Toddler gym $10. Baby baking class $50. Family zoo entrance $72. Some good old-fashioned wallet-friendly areas to play for free? Priceless! And they do exist, so here they are mums and dads – for both rainy days and sunny days. Don’t say we don’t spoil you!
ON RAINY DAYS
Hip Kids Club at Forum
11am to 1pm and 4.30pm to 8pm (Monday to Friday); 10.30am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm and 6pm to 8pm (weekends and public holidays)
This indoor playground costs just $15 for a one-year membership so it’s practically free. Complete with climbing frames, balance beams, a slide, colourful ball pit and mini trikes, this is a lifesaver for active toddlers. Plus there’s an Early Learning Centre shop and Toys R Us in the mall with toy displays to keep little hands busy for a few minutes before the playground opens. The only drawback is that opening times are limited as the space is shared with Chiltern School.
Best for: Toddlers to 12 years
583 Orchard Road, Level 2, Forum The Shopping Mall 6732 2479 | forumtheshoppingmall.com.sg
Fidgets
9am to 6pm
Recently renovated, this large indoor play structure has climbing structures, toy cars, slides, baking classes and arts and crafts. It’s free for under-ones and there’s a quieter (comparatively) soft play area for very little ones near the café but you’ll need to go during off-peak hours to relax.
Best for: Crawlers to 10 years
200 Turf Club Road, #03-10 The Grandstand 6466 7611 | fidgets.com.sg
GoGo Bambini
9.30am to 6pm (Monday to Thursday); 9.30am to 8pm (Friday to Sunday)
A little dark inside but this place has fun ball pits, multi climbing levels and a soft play area. Keep an eye out for school trips and birthday parties when it gets too busy for little ones. Free for under-ones.
Best for:Toddlers to 11 years
Block 8 Dempsey Road, #01-15 6474 5492 | gogobambini.com
Happy Willow
9.30am to 6.30pm (Monday to Friday); 9.30am to 7.30pm (weekends and public holidays)
OK, so this one is not free. We confess. But it’s only $10 for under-twos for three hours on weekdays (two hours on weekends). But it’s still a firm favourite – smaller and brighter than other play centres so it’s more manageable for little ones. There’s a dedicated Toddler’s Turf area beside a cute café so you can keep your eye on crawlers while having a coffee (one of the only places that does this properly!). Free Wi-Fi, magazines and a kitchen playstation for older toddlers beside the café completes the zen den. For older kids there are also more boisterous slides, a mini flying fox, ball pits and a book corner.
Best for: Crawlers to nine years
1 Fusionopolis Way, #B10-06 Fusionopolis (Connexis Tower) 6466 6300 | happywillow.com.sg
Marina Square
10am to 10pm
A good spot if you’re doing shopping at Marina Square, this small indoor playground is best for young kids. There’s a playhouse and slide and the usual rockers.
Best for: Toddlers and younger kids
6 Raffles Boulevard, Level 3 Marina Square 6339 8787 | marinasquare.com.sg
Paragon
10am to 9pm
A small playground with slides of varying sizes, tunnels and hiding spaces, carousels and kiddie rides. Suitable for younger children.
Best for:Toddlers and younger kids
290 Orchard Road, Level 5 Paragon 6738 5535 | paragon.sg
313@somerset
10am to 10pm (11pm on Friday and Saturday)
This covered open-air play area on 313@somerset’s Sky Terrace is small but it will keep toddlers and younger kids entertained for a while after lunch.
Best for:Toddlers and younger kids
313 Orchard Road, Level 5 313@somerset 6496 9313 | 313somerset.com.sg
ON SUNNY DAYS
Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
8am to 7pm (Tuesday to Sunday; closed Mondays)
This park is a gem. When it’s too hot to think, let the kids cool off in the water spray area. There’s also a sandpit, herb garden, rope bridges, waterfalls and a magnificent tree house with slides for older kids. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Best for:Toddlers to 12 years
481 Bukit Timah Road (entrance via NUS Bukit Timah Campus car park)
6471 9927 | sbg.org.sg
Food For Thought
8am to 9pm
This small outdoor kids’ playground with a slide and climbing structure has seating outside so you can have breakfast or a coffee while you keep an eye on the kids. There’s space on the upper level for older kids to play ball or whizz around on scooters.
Best for:Toddlers and younger kids
1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens, #B1-00 Tanglin Gate 6479 1080 | foodforthought.com.sg
VivoCity
10am to 10pm
There’s a small play area and water fountain (level 2) plus go-karts, swings and a roof-top sky park garden with wading pools to cool off in (level 3).
Best for: Toddlers to older kids – everyone loves water play
1 Harbourfront Walk, Levels 2 and 3 6736 9117 | vivocity.com.sg
West Coast Park
7am to 7pm
Great for older kids – there’s a pirate ship playground, climbing ropes, swings, flying foxes and a massive climbing rope pyramid plus a sandpit. Lots of green space to kick a ball about, fly kites or just have a picnic. Bring your bikes, trikes and scooters for a spin around the cycle paths or rent the go-karts.
Best for: Older kids but the sandpit is good for younger ones
Parallel to West Coast Highway | nparks.gov.sg
For more helpful tips head to our living in Singapore section.
