The ultimate school holidays guide for December 2015

The school holidays can be a great opportunity for family bonding, fun and learning with this great guide about where you can bring your child to in Singapore for the holidays!

School holidays need not be anything to dread with this comprehensive guide of activities that you can do with your child this December holidays.

These activities are super fun, provide excellent learning opportunities and are great for family bonding.

Check it out!

National Play Day Carnival

Possibly the most fun day in Singapore for the family, National Play Day is all about family bonding and games.

Featuring craft workshops, photo opportunities with celebrities, bouncy castles and exciting performances, there is something for everyone on this day. There will even be an outdoor screening of Minions 2 in the cool evening air. Babies are welcomed too with nursing facilities and parental workshops set up.

When: 19 Dec (10am - 9pm)

Where: Singapore Sports Hub

Tel: 6653 8900

More info

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Koalamania

4 furry favourites will be returning home Down Under in early January 2016. Awww. These adorable Koala bears will bid farewell to their Singapore friends in style with lots of fun activities being organized in their honour. Special photo-taking sessions, performances and crafts are just some of the activities that your child can engage in this December at the zoo.

Check out the beautiful ladies and create some lovely memories with them before they fly home for good!

When: 5 Dec - 27 Dec (weekends)

Where: Singapore Zoo, 80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826

Tel: 6269 3411

More info

National Orchid Garden

Immerse your child in natural beauty at a steal this December at the Nationl Orchid Garden because the good people at National Parks Board have decided to offer free entry till January 2016.

Opened by the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew and holding pride of place as the official flower of Singapore, the National Orchid Gardens boasts a huge variety of blooms and hybrids in a myriad of colours. Definitely worth checking out!

When: 14 Nov 2015 - 3 Jan 2016 (5am - 12am Daily)

Where: 1 Cluny Rd, Singapore 259569, Singapore Botanic Gardens

Tel: 6471 7138 / 6471 7361

More info

SG50 Concerts in the Park

The last and final installment of the SG50 concerts in the park will be held this December at Gardens by the Bay. If you or your child has not caught any of the earlier performances, this is your last chance to do so!

Featuring local favourites like Tosh, The Sam Willows and Tay Kewei crooning in the great outdoors, it will surely be a day to remember for the entire family.

When: 19 December (6pm onwawrds)

Where: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953, Gardens by the Bay

Tel: 6420 6848

More info

Mystica

Captivating fire shows and colourful light shows amidst the foliage and the watchful gaze of the nocturnal zoo animals will leave your child spellbound.

Give your child this special night with prowling large cats, scuttling ferrets and foraging badgers. If you want to, you can even sign up your child for a photo contest!

When: 27 Nov - 12 Dec (7pm - 10pm every Friday and Saturday)

Where: 80 Mandai Lake Rd, Singapore 729826, Night Safari

Tel: 6269 3411

More info

Chek jawa broadwalk

The Naked Hermit Crabs are organizing a free guided tour of the Chek Jawa broadwalk. Self-professed to be "a motley bunch of volunteer guides who also guide at Singapore's other shores such as Chek Jawa, Pulau Semakau, Kusu Island", these guys are the go-to guys if you would like your child to understand more about our natural shorelines.

This broadwalk tour means that neither you nor your child even need to dip your toe into the waters to get to know more about the little critters that inhabit our mangroves in their natural environment.

This activity combines some exercise, a hands-on learning experience and fun!

Check out these friendly guys' website here for more info.

When: 12 Dec (9.30am)

Where: Chek Jawa Information Kiosk, Pulau Ubin

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Star Wars Exhibition

From a galaxy far far away, stormtroopers and droids have landed at our famed airport this December.

Prepare your child for Star Wars mania as he will be allowed to put on Star Wars costumes and even pretend to be a pilot of a Star Wars aircraft. Exclusive Star Wars merchandise will be up for grabs to buy home.

After that, we suggest you bring your kids for the new Star Wars movies that will hit our cinemas on 17 December for a totally fun Star Wars experience!

When: 12 Nov 2015 - 5 Jan 2016

Where: Changi Airport, Terminal 3, Departure Hall

More info

Monsters of the Sea

The mythical creatures of the deep will be explained to your child at Monsters of the Sea - creatures that will send a delicious chill down your child's spine such as the kraken and the Loch Ness monster.

In addition, other equally amazing marine creatures (the real ones) will be up for display in the exhibition.

Spannning over 2,000 square meters and holding the largest animatronics collection of life-sized marine reptiles, mammals and fishes, this will be a definite eye opener for the kids and probably adults this December.

When: 30 Oct 2015 - 28 Feb 2016 (10am - 5.15pm daily)

Where: 15 Science Centre Road Singapore 609081, The Annexe, Science Centre

Tel: 6425 2500

Treasures of the world's cultures from the British Museum

This is a not-to-be-missed exhibition with collections of artifacts and objects from major civilizations of all ages.

Teach your child about our common humanity with this amazing visual feast.

When: 5 Dec 2015 - 29 May 2016 (10am - 7pm Daily)

Where: 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897, National Museum

Tel: 6332 3659

More info

Art of Speed

Which child doesn't love building stuff and seeing things zoom past? Combine these together this December with Playeum's Art of Speed program.

This is a creative, hands on experience which allows your child to build structures with the materials provided.

Not only will he enjoy himself immensely, he will learn about shapes, figures and how things work!

When: 19 Sept 2015 - 3 April 2016 (10AM-6PM, Tues - Sun )

Where: 9 Lock Rd, Singapore 108937, Gillman Barracks

Tel: 6262 0750

More info

Barbie Rock n Royals

Barbie is a staple of any little girl's childhood. Meet the updated rock version of Barbie this December at Downtown East.

With exclusive meet and greet sessions, autographs and storytelling, your little girl (or boy) will be a very happy child this school holidays!

When: 12 Dec 2015 - 27 Dec 2015 (2pm - 6:30pm on weekends)

Where: 1 Pasir Ris Close, Downtown East

Tel: 6589 1688

More info

Bookfest 2015

Cultivate your child's passion for books early on this December. With a huge variety of books, there is bound to be something that will catch your child's fancy. With stationery, office paraphernalia and even a Tidbit Carnival going on in the same space, Bookfest 2015 is a must-visit for books and stationery at a steal.

Kill two birds with one stone by stocking up for the next school year!

When: 4 Dec (11am - 10pm), 5 - 13 Dec (10am - 10pm)

Where: Suntec Singapore Halls 401 - 405

Tel: 6462 9555

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Kampung Kampus

Teach your child about sustainable living by bringing him to this open house by Ground Up Initiative - a new non-profit organization that seeks to educate and connect people.

Kampung Day features Christmas tree making and lessons about how to cook healthily will be conducted.

As our modern pace of life accelerates, the old communal kampung spirit is also being eroded. This is a great chance for your child to understand what being part of a community, and connecting with nature means.

When: 12 Dec (9am - 3 PM

Where: 91 Lor Chencharu Singapore 769201, Bottle Tree Park

More info

Pasir Ris Library

This is not your ordinary library. The recently refurbished Pasir Ris Library is specifically catered to teens and children.

Your kids will enjoy and be inspired to love reading in the Teens’ Mezzanine, a stand-alone floor managed by youth volunteers from the Inspiring Readers Society, a group made up of reading ambassadors aged 13 to 19. The Society curates book displays and leads programmes targeted at teens, bringing community collaboration literally to a whole new level.

In addition, The Early Literacy Collection for junior readers aged 0 to 6 features the first full front-facing collection where children can browse books by their covers. Together with specially-designed low seating and tactile furniture at the Children’s Deck, the library seeks to encourage reading as a family activity.

There's no place better to start inculcating a genuine enjoyment of reading and no better time to start than now!

When: 11am - 9pm Daily

Where: 1 Pasir Ris Central Street 3, #04-01/06, White Sands, Singapore 518457

Tel: 6332 3255

More info

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Sleep walk Carnival

When our favourite retail giants, Courts, Ikea and Giant decide to come together to host a party, you know that it will be epic. With games, food and great discounts available for the day, it's a day for the family to enjoy.

By the way, come dressed in your pajamas and get in the spirit of the carnival in your most comfortable!

When: 6 Dec 2015 (7.30am - 12pm)

Where: Tampines Retail Park

Tel: 6345 5464

More info

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Written by

Leigh Fan

school holidaysDecember 2015Holidays Guide