The best kid-friendly art activities and exhibitions in Singapore

Here’s one exciting event for the kids to look forward to this June school holidays – National Heritage Board’s annual programme, Children’s Season, is back with exciting events and activities across Children’s Museum Singapore (CMSG) and Museum Roundtable (MR) museums from now till June 23. This year’s event will embody the theme ‘Innovation’, welcoming young ones to explore inventions and expand their mind creatively through a bunch of exciting programmes across 21 MR museums and galleries.

Hailing all the way from Australia is Chaos Lab, a science-themed playground set to make its debut in Singapore on November 11 This zany playzone will be located at Changi Airport, Terminal 2, featuring 11 interactive fun stations that will undertake the theme of science and exploration. 

How it works is that anyone who participates in Chaos Lab naturally becomes an underling for the mad scientist Dr Splat. You'll have the privilege of his company as you navigate through various experiences designed for creative exploration and unbridled imagination. Explore the Gravity Wall, where you can unleash your inner scientist and delve into the mysteries of gravity. Make a stop at the Slime Station and dive into the world of gooey fun, and you can even craft your own slime to take home. Additionally, there's a frothy ball pit where children can let their wild energy loose.

i Light Singapore, our city's annual after-dark affair, will return this May to June for its 10th edition. Organised by Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), this year’s festival will feature installations scattered across Marina Bay, South Beach, Millenia Walk and their newest district takeover – Tanjong Pagar. Titled Cyclical Nature, 2024’s theme embodies the spirit of sustainability, featuring 17 interactive artworks that will explore the restoration, repurposing and re-designing of everyday objects, by 25 different local and international artists.

International art collective teamLab is best known for their spectacular exhibitions and interactive experiences. Lucky us, our little red dot houses two must-see exhibitions: new immersive space Digital Light Canvas and permanent exhibition Future World: Where Art Meets Science. 

Pop by The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands (B2-50, next to Rasapura Masters) to see the beauty of Digital Light Canvas unravel. With each step you take, this interactive space cleverly blossoms. There’s a spot where you can craft your own colourful interpretations – from vibrantly patterned snakes to picture-perfect blooms, you’ll be more than delighted to see your designs come to life. Every half hour, there’s also a four-minute segment called Strokes of Life that offers a nod to the intricacies of calligraphic art.

After showing the kids around the other exhibits at the National Gallery Singapore, their art journey continues at the Keppel Centre for Art Education. The concept here is simple: to stimulate children’s curiosity and imagination through – what else – art.

Reopened in December 16, 2023, the refreshed centre features seven unique learning zones suitable for children aged 4 to 12. These immersive spaces will host workshops catered to igniting the imagination of children in hopes to nurture their critical thinking and visual literacy skills. Through these activities, the children will be exposed to seven different elements of art: space, form, colour, texture, line, shape and value. 

The space also incorporates wheelchair-friendly furniture and learning stations of various heights to ensure inclusivity and accessibility within the space.

Besides the permanent installations, the Keppel Centre for Art Education regularly hosts programmes, from storytelling sessions to craft workshops to kid-friendly discussions on art. Check out National Gallery Singapore's website for more info.

A dinosaur fossil, a sperm whale skeleton, the only specimen of the largest species of turtle ever recorded, and an Asian Brown Flycatcher specimen collected by the famed British naturalist Alfred Wallace himself – these are just some of the highlights you’ll see at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum. 

The gallery is perfect for anyone interested in wildlife – but not the legwork it involves. Fifteen thematic zones display specimens that run the gamut of plants, fungi, mammals, dinosaurs and more. 

Surrounding the museum are four gardens such as the Phylogenetic garden, which charts the evolution of plants and habitats. The other gardens – themed after mangroves, swamps and dryland forests – feature plants that are unique to these habitats. Bonus: entry to the gardens is free. 

It’s time to get up close and personal with your favourite characters at XM Studios at their permanent exhibition. Feast your eyes on an extraordinary collection of collectible statues – picture over 300 meticulously crafted sculptures featuring beloved heroes from Marvel, DC, Godzilla, Transformers, Star Wars, and beyond. And for those who are big fans of Batman, don’t forget to check out the one and only Batcave – a space designed by XM Studios mimicking Bruce Wayne’s subterranean headquarters, complete with the Batcomputer, Bat Armoury and the world’s first licensed 1:30 scale figure of Batman.

They say we never truly grow up; we just get better at pretending. At KidZania Singapore, children can perfect this art in a vibrant mini-city brimming with 'real-world' venues. Imagine your kids stepping into the shoes of a firefighter, surgeon, or scientist through immersive role-play at places like a hospital, police station, and aviation academy. Designed with input from child education experts and supported by reputable brands, KidZania masterfully combines fun and learning for kids aged four and up.

This interactive wonderland turns vocational fantasies into reality. From fighting fires and solving crimes to performing on stage, kids can explore various professions in a safe, scaled-down city. With engaging activities tailored for children four and older, KidZania Singapore ensures everyone can join in the excitement and discovery, making it a must-visit destination for young explorers and their families.

First initiated in Korea, the Trick Eye Museum has finally arrived in Singapore. Housed at Resorts World Sentosa, the 800-square-metre museum adorns six zones with different themes (like Safari or Circus), and will each display three-dimensional paintings and optical illusion masterpieces that visitors can pose in front of for mind-boggling photo ops. Guests will be fully immersed in the interactive pieces that reflect the cosmopolitan nature of Singapore by blending Eastern and Western influences.

From the same people behind Future World, this art installation brings to life sixty-nine works from the William Farquhar Collection of National History Drawings within the museum’s Glass Rotunda. Look forward to roving animals, digital flora and seasonal weather in an expansive forest created by Japanese digital art collective teamLab, which seamlessly unfolds into a a virtual and visual landscape, immersing visitors in the story of Singapore's journey from its colonial past to its present-day modernity.

Indulge in a pink ice cream fantasy at the newly-opened Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) Singapore. The opening of this wildly anticipated attraction has been in the works for close to three months due to pandemic restrictions, but it seems like the wait will be well worth it, as MOIC is bringing 14 never-before-seen attractions to its first international location outside of the US.

Step foot into the 60,000 square foot property at 100 Loewen Road and be transported to a surreal world of scrumptious sights, sounds and of course, lots of tasty ice cream. Attractions you'll want to check out: discover your inner Picasso at the art-themed Museum of Modern Ice Cream, race with friends at Marble Run, finally get some travel going at California Dreamin' and boogie it up at the Scream's Diner jukebox. Kids and the young at heart will also love jumping around at Inflatable, or swimming in a sea of colourful sprinkles at the largest MOIC Sprinkle Pool ever. 

Don't forget the ice cream. Be treated to a bevy of delectable flavours inspired by local delights including Pulut Hitam Potong ice cream, Lemon Bliss Balls, Lychee Bandung and Taro Milk Tea ice cream sandwiches. That's coming at you in unlimited servings too, so be sure that you have some space for dessert before visiting. 

From August 19 to 22, visitors will get to indulge in a variety of special games and activities to commemorate Singapore's 56th birthday celebrations too. Take a trip down memory lane at Playspace and show off your chapteh and five stones skills. Pretty up a National Day Ice Cream Truck at the Craft Room, check out a Merlion-inspired and ice cream-topped Mercone, and paste on some temporary National Day-themed tattoos. There will be unique merchandise up for grabs at discounted prices and a limited edition Singapore Sling Boba Cocktail at the bar too. 

MOIC Singapore has released more tickets till December, so snap them up quickly before they go. Quick – make your reservations now at museumoficecream.sg. 

If there's one thing to tick off your kids' bucket lists, it's a day trip to renowned waxwork museum Madame Tussauds. Fancy a selfie with Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp? Head on to the A-List Party section. You can also take a photo with some of our local heroes and celebs including Jack Neo and Gurmit Singh. Another feature to look out for when you head on over is the indoor boat ride, called Spirit of Singapore, which is unique to its Singapore outpost. It features some of our native plants, models of attractions and glimpses of local cultures, such as a re-enactment of a traditional Chinese opera. 

Indulge in a pink ice cream fantasy at the newly-opened Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) Singapore. The opening of this wildly anticipated attraction has been in the works for close to three months due to pandemic restrictions, but it seems like the wait will be well worth it, as MOIC is bringing 14 never-before-seen attractions to its first international location outside of the US.

Step foot into the 60,000 square foot property at 100 Loewen Road and be transported to a surreal world of scrumptious sights, sounds and of course, lots of tasty ice cream. Attractions you'll want to check out: discover your inner Picasso at the art-themed Museum of Modern Ice Cream, race with friends at Marble Run, finally get some travel going at California Dreamin' and boogie it up at the Scream's Diner jukebox. Kids and the young at heart will also love jumping around at Inflatable, or swimming in a sea of colourful sprinkles at the largest MOIC Sprinkle Pool ever. 

Don't forget the ice cream. Be treated to a bevy of delectable flavours inspired by local delights including Pulut Hitam Potong ice cream, Lemon Bliss Balls, Lychee Bandung and Taro Milk Tea ice cream sandwiches. That's coming at you in unlimited servings too, so be sure that you have some space for dessert before visiting. 

From August 19 to 22, visitors will get to indulge in a variety of special games and activities to commemorate Singapore's 56th birthday celebrations too. Take a trip down memory lane at Playspace and show off your chapteh and five stones skills. Pretty up a National Day Ice Cream Truck at the Craft Room, check out a Merlion-inspired and ice cream-topped Mercone, and paste on some temporary National Day-themed tattoos. There will be unique merchandise up for grabs at discounted prices and a limited edition Singapore Sling Boba Cocktail at the bar too. 

MOIC Singapore has released more tickets till December, so snap them up quickly before they go. Quick – make your reservations now at museumoficecream.sg.