Indoor Play in Singapore

Well, it seems the haze is back so I thought it may be a good time to post this for my friends in Singapore or about to head that way. Not an exhaustive list, but enough to get you started. In saying that, not all of these places are haze free, I'll let you know.

As most indoor places to play in Singapore aren't free I've put a cost key for your reference to help. Most of my suggestions are either Central or West in Singapore, as those were the most accessible for me without needing a car. I believe unless you take a cab, live East or have your own means of transport it's a pain to travel in the East. However, I've never lived East, so I could be wrong there are a lot of families there.

Cost Key:

Free

On or Under $20 $

Over $20 $$

On or Over $30 $$$

Buds Shangri-La $$$

This is one of the more expensive ways to pass your time. It is really nice though! Thanks to my sister-in-law, the boys got to visit quite a bit because she gifted them some passes. You really could spend a whole day here. There is something for all ages and if you have an under 1, it's free! There are various areas for the children to engage in: soft play, seed play, those ride on slot cars (that don't require coins!!), a painting room (walls can be painted), music room with percussion instruments on the wall, dress ups, DJ equipment and piano, water play area with pirate ship and even a kitchen where they run cooking classes if your child is old enough. There's a little cafe, but I used to just pack a lunch for the boys and let them eat it there, which seemed to be fine. Honestly, if money wasn't an issue, it was a really fun place to be.

NLB Libraries

I love books and so do my kids. While I would love to buy books and more books I don't have the space or the money. The libraries in Singapore are really accessible and have great collections of books. Most public libraries I've been to in Singapore have really nice children's reading areas so you can get comfy and enjoy a good book with your little one. It's also great to get your children using the resources around them, such as their local library to learn new things! Get a membership and take the books home to enjoy!

Woods in the Books

This is a delightful children's bookshop. As far as I am aware there are two locations, Forum (Orchard Road) and Tiong Bahru. It has some of my favourite books, I found the staff to be helpful, however some of my friends have found that not to be the case. If you're happy just to browse it shouldn't be an issue. The Tiong Bahru store runs workshops sometimes too. Good place to go if you love kids books.

Kinokuniya

Another favourite. Most people are aware of this book shop. It is big and you name it, they should have it. If not just ask the staff and often they can make it happen. If I can't find a book I want at Woods in the Books they will have it here.

Jem and Westgate Mall (not haze free)

Yes, these are malls. On the rooftops of both these malls, which are right next door to each other, are some fun free kids playgrounds (both with a water play area, Jem's is better). In the upper levels of Westgate you can find some paid kids seed play, gym and art and craft places too. For the more crafty among us there is a Spotlight store here too. At Westgate they also have a kids ride on train, which you can send your child on for a fee. I should note that I'm not sure how great these malls would be with the haze around, as Westgate in particular is very open.

JCube

This mall is a bit of a weird one to be honest. However, it does have a large ice skating rink in it, as well as a movie theatre. It's also walking distance from the two malls mentioned above. Yes, Singapore loves it's malls!

T-Play at HomeTeam NS $

This is a place we found not too long before we left. It's an indoor playground with a transport theme. Yes, A loved it of course. I know there's a pool here too, which looked fun. Like most indoor playgrounds, you need socks (adults too). Unlike most indoor playgrounds in Singapore it isn't too pricey, at the time of this post, at most it will cost you is $20. However, it gets so busy on weekends and loud! I'm not sure if it was because of the crowds, but sometimes it gets really hot in there too. However, it's worth a look for toddlers and up if you're in the area.

Kallang Wave Mall

This mall also has a kids' ride on train. As well as a rock climbing wall and a very small kids indoor playground you can go to for a fee. There is also a seed play area here for a fee too. There is a little water play area on the roof, but since it's on the roof it's clearly not haze free.

Playeum $$

This is a creative space for kids to explore and play in at Gillman Barracks, near Labrador Park MRT station. It's not huge and while we did take our 1+ to play here, I do think you'd get much more out of it with 3+ year olds. They also run workshops here and their roaming staff are super nice and lots of fun.

The Artground $

This is one of the few places I have been to in the East and it is worth the visit. We would usually take the MRT there, the closest station is Mountbatten. It's about a 10 minute stroll from the station. It's at the Old Goodman Arts Centre near Cafe Melba and La Barca Ristorante, both places are kid friendly. Cafe Melba is a bit on the pricey side, in my opinion, but has a good selection of food.

The Artground has a big open space with different exhibitions set up just for children. Check the Facebook page to see if the exhibition is geared towards the age of child you have. They also run children's workshops, music, story time, gardening as well as yoga among other things. We took A to their Babyspace theatre specifically for crawlers and pre-walkers, he loved it. If you get a chance to go, it's a very cool sensorial experience, which is extremely baby friendly and respectful of how young children appreciate the Arts.

Cool-de-Sac $$

Look I'm not a huge fan of places like this: overly bright plastic rainbow indoor playgrounds. Though, in all honesty with the heat and the very active boys I have, I do tend to find myself in places like these more often then I'd care to say. It's easy and not too bad cost wise, if you have a child 6 months and under, it's free. I wouldn't take a 6 month old here if that's the only child you have, only because it is very over simulating and the big kids can be rough as they are hyped! There is a little cafe inside, but there's enough food in Suntec that you can just eat around and come back no drama. The toddler area has improved since A was a little bub; there is more than a little ball pit now. There is a larger soft play area with toys, little climbing equipment, glass painting and pretend play kitchens. For older kids (my1+/ 2 year old liked it) they have large blue foam construction equipment, ball pit, larger climbing equipment, slides, ride on cars, arts and craft area and Lego area. I like the Lego area.

Blue House Atelier $$

Blue House is a Reggio Inspired pre-school in Singapore. It targets the expat market so does come with expat prices. That said their Atelier is right up my alley in terms of pedagogy when it comes to children's play. They have two spaces, one a right turn before Turf City (near Sixth Avenue MRT) and one more Central in UE square near Fort Canning MRT station. I personally love the one at Turf City, but both are great. They set up the play spaces so beautifully and the children are engaged for hours! The thing I love about it is that everything is so open ended, which allows your child to truly explore and be creative. You just sit back and enjoy the wonder on your child's face without interfering and imposing your own ideas about how to use the materials. Let them teach you and just enjoy playing. It's such a light and airy open space, has lovely music playing and is different every time. They run playgroups etc, but they are pricey.

Joy of Toys $$

This place has such a bright and airy feel to it. If you have 2 kids be aware that the older children's play space is in a different area to the baby/toddler area and you can't be in two places at once. Thankfully A was happy to play with M in the babies area. It's soft play with, as the name suggests...a lot of toys! A loves the train set in the older kids' area and would spend the entire day there if he could. It's not really a running and jumping sort of place, that's more your Cool-de-Sac places.

Splash @ Kidsamaze $ (not haze free)

This place is a little further afield, but my kids both enjoy it. It's in SAFRA Punggol and is an indoor water play area. There are lockers and showers here and they host birthday parties too. Children under 1 are free. We usually go early and get the run of the place before walking over to Waterway Point Mall for some lunch.

Kidstop $$

It's right next door to the Science Centre. We only went once and while I think the boys enjoyed it this would be better suited to 3/4+ year olds. There was a construction area, the cockpit of an airplane, a supermarket, sports/movement area, a climbing net, sand/dinosaur area, toddler area and music room from memory. I'm not sure what else. Go and make your own decision.

GIM (gym for kids) Turf City $

The people who staff this place are amazing! Every time I have been they have been so very nice. The last time I went I didn't realise it was closed for school holidays, but they let me and the boys in to play for a little while which I was so grateful for. This place is on level 3 in Turf City. It is a gym, they have climbing equipment, sprung floors, balance beams etc. The Play Gym program is every Thursday and Friday morning from 10am - 12pm. This is not a structured class, but rather time for free exploration of the space for 1+ year olds to about 5 year olds. They also run classes for children 2 years and above.

National Museum of Singapore

This is one that really should have been in my Play in Singapore list. It's a beautiful old building and has free exhibitions throughout, but there are also paid exhibition should you be keen. Check out the website and see what's on or just go and learn a little more about the history of Singapore out of the haze.

Haven't been, but want to go...

Kidszania $$$$ I think this place is more suited to older children, which is why we haven't been. It describes itself as an indoor edutainment centre. Basically, children get to role play real world professions.

Kaboodle $-$$ This place I think is very popular with East Coast caregivers. It's another indoor play space - not soft play, but more sensory/crafty/motor play style. I felt my children were getting enough of this with what was close to us, so never made it out. They seem to also run classes and host birthday parties.

Amazonia A good friend who lives near here tells me after the refurb she really likes it for her toddler. It's in a similar vein to Cool-De-Sac. It's at Great World City on level 3.

Polliwogs $-$$ Like above. Two locations: Vivocity and Suntec City.

Don't Bother

-Go Go Bambini's $$$

Look this place was really fun to play, but I really don't think it was worth the price we paid. You pay by the time you spend in there and that includes the time you might be eating in the cafe. I was shocked at how much we spent there and probably wouldn't go there again.

-Science Centre $$

I love science, but this place feels so outdated and a lot of things weren't working or weren't as hands on as they could have been. Not to mention the climate change stuff in there was really quite bad and not really accessible.

There are some other more Unique to Singapore indoor places in this post.