kit and a complimentary galaxy-themed dessert that’s out of this world. But the real highlight of this stay would have to be the augmented reality experience where you can get a taste of space exploration. All you need to do is simply download the mobile app. Here, guests will then be invited to put on their spacesuits and complete different missions such as mining of resources from planets in the solar system, as well as creating their own galaxies.
For families who are looking to spend a short break with loved ones, you’ll be glad to know that you can enjoy a 20% discount on a specially created 3-Course Galaxy Kid’s Menu that consist of fun and interesting dishes like the Shooting Star Margherita Pizza and a playful Asteroid Attack featuring purple Italian gnocchi served with chicken, hot dogs and Parmesan cheese.
Visit Grand Park City Hotel’s website for more information.
Get the kids down for a sweet experience at Changi Airport this March holidays. From March 11, Terminal 3 will be transformed into a Chupa Chups wonderland, with colourful installations (including an optical illusion one), a themed playground and garden, as well as giant Chupa Chups Lollipop to get those fun photo ops.
Of course, actual sweet treats will be on hand and you can feast both your eyes and palate on the many Chupa Chups lollipop flavours at the T3 pop-up retail store. There’ll also be exclusive Chupa Chups merch up for redemption, including limited-edition Chupa Chups-themed cooler bags and collapsible lunch boxes.
Kids can also try their hands at the seven fun S.M.A.R.T workshops, from arts and craft to robotics and coding. Spend at Changi Airport and redeem these workshops at over 40 per cent discount.
Visit Changi Airport’s website for the locations of the installations, workshop details, and more.
Take a walk on the wild side at The Singapore Zoo and River Wonders – the Brickosaurs have come to town. Constructed with more than 1.5 million toy bricks and over a total of 8,548 hours, catch the 60 dinosaur sculptures – from the mighty T-Rex and Stegosauraus to tiny raptors – located across The Singapore Zoo and River Wonders.
There are also eight exciting dino-themed activities the kids can take part in, from designing their own river fossil to venturing through a maze to look for clues and secrets about dinosaurs. Or they play at being an archaeologist and dig up the different ‘T-Rex bones’ from a sandpit.
When: Now till May 3, 2022
Prices: Ticket prices for the Singapore Zoo and River Wonders apply
Visit Mandai Wildlife Reserve’s website for tickets and more information
Do the kiddos love the lovable characters of hit Dreamworks Animation’s Madagascar? You’ll want to head down to Universal Studios Singapore this March, because they’ll be saying farewell to the theme park on March 27, 2022.
Be sure to hop on the Madagascar: A Crate Adventure boat ride, which will close from March 28, to make way for the upcoming construction of Minion Land, a new themed zone at the tourist attraction.
In fact, there’ll be a Madagascar Farewell Special ticket price of $78 (U.P $98) for tickets to Universal Studios Singapore, together with a $20 Madagascar retail voucher (no minimum spend) and a $10 F&B voucher (no minimum spend required).
The animal and plant kingdom is filled with lots of interesting but mind-boggling facts — and you’ll find out more about them at National Geographic’s Weird But True exhibition taking place at Gardens by the Bay’s Cloud Forest (Crystal Mountain at Level 4).
Wander through the stunning visual displays and graphics, including works from select National Geographic Explorers and a curated collection of flora photographs from National Geographic’s extensive library.
When: Now till July 31, 2022
Tickets: Admission to Cloud Forest applies
Visit Gardens by the Bay’s website for tickets and more information.
While you’re at the Cloud Forest, make a trip down to the nearby Flower Dome to marvel at the sakura floral display. An annual showcase, you’ll be mesmerised by not just the ethereal cherry blossoms, but also traditional Japanese elements like torii gates, hanami settings, floral art by Ikebana International Singapore, and a display of carp streamers known as koinobori on loan from the Japanese Association, Singapore.
The adorable characters from Japanese-inspired lifestyle brand Tokidoki’s characters will also make an appearance. And alongside the sakura display, there’ll be Japanese cultural workshops you can take part in as well. Read more about it here.
When: Now till April 3, 2022
Tickets: Admission to the Flower Dome applies
Visit Gardens by the Bay’s website for details.
You don’t need a passport to travel around the world, at least not when you head down to the Science Centre Singapore.
Brickman Wonders of the World, a LEGO® Brick Exhibition will be making a stop at The Annexe, Science Centre Singapore from March 12. And there, you’ll be able to check out 50 world-famous landmarks fashioned out of Lego bricks. Think the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Taj Mahal and even Singapore’s own Merlion.
There are also interactive Master Builder Zones within the exhibition that allow visitors to unleash their creativity by building their very own Lego masterpieces.
When: March 12 to July 3, 2022
Tickets: From $23 (Visitors below the age of 2 admit for free, identification as proof required)
Visit Science Centre Singapore’s website for tickets and more information.
Of course, a school break’s the best time for a much-needed vacay, both for the kids as well as yourself. If travelling isn’t an option, then a staycay is the next best thing. Fun staycation packages have sprung up recently, and here are fun themed ones to check out.
Hello Kitty-themed staycation
Fans of pop culture’s most iconic cat can now have a staycay themed around the lovable cartoon character. Fairmont Singapore is offering staycation-goers with a Hello Kitty-centric stay that comes with limited-edition collectibles like a Hello Kitty towel, cushion, a bowl, mug, disposable masks, a door hanger, drawstring bag, and cookies.
From $418++ per night. Find out more here.
Pan Pacific x Kiztopia’s Urban Jungle suites
Hop on a wild escapade at Pan Pacific Singapore. The hotel has partnered indoor playground Kiztopia to roll out two 76 sq m Urban Jungle Suites with a separate main bedroom for parents, and a jungle-themed room for the young ones – think an inflatable rocking hippo, a teepee and a treehouse bunk bed that sleeps two children. You’ll also get tickets for three hours’ access to Kiztopia, an Urban Jungle Survival Pack, and kids’ bath toys for a fun soak in the tub.
From $820++ per night for two adults and two children. Read more about it here.
Yet to pay a visit to Pop Up Disney! A Mickey Celebration at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre? This fun interactive showcase pays homage to the iconic Mickey Mouse, and has seven themed rooms featuring a variety of installations and characters as well as a retail store called the Mickey Mart.
Get your cameras at the ready, because there’ll be lots of fun photo zones, as well as QR codes for fun Disney trivia. It ends on March 20, 2022, so you’ll want to make your way there soon! Read more about the experience here.
When: Now till March 20, 2022
Tickets: Admission: $21 (children), $26 (adults)
Visit the Klook website for tickets and bundle options.
Streaming platforms have unleashed plenty of kid-friendly shows that’ll keep the entire family entertained, especially with the holidays arriving. Plus, many of them bear lessons that anyone can take away from. What to watch?
For one, there’s Disney Pixar’s new animated film Turning Red, which is about a girl who turns into a red panda when she gets stressed or excited, as well as Apple TV’s Pretzel and the Puppies, a pre-school-friendly and educational series about a family of dachshunds. Or catch The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild, the spin-off of the beloved Ice Age franchise, centred around possum brothers Crash and Eddie together with the adventurous, dinosaur-hunting weasel, Buck Wild.
Read our guide to the best kid-friendly shows now on Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV.
Do the kids enjoy the great outdoors, love learning about how robots work or cooking up science experiments, or just have tons of energy to expend?
Pack them off to a fun and educational holiday camp. Your options these days range from robot-making to coding, learning basic survival skills, improving their public speaking skills and learning how to care for pets.
This article was first published in The Singapore Women’s Weekly.