The best kid-friendly things to do during the school holidays

Don’t meet your heroes, they say, unless they are life-sized Marvel superhero statues! Jewel Changi Airport presents Avengers: Beyond Earth’s Mightiest, a Marvel-themed event that will be home to Marvel’s coolest superheroes from May 26 to August 13.

The Earth's Mightiest Heroes will be taking over the mall at Shiseido Forest Valley and Canopy Park, featuring stunning 3D installations, interactive displays, and massive statues of your favourite heroes. Don't miss the Light & Sound showcase at the HSBC Rain Vortex too, where there'll be a mesmerising show of the Avengers brought to life as grand water projections. To cap it all off is The Wonder Store, where you can bring home a piece of the Avengers in the form of toys, apparel, figurines – you name it. 

Love board games and classic like Connect 4, The Game of Life and Hungry Hungry Hippos? You can now play larger-than-life versions of these games at Changi Airport Terminal 3. From May 26 to July 13, the departure hall will be transformed into the Hall of Games, a wonderland of physical and digital activities based on popular Hasbro games. Bring the kids to race and dodge obstacles at The Game of Life driving simulator, or feed ravenous hippos at the Hungry Hungry Hippos station. Connect 4 and Twister are other classic games given a twist – not to mention Mega Bounce, a bouncy castle playground that brings Chutes and Ladders and more Hungry Hungry Hippos to life. 

If you’re a parent and if you’re struggling to think of ways to keep your kids occupied during the upcoming school holidays in June, fret not. With over 90 family-friendly programmes planned, this year’s Children’s Season, which runs from May 27 to June 25, will help to keep your kids entertained. The event, which is organised by the National Heritage Board (NHB), will take place at 25 museums across Singapore, including the National Museum of Singapore, the Children’s Museum Singapore, and The Peranakan Museum. The highlight of this year’s Children’s Season is a series of 30 comic art workshops, which should excite comic-loving children. Children’s Season 2023 will consist of a mixture of free and paid activities, some of which will require tickets. More information and updates will be available by May 22 on the NHB website.

Bring your kids on an action-packed Night at the Airport Family Camp experience at Jewel Changi Airport this June holiday. If your kids love planes and airports, this is a must-do. The camp includes several activities, such as an amazing race-style “Journey Through Time” Family Quest throughout the airport, airport-themed craft activities, rock climbing, and interactive games at Changi Experience Studio. Finally, end the day with a sleepover inside a tent. There’s no need to pack your own sleeping bags – air mattresses are provided, as are showers. Note, however, that meals are not included. You’ll have to choose from the many dining options in Jewel for your own meals.

Pay a visit to the brand new Bird Paradise, the newest addition to Mandai Wildlife Reserve. View over 3000 birds at the 17-hectare park, which is divided into several aviaries (birds fly freely within these aviaries). If your kids tire of walking and looking at birds, there are many playgrounds inside the park to entertain them, including a water playground, which has water slides and shallow pools. Just remember to bring a change of clothes for them! After exploring the park, refuel at Mandai Wildlife West, which is located just outside Bird Paradise and offers dining options like A&W, Old Chang Kee, Birds of Paradise, and Starbucks.

It's never too early to expose your little ones to art. Unlock their creativity with a multi-sensorial art adventure at National Gallery Singapore as it turns into a colossal warren of imagination. Themed Let’s Make a Better Place, the fourth edition of the Gallery Children’s Biennale decks the National Gallery Singapore with 11 art installations by artists around the world. Each installation spotlights one of four core values which include care, collaborate, imagine, and respect. These artistic concepts also highlight the relevant issues of today – in an easy-to-digest manner for kids, no less. Your young heroes can look forward to immersive experiences that go beyond imaginative play, inspiring them to take an active role in bettering the world.

From June 10-25, kids can join Calvin the Caterpillar and participate in a series of nature-related activities at this year’s Children’s Festival at Gardens by the Bay. Highlights include craft workshops, carnival games, movie screenings, dog adoption drives, and a best-dressed competition. Each weekend will have a different theme – the first will be a family weekend, the second will be pet-themed, and the third and final weekend will have a nature theme. Bring your family down for a fun-filled day this June holiday at the Supertree Grove in Gardens by the Bay. Entry to the event is free, although charges do apply for several of the events.

If you’re looking for free family-bonding and family-building activities during the June holidays, the National Family Week will be taking place over two weekends at several locations around Singapore. Head down to locations including Our Tampines Hub, SAFRA Punggol, and HomeTeamNS Khatib. Your family will be able to participate in games (such as basketball and bowling) and activities (like trails, escape rooms, and bouncy castles), attend workshops, and shop at gift markets. If you’re interested, you can also sign up for programmes that will teach you marriage, parenting, and grandparenting skills. Check out the website for more information on locations and activities. 

Explore Singapore Discovery Center after hours minus the crowds in an unforgettable indoor camping experience on selected dates during the school holidays. You’ll get to partake in scavenger hunts, 4D theatre rides, laser tag, a silent yoga session, and an interactive bedtime show. Meals are provided at the Bottle Tree Cafe Restaurant inside the centre, but you’ll have to bring your own sleeping bags (you’ll be sleeping in the open, amongst the exhibits in the Sandbox Gallery). Showers are also provided.

Take a stroll amongst a wide variety of roses with this year’s edition of the annual Rose Romance in Gardens by the Bay. From June 2 to July 16, the Flower Dome will be transformed into a romantic garden reminiscent of Puglia in southern Italy, an area known for being a wedding destination. Make it a family affair by bringing your kids along – after all, it’s never too early to appreciate flowers. If flowers aren’t your little ones’ cup of tea, bring them to the immersive Avatar Experience, also at Gardens by the Bay. Step into Pandora at the neighbouring Cloud Forest until June 30, where you’ll be able to come face-to-face with Pandora’s flora and fauna. For non-residents, entry into Flower Dome and the Avatar Experience costs $53 for adults, and $40 for kids above 12. If you’re a resident, tickets cost $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, and $27 for kids. Get your tickets at this link.