In the blink of an eye, half a year has gone by, and we are currently enjoying the highly awaited September holidays and checking out some kid friendly spots! While travel isn’t an option yet, don’t let this dampen the holiday spirit – you can still have fun with your family outdoors and check kid friendly spots while exploring safely and responsibly! Here are 10 kid friendly spots in Singapore that you can consider visiting, recommended by an 11-year-old herself. Yes, Kaela, a budding singing sensation in Singapore is here to be your virtual guide for kids to rediscovering Singapore! As a hands-on child who enjoys the great outdoors and the Arts, Kaela is super excited to share her top 10 kid friendly spots for you to explore with your family. Read on to hear from Kaela herself!
11-year-old Mikaela Ray Pinon Vedanaigam, otherwise known as Kaela K, is a rising singer who started singing before she could even talk.When she was just seven, Kaela performed the song “Ben” by Michael Jackson during her school’s talent show and won the hearts of many. She has since gone on to perform for her school on several occasions, such as Crib Ball 2018 and Impart Awards 2020, as well as for weddings and birthdays. Kaela is currently being trained by vocal coach Amanda Coliver, who has previously trained Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman.
As someone who loves exploring the various sights and sounds in Singapore, Kaela also partnered with the Singapore Tourism Board on its latest brand film. Her powerful vocals complement the film with child-like wonderment. You can watch the brand film below:
“Mums and dads, I’m Kaela and I’m here to share 10 places that I think are fun, which I’m sure your kids will love as well! When I’m not singing or in school, there’s nothing more I look forward to than exploring fun and exciting places in Singapore with my family!
1. Gallop Kranji Farm Resort (Kranji / Mandai precinct)
My favourite memories of holidays are farm tours. How I love the animal farms we visited in Australia. While we can’t travel now because of the pandemic, I was delighted when my parents took me to the Gallop Kranji Farm Resort. I felt like I was on a holiday somewhere in the countryside as the vibe there was so different from the usual hustle and bustle of Singapore! My parents were also put to ease after finding out that the resort is SG Clean certified. This means that the resort has promised to uphold good hygiene and cleanliness practices, a must during this period!
There are 35 villas for families to stay in. For the first time, I got to experience the ‘kampung life’ that my grandparents told me interesting stories about. It was really pleasant to walk around the vegetable, fruit and herb plantations. These plantations and the kampung-like villas made me feel like I was living in one of my grandparents’ tales. Time seemed to pass slowly, and I felt so peaceful. I especially loved the prawning and fishing experiences. It was a refreshing change from the shopping malls and enrichment classes that I frequent. What an experience it was. I had so much to share with my classmates!
Since I had such a fun time, my parents decided to extend my ‘countryside tour’. I got to visit the aquariums and Jurong Frog Farm at Lim Chu Kang. I was surprised to learn that this is Singapore’s only heritage frog farm and holds many interesting and new information for kids like me to discover! It is a kid friendly spot, I must say.
The highlight of my Frog Farm visit was the Frog Quest Explorer programme. It was a fun way to interact with frogs and I even got to try feeding them. The Gabbe’s Family Tour Programme also taught me some scientific facts about frogs and even offered me the opportunity to sample some frog meat. I had loads of fun and learnt a lot! You can find out more from Gallop Kranji Farm Resort’s website here.
2. Changi Cove (Changi / East Coast precinct)
Hotel stays are always a treat, but Changi Cove is special to me because it is a modern heritage hotel set against lush greenery, and nature is something close to my heart. I was thrilled to discover that the hotel surroundings are also a habitat for migratory birds, such as the Oriental Pied Hornbills and the small Olive-backed sunbirds. I managed to spot some of these birds during my stay. The hotel is also a stone’s throw away from Changi Beach. I had a relaxing time at the beach, swimming and building sandcastles with my brother.
Here’s the best part – we were spoilt for choice when it came to mealtimes. The nearby Changi Hawker Centre has a huge selection of sumptuous local delights, such as Satay, the famous Changi Village Nasi Lemak, and Nasi Biryani. We were hit with the aroma of food the moment we stepped into the hawker centre. All of us found something that we liked – my parents especially loved the old school Chendol.
Do remember to adhere to the latest safe management measures when dining out! You can find out more at Changi Cove’s website here.
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3. Singapore DUCKtours (Civic District)
I was squealing in delight when I was on the open-top DUCKtours bus touring the business district in Singapore. I don’t often explore this part of Singapore, so I found out many new things about the different landmarks and interesting stories behind them. As we passed the Old Supreme Court, I learnt that it was there that the British surrendered to the Japanese army during World War 2. We also got to see the War Memorial Park, which pays tribute to the brave people who gave their lives during the Japanese Occupation. It made me feel so thankful for the Singapore we have today and reminded me to never take our peace and prosperity for granted.
After the hour-long city tour of the historical Civic District, to my surprise, the bus transformed into a boat as we entered the Marina Bay! I felt like I was in the Transformers movie. The boat then swam like a duck and we were mesmerised by a picturesque harbour adventure. We had a splashing good time without getting wet and made many beautiful memories snapping families wefies and photographs of the harbour. It was so convenient as we never had to get off our transformer vehicle the entire time.
This tour made me appreciate just how beautiful and rich in history our city is!
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4. Hop-On Hop-Off Singapore City Sightseeing Bus Tour (Chinatown, Civic District, Sentosa, Orchard Road, Kampong Gelam, Little India precinct)
It felt like I was looking at Singapore through fresh lens on this bus journey. It is definitely one of my family’s favourite ways to rediscover Singapore as we can tour at our own pace. As we were cruising along on the open-top double-decker bus, there was a guide telling us all about the places of interest. It reminded me that there’s so much more that children like me have to discover about my country.
We can choose from two routes to explore the city and can hop off the bus anytime we want, to visit or spend more time at certain attractions. As I had learnt about Kampong Gelam and Little India during my Social Studies lessons in school, it felt like the pages of my books were coming to life! I now have a much better appreciation of these neighbourhoods. It felt like I was on a little adventure!
My favourite pit stops include the Botanic Gardens. This is my family’s go-to place for picnics. We love the nature, flora and fauna and of course, the open spaces to run around in. I also enjoyed the Singapore Art Museum (SAM), which showcases international contemporary art for a one-of-a-kind experience. There’s so much going on there with workshops for families and educational programmes for children, covering a wide range of art trends and contemporary art practices.
Now that we are in the battle against COVID-19, this is a perfect place to go to without having to brave the crowds. There is ample space for families to have fun while adhering to the safe management guidelines! I’m definitely revisiting the SAM to take part in their activities, and I think all students should too, because the museum has various fascinating exhibitions showcasing contemporary art. The various kid friendly workshops also allow us to learn more about these art practices, as well as interesting art trends. I can’t wait to impress my art teacher with my newfound knowledge.
Remember to find an off-peak time to visit if possible, as we should certainly avoid crowds during this period.
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5. Chinatown Street Art & Street Food Tour
I enjoy exploring the world out there, as it provides me inspiration for my songs! That’s why I had a blast during this immersive and fun tour that allows you to check out the vibrant street art in Chinatown and learn about the traditional trades present in this amazing neighbourhood. Apart from admiring the beautiful facades and breath-taking architecture, my family also had the chance to sample delicious old school eats and treats! My siblings and I were given specially curated kid friendly activity sheets that encouraged us to interact with the sights that we saw during the tour, such as writing down Chinese idioms seen on murals. It’s all about learning and having a good time with your family!
Use your SingapoRediscovers Vouchers here!
6. Singapore Musical Box Museum (Outram / Chinatown precinct)
What could be more fitting than a museum for music lovers? This is Singapore’s first and only museum where you can find out about historical fun facts behind musical boxes, how they are made and how they found their way to Singapore in the 19th century. I was in my element and was thoroughly captivated by the 40 over musical boxes. It was quite the history lesson for me!
Use your SingapoRediscovers Vouchers here!
7. The Rink Ice-Skating Experience in JCube (Jurong precinct)
Ice-skating is one of my top pastimes. It always feels like a magical, special experience and brings me right into the tales of Christmas winter wonderlands. It is as if I am transported to a faraway land whenever I skate with my dad and siblings. If you’re like my mum and would rather not skate, you can chill by the café, have a drink and watch others show off their moves on the ice.
Do take note that it can get crowded during the weekends, so you might want to schedule this during off-peak periods. The Rink has also put in place quite a few measures, such as limiting the number of people on ice and ensuring that people wear their mask as they ice-skate, to protect us better. We must remember to stay safe during this pandemic period!
For more information, visit their Facebook page.
8. Mediacorp Campus, Timbre+ & Colbar (One North precinct)
Did you know that the Mediacorp Campus houses Singapore’s largest outdoor TV digital screen at 15 x 15 metres? That’s huge! It is the perfect place for families to have a picnic while being entertained by shows or movies outdoors – this isn’t something you get to do every day. My family also finds joy in playing a game of volleyball here, along with a yummy picnic of cheese, biscuits, and fruit! It’s a wonderful way for outdoor-loving families to bond.
While not many families may know of or choose to hang out here, it’s definitely worth the visit as the One North area has many hidden gems. One of its best-kept secrets is Colbar, an old-school ‘kopitiam-style’ café that serves affordable Western dishes. I savoured my ice-cream against the backdrop of the lush greenery, while my siblings tucked into the breaded cutlets, cheesy omelettes, and chips. Delicious! My dad explained to me that Colbar’s name is actually an abbreviation for ‘colonial bar’, as this place was formerly a canteen for the British army in the 1950s. I was enchanted by the old-school vibes, which brought me to a different place and a different time. My mum loves taking shots at this Instagram-worthy spot!
We also visited Timbre+, which is my family’s go-to food hangout. It’s known as a food park where music feeds the soul and food feeds the body. Timbre+ has a wide spread of restaurant-grade food and casual eats. My parents appreciated how affordable the food was as well. With the current dine-in restrictions, family will definitely return when more are allowed to eat out!
I was thrilled to learn that Timbre+ used to be filled with a whole range entertainment experiences, such as live music and band performances, and can’t wait for all these to be allowed again! Timbre+ has given me so much inspiration for my music and I wish to perform there one day.
9. Katong Food Walk by Betel Box Tours (Katong / Joo Chiat precinct)
Katong / Joo Chiat is a fascinating neighbourhood with so many stories to uncover. The colourful shophouses located along the streets of Tembeling Road, Koon Seng Road and Joo Chiat date back to the pre-war era. As the enclave of Straits-Chinese or Peranakans in Singapore, touring this neighbourhood really took us on a walk down memory lane. What a feast for the eyes!
If you are a foodie like my family, I suggest joining the Katong Food Walk Tour by Betel Box Tours. During this tour, you can learn more about the history and culture of Peranakans in the neighbourhood while sampling over 30 delectable Peranakan dishes.
Find out more about the tour on their website here.
10. The Green Corridor (Queenstown precinct)
If your family is adventurous, adores the outdoors and looking for kid friendly spots, this is a must-visit! Some activities you can look forward to include hiking and taking a stroll. My family fancies cycling as we get to take in the scenic views at a comfortable pace while feeling the gentle breeze blowing on our faces. Did you know that the Green Corridor was once the KTM railway track connecting Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and Bukit Timah Railway Station? I didn’t! These are really a kid friendly spots.
Kids can also have a mini history crash course by reading the signboards, which are in place as part of the ‘My Queenstown Heritage Trail’, to learn more about the history behind the Malayan Railway. The colonial-style houses located there were such a majestic sight and I spent quite some time admiring them.
I hope you’ve found my list of 10 kid friendly spots to visit in Singapore useful. I learnt so much from my little adventures and I’m sure your family will too. In fact, there’s so much more to discover so I can’t wait for my parents to bring me back to some of these places to visit and explore during our free time.
Do also look out for my first single, “Dreamcatcher”, which was co-written and produced by my brother, singer/songwriter Toby Madox. It is an uplifting song that will encourage individuals, especially the youth of today, to persevere through the hardships they face. It will remind listeners that they can rise above their troubles and to see themselves as worthy and perfect just the way they are. “Dreamcatcher” will be out on all digital platforms, including Spotify, on 23 July and I hope you will enjoy it! If you’d like to know more about me, you can look me up on Instagram and YouTube.”
There you go, mums and dads, a comprehensive list of kid friendly spots to visit, as recommended by an 11-year-old kid herself. If planning your visit to all these locations sounds overwhelming, fret not. The SingapoRediscovers website now provides several Singapoliday itineraries for you to check out how you can explore safely within various local precincts.
No travel, no worry, there’s plenty to explore right at home! While planning for a fun-filled and meaningful family adventure, do remember not to let your guard down. We are still in the middle of a pandemic. As such, it is best to schedule your outings during off-peak periods. Do also remember to always put your mask on, sanitise your hands well and adhere to all safe management measures. By following these simple guidelines, COVID-19 will not get in the way of your family to visit kid friendly spots in Singapore!