If you're looking to take kids on an active day out where they can take part in some independent play, you couldn't have picked a better city than Singapore. The government's engagement with new design and architecture means that wherever you are, you're sure to be near an innovative and sensory playground that children will love. From sunny outdoor play areas in Pasir Ris Park, to quirky, beachfront areas in Marine Cove, sit back and relax while knowing your child will be well entertained.
Marine Cove Playground (photo)
Head over to sunny East Coast Park, and take your children on a visit to Marine Cove Playground to keep them amused. The 3,500 square metre playground here is located close to the ocean and a sandy beach. It's also right next to a variety of cafes and restaurants, perfect for parents, from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to Hill Street Coffee House. Children of all ages are catered to here; older children, from five to twelve, can explore the play tower in the centre, with three levels and a rope bridge, while younger children, from two to five, have their own dedicated play area with a drum seat and fun mirrors.
Jacob Ballas Children's Garden
Located in the stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site, Singapore Botanic Gardens, the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden is the first garden in Asia designed especially for kids. Located in the Bukit Timah Core of the Gardens, it aims to develop an interest in nature in its little visitors. It's the perfect setting to let kids run wild, and unleash their inner explorer while having adventures in the farm, orchard, and forest sections. A suspension bridge and tree-houses allow children to interact with the physical environment, while the garden area teaches budding growers how to nurture their own plants. Download the ‘Explorer' map onto your phone if you want to use one of their dedicated trails around the area, or let your children explore on their own accord to have an adventure they'll never forget.
Pasir Ris Park
Located in the bucolic east of Singapore, Pasir Ris Park is one of the city's biggest and most peaceful parks. Fittingly, the playground here is one of the largest in Singapore, and is located in a beautiful area - right next to the sea and under the shade of palm trees. Sit back on a bench or at the beach and let your kids explore the playground - they'll be enthralled by the range of different play equipment housed here. From traditional swings and slides, to climbing nets and walls, your kids will be immersed in educational play.
Canopy Park
One of the centrepieces of brand new airport architectural wonder, Jewel Changi, Canopy Park is one of the most forward thinking children's playgrounds in the world. With multiple fun-filled features, blending high-tech architecture with play, you can let you kids run free - or explore with them - as you wander around this incredible park. First of all, visit Sky Nets, with two different thrilling aspects - the walking net five stories above ground level, and the bouncing net, a trampoline-style feature with an eight-metre high lookout at one end. The Canopy Mazes are two peaceful attractions, with mirrored and hedge versions designed to help you while away your time. Don't miss taking your kids to the Discovery Slides, where sculptural slides meld into the area around it, their mirrored surfaces creating a space that's both beautiful and fun to explore.
Pororo Park
This adorable indoor playground is located in shopping mall Marina Square, and is the first character based venue in Singapore. Pororo Park stretches out across the second floor of the mall, and hosts areas for kids of all ages. For very little ones, head over to Hinoki Pit, a unique sensory play environment, where instead of sand, an area is filled with aromatic hinoki wood chips imported from South Korea. Kids will love Pororo's House, copied straight from the screen and translated into real life, and can explore the famous penguin's home and play around with the sensory music wall. Make sure you visit Pororo Bouncy Castle too, a permanent inflatable fun area where kids can bounce around to their heart's content.