Singapore with Kids

There is so much to do with kids in Singapore!  I do like exploring Little India and Chinatown and other local neighborhoods with kids, it's not always easy, but we find kid-friendly corners.

These activities are divided up in general neighborhoods/areas:

CITY:

The National Museum has one room on 3rd level designed for kids (Kids at Play)

The Philatelic (stamp) museum near Armenian street is a great little museum for kids.

The Asian Civ has hidden corners for kids - dress up in Asian clothes, play on instruments etc.

The Firestation opens it's doors on Saturday mornings and kids can climb fire trucks and explore.
The river cruise on bumboats is only 45 minutes so it's a great way to sightsee with guests and see the Merlion, etc.
Everyone heads to MBS to see the view, but we prefer The Pinnacles on Duxton with kids because they can climb on structures and adults can enjoy amazing views.  

BUKIT TIMAH:

Head to the Botanical Gardens and let the kids run around and use their "trotinettes".  The Jacob Ballas Gardens is especially for children with a playground and very small splashpad.  On some week-ends they do concerts at the Shaw Theater.  Bring a picnic (bring picnic blanket) or grab pizza/pasta at Casa Verde and enjoy the music while the kids run around.

While shopping on Orchard, it's good to know there is a tiny playground on the top level of Paragon.  Kids can play there for a few minutes, it is right beside the Toys R Us.

Our favorite place to brunch is Rider's Cafe.  It works with kids b/c they have a kid's menu, there is a small playground outside the restaurant, and afterwards, we go and watch the horses at play.

MacRitichie park we love!  There is a reservoir here where you can rent kayaks/canoes, kids at a certain age can ride with an adult.  The 10km round-trip trail gets you to the tree-top walk, it's beautiful up there.

Mini golf at Fairways - off of Eng Neo - eat afterwards at Picotin.  Lovely leafy setting.
http://www.championsgolf.com.sg/#!btgc-minigolf/c14sx

SENTOSA:

There are loads of activities on this island, our family's favorite is iFly indoor sky diving and the Luges.

Our kids love Universal Studios (if you don't have a fast pass go early, right when it opens at 10am). Best ride is Transformers and the Mummy, favorite show is waterworld.

Adventure Cove is a great waterpark for kids.

SEA Aquarium and the Maritime museum is a lot of fun, but the kids felt like one visit was plenty, we didn't need our annual passes.

Tanjong Beach Club - great place for early on Saturday or Sunday before crowds arrive to play on the beach, dip in pool, and eat pancakes off the brunch menu.

VivoCity - the mall has a splash pad / playground on the upper level, great for little tots (2-5).

On Palawan Beach, there is Port of Lost Wonder.  The best water splash park in Singapore with a giant pirate ship that tips a huge bucket of water.

Mount Faber park is a great area to explore the Henderson Waves.  The cable cars is very touristy but kids think it's fun.

MARINA BAY:

Gardens by the Bay - has a great Children's park and excellent splash pool.

A good place for kids to try local food is the eateries right underneath the Singapore Flyer.

They have done the hawker stands in old-fashioned 1960s Singapore.

There is a koi pond in the middle where kids can feed the fish.
We like catching the General Cheng Ho boat (around 10am) for the morning glory cruise to Kusu Island.  This ride is a few hours long but a great way to see Singapore skyline.

WEST COAST:

West Coast park is loads of fun but we prefer other parks because of accessibility.

Haw Par Villa is an unusual Chinese mythical statues park where kids can run around.

JURONG:

The Science Center is a great indoors place for the kids, a good day to go on a rainy day.  There is actually a splash pool area outside.

The Chinese Gardens is a lovely place to see pagodas/temples with water/bridges around it, but it's the Live Turtle Museum that is a unique stop.  You can feed turtles with vegetables and fish (koi) in the water.

Kids Amaze (in the SAFRA building) is an indoor playgound with a huge slide, guns that shoot foam balls, etc.

Amped is an indoor trampoline park with about 30 trampolines all joined together.

CENTRAL:

Singapore zoo of course!  I think with kids it is wise to get the tram pass so you can take breaks and see animals while riding around.  It's hard to see all the shows, so if limited with time, the elephant one and rainforest fights back are both very good.  After seeing the animals, head over to Kidzworld to cool down - there is a KFC and a Ben & Jerry's cafe with a wonderful splash zone.

The night safari is great but if kids are used to going to bed early, it's hard to keep them awake and there are always crowds.

The new River Safari is an easy outing, it is next door to the zoo.  If you only have time for one, pick the zoo. River Safari is an extra bonus if you have time.  It is an easy loop around the park on a board walk and the boat ride is great, be sure to get a timed ticket for it.

EAST COAST:

East coast park is a fabulous playground for kids.  You can rent bikes, roller blade, and picnic/beach here.  Once we rented a bike that could sit our whole family and the kids loved that.  There is a skate park here (Extreme Skate) that is the best one in Singapore.

There's a new dining area/strip mall between Splashpark and Burger King that has recently opened and has lasertag.

We do like going from Changi by bumboat to Palau Ubin to rent bikes and have lunch and do the Coastal walk.

In the Katong area there is an indoor trampoline park outlet (Amped) same as Jurong.

PASIR RIS:

This area is quite far away but there are two reasons to go.  The Pasir Ris park is the largest outdoor park for kids and it is nice and shaded. There is horse back riding in one corner and also kampong fishing in the neighborhood.  This is the old-fashioned way kids used to catch fish in the streams with little fishing nets. The park also has a mangrove boardwalk.

ROAD TRIPS:

Kuala Lumpur has a KidZania that is an indoor playground where kids can try all sorts of professions.

Legoland is just an hour away.

Malacca can be fun with kids.

We went to Kuala Selangor (firefly park) on our way to KL.

BOAT TRIPS

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/feb/06/top-10-day-trips-singapore