Children's Biennale

There are times I would want to save some money and bring my kids to the free stuff in Singapore. The Children's Biennale is one exhibition which I found at the National Gallery. They have a theme every year and is free for the children and adults (including foreigners so helpers can enter free too). Apart from the Biennale's exhibition, there is also the Keppel Centre for Art Education which is extremely suitable  (you can read our review here). 

It can be quite crowded during the weekend. But weekdays are pretty fine. Overall, the installations are decently interactive. Not a place I would go specifically for, but still a great place to entertain the kids when budget is tight and you just can't find anything else to do. 

Keppel Centre for Art Education - Free for Families

We have walked past this a few times and every time it seems really packed so we never got a chance to enter. We finally made our way in and this is such a perfect place for families. First of all, it is free! Within the City Hall district, this is one of the 2 free kids museum I know of - the other being Children's Museum (you can read our reviews here!)

In comparison, I found the activities here a lot more art-driven and had some hands-on activities that spur creativity. As one of kid is more into crafts etc., he had a wonderful time exploring. If we didn't come at a really odd time between the 2 slots, I think they would have stayed up to 3 hours. My photos didn't come out really good, think their lighting may not be the most photos-friendly. 

As a parent, I like that the place was really spacious with even a calm pod for them to cool down. The activities we did that was also pretty uncommon, compared to indoor playgrounds etc. So I thought it provided quite a good experience and also exposure for them. They tried drawing with a 3D pen. Donations are optional, but we decided to contribute because the filament ain't cheap and to a certain extent, I would like to help keep nice initiative like this going. 

As an adult, some activities were also pretty refreshing for me. For me, this was a great find. Because sometimes I do bring the kids out on my own and am stuck in a limbo in between activities. A place like this (especially when it is free) helps me to keep them entertained and contained in a safe, family-friendly environment. Older kids (primary school kids and above) may struggle to stay impressed. 

New Exhibition at Science Centre - The Copernican Principle

It has been a while since I last stepped into the Science Centre (I think I go to KidsSTOP more often). With the launch of the roving exhibition on The Copernican Principle, I thought it was a good time to drop by. To be quite frank, I would think the Copernican Principle is quite a complex concept to grapple and Mr Jan Świerkowski, founder of Instytut B61, a science artist did put good effort to curate retro games that were engaging and fun. 

Copernican basically modelled a universe which place Sun rather than our Earth in the center (very revolutionary in his time). The exhibition explored more philosophical elements of the principle though its games - to stop centering around ourselves and start thinking about how our actions can impact the greater universe. 

The exhibition of the The Copernican Principle is not huge but rather impactful. Maybe because they were arcade games, the exhibition was very relatable and popular with the teens. My kid and I had to hang around a bit before we got to play it :) But not to worry, Science Centre is pretty huge and filled with other thoughtful exhibitions. I was quite impressed with how the educators managed to simplify science and make it engaging. 

While we were there, we also explored other exhibitions - such as the active ageing, the concept of fear and oil distillation. I think the older kids would enjoy the fear exhibition. But I chickened out with my kid because I don't handle darkness, clowns well. Some of the exhibitions was quite difficult to explain to my toddler, but it did spark innate curiosity in him along with endless questions. And I think that is a good first step to explorational learning. 

Not all the exhibitions hit me on the right spot. Personally, I am quite freaked out by creepy crawlies (a whole tank of stick insects, somebody spare me please), and AI as human companionship. Much as it was a learning journey for the kids, it was also one for the adults. The world is revolving and I really need to keep up my pace on its development. Science Centre is complimentary on weekdays (non-peak), I guess this gives me a good excuse to come back more and re-learn. 

For those with toddlers, you can check out the waterworks exhibition. I am not sure how much scientific learning is embedded within, but one thing I can guarantee, the toddlers enjoy it. No photos this time round cos time was scarce, but the younger one went once and was wild about it. :)

Free Indoor Play Area in Singapore - Children's Museum Singapore

 

We are probably quite late to this, but we recently found this gem - Children's Museum. Located around 10 mins walk from City Hall MRT station, this is probably one of the most entertaining and cheapest pay area option in town. Complimentary entry for Singaporeans, but it was really difficult to get the weekend slots. Tip: Tickets are only released 30 days in advance, so we counted ahead. Alternatively you can try to walk-in. 

The theme of the museum was the 70s/ 80s. I have to admit that a wave of nostalgia hit me and the husband hard even though we weren't exactly born in that era. But it was just cool to walk into a "period drama moment". It was not just the kids who had fun, even we were fiddling with the old-school items. 

What really set them apart was the realism and that there were plenty of interaction opportunities to touch/ feel/ play with the props. Some of the items such as the barber chair was so rare to see. There were also plenty of photo opportunities and the young toddlers had a fun time "cosplaying" as dessert girl and mata boy of the era. The only drawback, this place is only for families with kids. If you do not have kids, you can't enter the premises. 

The toilet facilities were also very family-friendly. For the toddlers, there was a soft-play area meant for them. Older kids are not allowed to enter which mean that there was barely any rough play. Parents could just chill as it was very safe for the children. My kids spent a good amount of time there. 

The other sections were hawker-themed and it was just the perfect recipe for pretend-play. The children had a lot of fun pretending to cook, eat and clearing dishes. Some of the "toys" there really thoughtful (not going to give away too much lest it takes away the surprise from the adults). As the number of people is controlled per session, I felt the whole play area very cozy and not overly crowded. 

We definitely see ourselves being back a lot more often. This place is really suitable for preschoolers and below. For the schooling kids, I think they might find the activities elementary and the height of the displays short. Do check this place out too if you have kids!