Toddler gym $10. Baby baking class $50. Family zoo entrance $72. Some good old-fashioned wallet-friendly outdoor and indoor play areas to head to 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
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), and 9.30am to 8pm (Friday to Sunday)
It’s a little dark inside but this place has 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
Block 8 Dempsey Road, #01-15
| 6474 5492 | gogobambini.com
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 $25 for a one-year membership so it’s more than reasonable for those who head into the town area frequently. 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
583 Orchard Road, Level 2, Forum The Shopping Mall | 6732 2479 | forumtheshoppingmall.com.sg
Ikea
10am to 10pm (Sunday to Thursday), last admission: 9pm; 10am to 11pm (Friday and Saturday), last admission: 10pm
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
317 Alexandra Road | 6786 6868 | ikea.com/sg/en
Marina Square
10am to 10pm
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
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
Suntec City
10am to 10pm
If you’re at Suntec and need something to occupy your little ones, head over to level three 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
3 Temasek Blvd, Suntec City | 6266 1502 | sunteccity.com.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
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
1H Cluny Road #01-K1, Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden | 6479 1080 | foodforthought.com.sg
Gardens by the Bay Children’s Garden
10am to 7pm (Tuesday to Friday), 9am to 9pm (weekends and public holidays)
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’s also facilities for both the little ones and those who’re slightly older – the latter include 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
18 Marina Gardens Drive | 6420 6848 | gardensbythebay.com.sg
Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
8am to 7pm (Tuesday to Sunday); closed on Monday
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 | nparks.gov.sg
Marine Cove playground
Open 24 hours
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
East Coast Park Area C, accessible via East Coast Park Service Road | nparks.gov.sg
VivoCity
10am to 10pm
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!
1 Harbourfront Walk, Levels 2 and 3
| 6736 9117 | vivocity.com.sg
Waterway Point
Happy Park: 10.30am to 8pm (Monday to Friday), 10.30am to 9.30pm (weekends)
Wonderland: 10am to 10pm daily
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 perfect 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 one occupied for quite some time.
Best for: Younger kids up to age 12
83 Punggol Central, Waterway Point | 6812 7300 | waterwaypoint.com.sg
West Coast Park
7am to 7pm
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
Parallel to West Coast Highway | nparks.gov.sg
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