Play Spaces To Check Out In Singapore This June

Play is our brain’s favourite way of learning.

It is every child’s right; allowing them to experiment with their external and internal world.

While the idea of play may seem simple in our eyes, it is so much more than just fun.

Children playing

For parents, play is a chance for us to fully engage with our children.

It develops creativity, builds motor skills and helps children make sense of the world.

Lost for ideas during the June school holidays?

Help is here! A List Singapore provides a comprehensive guide to arts and cultural activities, including family-friendly events – simply search for the ‘Family’ category at a-list.sg/events.

Visit A List Singapore for fun events to bring your child to this June holiday. Here are 3 reasons why.

1. Play Develops Creativity

Play gives our children a platform to dream. It gives them a chance to let their imagination take flight, to explore the impossible and transcend norms and boundaries.

Where to go: Museums

Children are natural artists. And what better way to inspire your child by visiting the local museums? There is a plethora of activities and exhibitions to catch at the National Museum, Singapore Art Museum, Asian Civilisations Museum, the National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Philatelic Museum.

Children's Season 2017 National Museum of Singapore Children’s Season 2017 @ National Museum. Photo credit: National Museum of Singapore

Walk down nostalgia lane at the National Museum this Children’s Season. Be transported back to the 1970s and 80s as you visit pop-ups of favourite hangouts during that period. What are your fondest memories of growing up at these hangouts? Relive your childhood memories, but this time, you won’t be alone. Look out for the new interactive roving theatre that takes you around the museum galleries.

Singapore Art Museum Imaginarium 2017 Photo credit: Singapore Art Museum

The Singapore Art Museum returns with their annual family-friendly exhibition, Imaginarium: To the Ends of the Earth. Featuring immersive, sensorial and interactive artworks, the exhibit invites visitors young and old to take a closer look at our surroundings and the environment we live in. Curious how these artworks came about? Find out what was the inspiration behind three local artists’ artworks in this year’s Imaginarium.

Most of the above mentioned museums are located around City Hall and Dhoby Ghaut, which makes it convenient and easy to hop from one museum to the next. Find out more on what’s happening at each museum.

The A List Singapore The Young Start Ups

Think your child is too young to appreciate or understand art? You might want to think again. Four established local artists share how early exposure and engagement in art influenced their artistic journey and careers.

2. Play Builds Their Motor Skills

Crawling, jumping, sliding.

Each movement involved in the play is an important aspect of your child’s physical development. It not only helps strengthen their coordination and balance, it also hones their gross-motor and fine-motor skills.

Where to go: Sentosa

Mega Fun Sentosa

There’s always something to do and enjoy at Sentosa, especially during the school holidays. Be prepared for a fun-filled day-out at Mega Fun at Sentosa, guaranteed to keep your children entertained from day to night!

Besides the giant inflatables your children get to bounce on to their hearts’ content, there are also many photo opportunities waiting for you at Palawan Green.

While you’re at Sentosa, head over to Fort Siloso. You can choose to start your exploration from the Fort Siloso Skywalk, a treetop trail set 11 storeys above ground. Or head to the fort by the Heritage Trail or the Gun Trail. These self-guided heritage trails will give your children a glimpse into Singapore’s past.

Enrich your child’s learning with the interactive elements and relive some of the momentous events in Singapore’s history at Fort Siloso’s Surrender Chambers. With new light, sound and video effects, your children can learn about Singapore’s history in this new immersive show; starting from the Japanese invasion all the way to their surrender and the end of WWII.

3. Play Helps Children Make Sense Of The World

Ever caught your child repeating your pet phrase or modelling your behaviour?

In their eyes, you are their first role model. As children grow up, they will try and take on various adult roles in their play. Encourage and nurture pretend play, because it helps children discover and make sense of the real world. Why not let your child step into your shoes this holidays? You might be surprised at what they can do.

Where to go: KidZania

KidZania Singapore kids activities

At KidZania Singapore, watch your children navigate and explore this huge city-themed park, complete with buildings, paved streets, vehicles and a functioning economy, just like in a real world!

Blending learning and reality with entertainment, activities in KidZania Singapore prepare children to understand and manage their world, by providing an authentic and powerful developmental experience.

Through a realistic role-play experience and interactive games, children get to learn about different careers, how a city functions and even pick up early concepts in managing money. Whether your child wishes to be a fire-fighter, athlete, beautician, pilot or doctor, there is a long list of careers for your children to pick from.

Daddies rejoice! All through June, fathers enjoy free entry to KidZania Singapore from 1 – 25 June 2017 with every two walk-in kid tickets purchased at KidZania Singapore’s ticketing counters.

Make Time For Play This June

The next time your child asks if they can play, remember this – play is not a waste of time.

When your child is playing, they are developing crucial life skills at the same time.

Don’t let homework and gadgets control your child’s playtime.

Take a break and just play.