The time to say goodbye to exams and hello to holidays is approaching.
The 2018 year-end school holidays in Singapore stretch from November 17 to December 31. During this time, children are liberated from heavy textbooks and parents get the chance to bond more with their little ones.
If you are a parent and haven’t made plans to fill this precious time, here are some ideas for the young (and the young at heart).
1. Visit the library
The library isn’t just for reading anymore. The National Library Board (NLB) offers a range of activities – aside from browsing through shelves of literature – that’s friendly for both you and your child. Look out for upcoming events such as book clubs and storytelling sessions that’ll keep your child’s mind engaged and social skills sharpened.
- For more info click here
2. Fly a kite @ Marina Barrage
Just a reservoir where you can only admire the horizon? No way! Marina Barrage has way more to offer than that. Bring along some snacks to enjoy a picnic with the family or take part in recreational activities such as flying a kite at the rooftop. Our only tip is that you check the weather before you go.
- For more info click here
3. Be dazzled by optical illusions @ Trick Eye Museum
Boggle your mind and awaken your senses at the Trick Eye Museum at Resorts World Sentosa. Take some fun photos of your children exploring four-dimensional spaces and feast your eyes on some wonky optical illusions, all while laughing and having a good time.
- For more info click here
4. Keep yourself posted @ Singapore Philatelic Museum
Kids of today’s world are not so familiar with pen pals and stamp collections. At the Singapore Philatelic Museum, give your child a glimpse of how you did things back in the day. Aside from regular activities for kids, the museum also runs an exhibition on unusual stamps that even you as a parent may enjoy.
- For more info click here
5. Enjoy Sunday family fun @ The Peranakan Museum
Soak up the colourful world of the Peranakan culture on the first Saturday of every month at the Peranakan Museum. This holiday season, celebrate Christmas the Peranakan way with their special family activity planned on the 2nd of December.
- For more info click here
6. Say hello to virtual animals @ Rainforest Lumina
A night-time activity awaits the whole family at the Rainforest Lumina in Singapore Zoo. Open from 7.30pm to midnight, the complete experience – which is about one-kilometre long – can take up to 45 minutes. There are a total of seven entry timings daily so choose one that’s comfortable for your kids.
- For more info click here
7. Get creative @ The Artground
Positive art experiences for the win. Enrol your child in art-friendly activities at The Artground at Goodman Art Centre. This year, the centre presents an event called Hullabaloo which runs all the way until early January 2019. Admission is free as The Artground is a registered charity, so do consider donating to the cause.
- For more info click here
8. Learn some culture @ Asian Civilisations Museum
Saturdays@ACM is a family-friendly (and pocket-friendly: admission is free) programme that takes place on the last Saturday of every month. Hosted by the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), explore the world of folklore, revel in performances and drama, and embark on a journey into a world before ours.
- For more info click here
9. Have a zipping good time @ Forest Adventure
Forest Adventure at Bedok Reservoir is perfect for children aged 5 and above (and even for the child in you, parent). Their courses include crossings, zip lines and obstacles that are sure to give your whole family a great experience.
- For more info click here
10. Have a ballin’ good time @ Red Dynasty Paintball
Paintball is a great way to engage your child’s mind and body and improve their decision making skills, speed and agility. Get your adrenaline pumping over a paintball session at Red Dynasty Paintball, located at Turf City and Yishun.
- For more info click here
11. Learn gymnastics @ KinderGym
Kindergarten is closed; make way for KinderGym. The people at Bounce Inc offer a special programme specially designed for pre-schoolers. Each class is an hour long and focuses on your child’s physical, social/emotional and cognitive skills.
- For more info click here
12. Get nostalgic @ MINT Museum of Toys
Explore vintage toys and collectables at MINT Museum of Toys. This school holiday, check out the Golden Age of Animation exhibition that showcases animations from the good ol’ days. Say hello to familiar faces like Mickey Mouse, Popeye, and Felix the Cat.
- For more info click here
13. Get a slice of nature @ Bollywood Veggies
Keen to become one with nature? Bollywood Veggies hosts several fun-filled activities that you can enjoy with kids. Learn how to grow plants using pots, take part in treasure hunts, and make art out of recycled material. In between all that, indulge in amazing farm-to-table meals prepared at their bistro.
- For more info click here
14. Take action @ Act 3
Is your child capable of dazzling an audience with their charm? Then maybe it’s time to ignite the actor or actress within. Enrol them in the Holiday Workshops offered at Act 3 Drama Academy. Children aged from 1.5 to 15 can hone their artistic skills and mingle with like-minded kids of similar ages.
- For more info click here
15. Appreciate Orchids @ Gardens By The Bay
Gardens by the Bay is known to enchant visitors with gorgeous arrays of botany. This year, walk alongside your children and discover the types of orchids that cover the Andes in South America. Be amazed by gorgeous colours and species of these flora curated just for you.
- For more info click here
16. Go on a Peter Pan adventure @ Esplanade
The Esplanade is known for its array of free and paid events that cater to people of all ages. This holiday season, book your tickets for the highly-anticipated Live Theatre performance of Peter Pan and get lost in the world of music, fairies and adventure. Happening on 8th and 9th December 2018.
- For more info click here
17. Go fishing @ Kids Kelong
Introduce your child to the world of kelongs with a fishing rod in hand and shallow waters ahead. At Kids Kelong, activities are created specially with kids in mind. It’s a great way to bond with your child over a good conversation and some good ol’ fishing.
- For more info click here
18. Make some cakes @ Butter & Bake
If you have a budding pastry chef in the house, why not enrol them in some kid-friendly baking programmes? At Butter & Bake, baking classes are packed with fun and creativity to hone the skills of your future little baker. Classes run for about two to three hours.
- For more info click here
19. Go green @ NParks
National Parks (NParks) hosts numerous guides and workshops across their parks on the island. View their online calendar to find out more about their kid-friendly events such as Nature Keeper Camps at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Brick Art Workshop at Jurong Lake Gardens, and even a Kampung Tour on Pulau Ubin.
- For more info click here
20. Experience the outdoors with OBS
Strengthen your young one’s “resilience and ruggedness” at Outward Bound Singapore (OBS), which offers a special MOE-OBS programme for those aged 17 and below. Give your child an insight into team-building activities like no other and allow him or her to experience the outdoors in order to appreciate nature even more.
- For more info click here
21. Give back when you can
Before you wrap up the holidays, a good charity event is always great to help us appreciate what we have better. Round up the family and participate in some volunteer activities that will teach your child the importance of the fostering the community spirit. Some events that you can partake in include:
- Happy Sunday by Happy People Helping People Community. Taking place on the first Sunday of every month, it distributes necessities to elderly cardboard collectors. For more info click here.
- Donating old toys to Toys for Tots, a programme that will distribute your donations as Christmas gifts to children in need. For more info click here.
- Donating money to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. For more info click here.
Written By: Manisha Dhalani
Like Us On Facebook
Follow Us On Instagram
![“In early 2022, I received a poignant letter from my friend Maksymvk. He was a retired Ukrainian soldier I had met at a conference. His son was playing in a junior ice hockey league when the Russia-Ukraine war suddenly broke out.
With no contact and little hope, Maksymvk rejoined the army in a desperate search for his son. Our contact ended abruptly as he left his ‘last letter’ to me – I couldn’t reach him again. But that ‘last letter’ was the catalyst for something much bigger.
Moved by Maksymvk's story, I founded ESpero (@esperoeip) with my friend Brendan Hendrata, a science research advocate. Meaning ‘hope’ in Spanish, ESpero was initially dedicated to helping war refugees by creating art pieces that share their stories and preserve their cultures.
One of the art pieces that touched me the most was an AI-generated painting of a mother and her two children. In the picture, they can be seen dragging their suitcases on the highway. They are fleeing from Ukraine in search of safety in another country.
To better understand the plight of Ukrainian refugees and how ESpero could impact them, I spent the summer of 2022 volunteering with Doctors Without Borders (@doctorswithoutborders) in Norway. What I witnessed was many heart-wrenching stories, just like Maksymvk’s.
But I also saw the inspiring efforts of selfless individuals who had left lucrative careers to aid refugees firsthand in worn-down shelters. For a young student like me, I learnt so much, including how an NGO like Doctors Without Borders operates.
That internship experience in Norway was truly valuable because we also plan to operate ESpero as a non-profit. And while it started off as a small project between Brendan and I, more people started learning about what we do. Now, ESpero is an actual organisation.
Over 120 volunteers have joined ESpero, and we currently have branches in Canada, the US and Southeast Asia. Our mission has expanded to include various areas of human rights violations, and our volunteers have provided over $83,000 in pro bono services.
[Story continues in comments section]](https://i0.wp.com/everydaypeople.sg/ep/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png?w=620&ssl=1)
Watch Us On YouTube
Subscribe To Channel
Leave a Reply