Get out and about with your family for the school holidays and learn more about Singapore with these great locations and activities.
Day at the National Museum
Visit a museum to learn about little-known aspects of Singapore’s history and culture, or string a few of them together for a walking tour around central Singapore.
Flora and Fauna Spotting
Make a day trip to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve[1] or Chek Jawa[2] to learn about the diverse ecosystems in Singapore’s mangroves, wetlands, ponds and forests. At Sungei Buloh, spot bird species such as plovers and sandpipers from September to March, or admire herons, kingfishers and sunbirds year-round. Meanwhile, Chek Jawa’s intertidal area is home to marine life such as crabs, starfish and mudskippers.
If you’re pressed for time, parks and park connector networks (PCN) near your estate also offer wildlife spotting opportunities. Families of otters have been seen at Bishan Park and along the Punggol PCN, while monitor lizards and herons can usually be found near bodies of water.
For guaranteed animal sightings, make a day trip to the Singapore Zoo, Bird Paradise or River Safari. Use these opportunities to talk to children about environmental conservation, and how they can do their part to protect the planet’s biodiversity.
Engage in Family Bonding Activities
Head to the mall as a family, and let children browse in bookstores and libraries. The National Library Board organises programmes and school holiday activities such as storytelling and craft sessions for young readers.
Do grocery shopping as a family, and let children take part in making and buying with a shopping list. Take this opportunity to teach older children about financial planning by working within a fixed budget.
Take part in a mall workout, and try activities such as Zumba, Piloxing and KpopX fitness in an open section of the mall! The workouts are free and usually held on weekends or weekday evenings. Alternatively, if you're looking to get the family outdoors on the weekend, get onboard the Active Family Program.
Going Out of Town
If you’re looking to go further than Singapore’s shores, pack your walking shoes and take a holiday.
Soak in the sights and sounds of a new country as you explore on foot, and use the chance to teach older children about the different cultures and ways of life for people abroad. Popular nearby destinations include Malacca, Penang and Phuket, which can all be reached in two to three hours on a bus or plane.
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References
- NParks. (2017, Jan 31). Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve [Website].
Retrieved March 2017 from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/sbwr
- NParks. (2016, Dec 8). About Chek Jawa [Website].
Retrieved March 2017 from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/pulau-ubin-and-chek-jawa/what-to-see/about-chek-jawa
Contributed By
- Health Promotion Board