There are some good old-fashioned wallet-friendly outdoor and indoor play areas to head to in Singapore for great fun with the little ones on rainy and sunny days alike. Here’s a list of some of the ones we love most. (Mums and Dads, don’t say we don’t spoil you!)
Rainy Days
GoGo Bambini
It’s a little dark inside, but this place has a great way to encourage an active lifestyle in your kids in a safe manner, with its fun ball pits, multiple climbing levels and a soft play area. Keep an eye out for school trips and birthday parties when it can get too busy for little ones. Free for those under six months.
Best for: Toddlers to 11 years
Location: Block 8 Dempsey Road, #01-15
Hours: 9am to 7pm daily, 9.30am to 6pm (Monday to Thursday), and 9.30am to 8pm (Friday to Sunday)
Info: 6474 5492 | gogobambini.com
Hip Kids Club at Forum
This indoor playground costs just $25 for a one-year membership so it’s more than reasonable for those who head into the town area frequently; a one-time entry costs $5. 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 a 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
Location: 583 Orchard Road, Level 2, Forum The Shopping Mall
Hours: 11am to 2pm and 4.30pm to 8pm (Monday to Friday); 10.30am to 3.30pm, 4.30pm to 8pm (weekends and public holidays)
Info: 6732 2479 | forumtheshoppingmall.com.sg
Ikea
This place is perfect for keeping your kids occupied and out of your hands as you shop for some much-needed furniture. Equipped with everything from spider-web climbing nets to slides and even an area to watch a movie, it’s bound to keep the kids happy. Do note that each child is limited to a maximum of one hour of play time per day and must be at least 0.9 metres tall.
Best for: Younger kids who are at least able to walk steadily by themselves
Hours: 10am to 10pm (Sunday to Thursday), last admission: 9pm; 10am to 11pm (Friday and Saturday), last admission: 10pm
Location: 317 Alexandra Road
Info: 6786 6868 | ikea.com/sg/en
Marina Square
A good spot if you’re doing some shopping in the mall, 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
Location: 6 Raffles Boulevard, Level 3 Marina Square
Hours: 10am to 10pm
Info: 6339 8787 | marinasquare.com.sg
Paragon
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
Location: 290 Orchard Road, Level 5 Paragon
Hours: 10am to 9pm
Info: 6738 5535 | paragon.sg
Suntec City
If you’re at Suntec and need something to occupy your little ones, head over to the third level in the building’s East wing. Although it’s on the smaller side, the playground here is good enough for smaller kids, equipped with the usual slides, tunnels and spring rides.
Best for: Younger kids, ages 1 to 3 years
Location: 3 Temasek Blvd, Suntec City
Hours: 10am to 10pm
Info: 6266 1502 | sunteccity.com.sg
Super Park
Also at Suntec City, Super Park is a great way to get your kids up and moving. With 40,000 square feet of fun, it boasts a Pedal Car Track, Ninja Track, Tube Slide and more. You are required to buy a ticket though; prices depend on the time of day, with the peak hours being in the afternoon. You may want to dedicate a good amount of time if you’re planning a visit here!
Best for: Kids of all ages
Location: 3 Temasek Blvd, Suntec City Mall, #02-477
Hours: 10am to 9pm (Mon to Fri), 9am to 9pm (Sat to Sun, public holidays)
Info: 6208 8322 | superpark.com.sg
313@Somerset
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
Location: 313 Orchard Road, Level 5, 313@Somerset
Hours: 10am to 10pm (11pm on Friday and Saturday)
Info: 6496 9313 | 313somerset.com.sg
Sunny days
Gardens by the Bay Children’s Garden
Your kid is sure to love this playground, located at the east end of the gardens, and equipped with both a wet and dry area. There are also facilities both for little ones and those who are slightly older – the latter includes the Treehouse section, accessible through an adventure trail filled with friendly obstacles. Take a break at the sheltered amphitheatre once the kids are all tired out.
Best for: Kids of all ages
Location: 18 Marina Gardens Drive
Hours: 10am to 7pm (Tuesday to Friday), 9am to 9pm (weekends and public holidays)
Info: 6420 6848 | gardensbythebay.com.sg/
Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
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. Be sure to check out Food For Thought, another small outdoor children’s playground in Jacob Ballas. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Best for: Toddlers to 12 years
Location: 481 Bukit Timah Road (entrance via NUS Bukit Timah Campus car park)
Hours: 8am to 7pm (Tuesday to Sunday); closed on Monday
Info: 6471 9927 | nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/jacob-ballas-childrens-garden
Marine Cove Playground
With an area of 3,500 square metres, you know the kids are going to have a great time here. The playground has a range of equipment suitable for all ages, making sure that both the smaller and older ones have their fair share of fun. The layout is also cleverly designed to encourage children of different ages to play together, while also integrating the greenery of the park.
Best for: Kids of all ages
Location: East Coast Park Area C, accessible via East Coast Park Service Road Contact:
Hours: Open 24 hours
VivoCity
VivoCity boasts a small play area and water fountain (Level 2) plus go-karts, swings and a rooftop sky park garden with wading pools to cool off in (Level 3).
Best for: Toddlers to older kids – everyone loves water play!
Location: 1 Harbourfront Walk, Levels 2 and 3
Hours: 10am to 10pm
Info: 6736 9117 | vivocity.com.sg
Kidzplay@Skygarden, Nex Mall
Kidzplay is located on the top floor of Nex Mall, and has a dry and wet playground for kids to enjoy; don’t count on your kids staying dry, since the two are in very close proximity of one another! A mini waterpark, the wet playground contains various spouts, sprays and falling buckets of water. The dry playground is smaller, with two slides and a spiral pole.
Best for: Toddlers to 6 years
Location: Level 4R, 23 Serangoon Central
Hours: 1pm to 8pm (Mon to Fri), 11am to 8pm (Sat and Sun, public holidays)
Info: 6416 6366 | nex.com.sg/Information/Amenities
Waterway Point
Waterway Point is equipped with two amazing (and free!) playgrounds. When it’s nice and sunny, head to the outdoor Happy Park, split into a wet and dry zone. The wet zone is perfect for cooling off on a hot day while the dry zone is ideal if you forgot some spare clothes for the kids. If it’s too hot out, there’s also an indoor playground located on the second floor of the West wing. It’s whimsically themed around Alice in Wonderland and spacious enough to keep the little ones occupied for quite some time.
Best for: Younger kids up to age 12
Location: 83 Punggol Central, Waterway Point
Hours: Happy Park: 10.30am to 8pm (Monday to Friday), 10.30am to 9.30pm (weekends); Wonderland: 10am to 10pm daily
Info: 6812 7300 | waterwaypoint.com.sg
West Coast Park
This is a great area for older kids, with a pirate ship playground, climbing ropes, swings, flying foxes and a massive climbing rope pyramid plus a sandpit. There’s 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
Location: Parallel to West Coast Highway
Hours: 7am to 7pm
Info: nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/west-coast-park
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