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BYKido – One Pass, Multiple Savings

I’ve heard of membership passes where you get discounts on F&B or fitness classes, and the good news is that now there is one for families!

 BYKido, which means Bring Your Kids Out, was started by a dad who wanted to make it easier for parents to bring their kids out by helping them save money and effort (where to go? what to do?) Basically, you purchase a membership pass for $30 which is valid for 6 months (Jan-June or July-Dec) and you are entitled to a whole host of discounts.

 It was fun experiencing some of the activities which we normally would not have tried, and it is also a great way to let your kids be exposed to a variety of classes before signing up for something they are keen to pursue. These were some of the things we got up to recently!

 CLIMB ASIA

 1 hour Guided Family Climb
2 Climbers @ $39 (U.P $80)
Additional climbers pay $29 (U.P $40)
Promotion available for multiple visits until 30th June 2017

 Join Climb Asia for a 1-hour Guided Family Climb (at least 1 climber is between 4-12 yrs old) at the 9-metre indoor climbing wall for some family bonding through sports.

 Climb Asia is dedicated to serving the needs of anyone looking to engage in a full-body activity, a competitive sport, a social activity and a lifestyle. Whether you are a complete stranger to climbing or a veteran rock warrior, Climb Aisa will introduce you to new dimensions of adventure and fun.

 Activity Details:
Age: 4-12 years old
Location: 60 Tessensohn Road, Civil Service Club, Singapore 217664
Tel: 62927701
Email: beta@climb-asia.com

Climb Asia

Ready Steady Go Kids

 2 Trial Lessons @ $10 (U.P $49)

Ready Steady Go Kids is Australia’s largest multi-sport and exercise programme for pre-schoolers, to enhance their gross and fine motor skills, hand-eye, foot-eye coordination and balance. Their trainers lead and educate on important features such as warm-up, stretching, cool-down, team-building and sportsmanship. But most importantly, we hope to spark their life-long love for sports and being healthy.

 Terms are 10-12 weeks, with 5 sports covered each term: Football/Soccer, Tennis, Hockey, AFL (Aussie Rules Football), Criket, Atheletics, Basketball, Rugby, Golf and T-ball.

 Activity details:
Age: 2.5-6 years old
Location: The Cage Sports Park @ Bukit Timah or Kovan Sports Centre
Tel: 98558221
Email: info@readysteadygokids.com.sg
Quote MummyWee for 10% off term fees

Ready Steady Go Kids

A2 Parkour

 1 for 1 Trial classes @ Lavender ($25)

 A2 Parkour is Singapore’s first & premier parkour academy providing the highest quality of coaching standards for its students to learn in a progressive & safe environment. But beyond simply imparting technical knowledge, they seek to impart values, ideology & a positive mindset approach to life’s obstacles & challenges.

 All kids love to jump around. Let your child discover how to move and have fun correctly as they learn to navigate the environment.

 Activity details:
Age: 5-13 years old
Location: Free Runner Lodge, CT Hub 2 #05-91, 114 Lavender Street, S 338729
Tel: 91849744

A2 Parkour

Seimpi School of Music

 Free trials and Reg Fee waiver (worth $53.50) for BYKidO Pass holders with any selected MIM course sign up (min 2 months)

 Music for the Mind (MIM) is a carefully planned syllabus to guide students from a tender age of 4 months to the age of 7 to explore the richness and excitement of music through interesting play, activities and musical games. Seimpi also incorporates eye and ear training, speed reading, pitch training, memorizing techniques and music theory.

 All activities involve stimulating the inter-connectivity between the two hemispheres of the brain by engaging in holistic and all-rounded music training. MIM provides a seamless transition into music graded studies.

 Activity Details:
Suitable for: 12 months – 8 years old
Location: Centre Point (Tel: 67376731), Pasir Ris, Hougang (Tel: 63435347), JCube (Tel: 62621193)

Seimpi School of Music

Busy Tables

 Purchase 2 Passes and Get 1 Free Pass (Save $18)

 Busy Tables is exclusively dedicated to children between 0 and 5 years old and their parents, so they can have fun in a safe environment, away from bigger children. We promote educational values of play for young children and encourage positive parent and child interactions through the provision of quality toys, games and resources.

 Activity Details:
Suitable for: 0-5 years old
Location: 35 Rochester Drive, Rochester Mall, #03-22
Email: Busytables@gmail.com

Busy Tables

Thinkasaur

 $8 off Single Box and $33 off 6 Month Box Subscriptions

 Thinkasaur provides a subscription based children’s science programme. The programme, which is founded primarily on encouraging hands-on learning and Do-It-Yourself fun for children, delivers a different set of science experiments each month for both parents and children to work on together.

 Thinkasaur comes in the form of a science kit that provides the full spectrum of materials, equipment, instruction manuals and learning points for up to four experiments per box. Each box covers a specific theme, such as chemistry, physics and earth science.

 Subscription options available:
Single Box – $48
6 Month Subscription – $258

 Activity Detail:
Suitable for 5-10 years old but primarily targeted at 7-10 year olds
Website: www.thinkasaur.com
Email: hello@thinkasaur.com

Thinkasaur

Besides PROMOTIONS, they suggest lots of IDEAS (places to go and things to do) as well as organise ACTIVITIES for new parents to meet up and share tips. With so many exciting offerings, what are you waiting for? Sign up for the pass and bring your kids out today!

BYKido
List of promotions

 Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

~ www.mummyweeblog.com – A blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~
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Farmart – Animal Corner

Ever since we discovered the little known Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum, we’ve been back to feed her turtle friends so many times that I’ve decided perhaps it’s time she was introduced to new animals!

I’ve heard of all these far away farms and finally plucked up enough courage to venture to Sungei Tengah, near Choa Chu Kang. The teens politely declined the invitation to tag along. “Mum, we have more important things to do, like homework?” Ah well, I shall protect Kate’s childhood and even if I have to take just 1 kid, I will make the effort.

And the verdict is, we’ve found a new place to feed a variety of animals to her heart’s content!

Farmart

We purchased a basket of food for $5 and she headed straight to the rabbits. After feeding and patting them, she asked if we could take one home. I told her about the responsibilities of raising a pet and she concluded, “Ok mummy, I’ll do all the rest, and you just have to help me with cleaning the poo and the pee.”


Good try, but no go, dearie.
Rabbits

I thought she might be afraid to feed the pumpkin seeds to the birds directly, but after watching an older child, she followed suit. It was amusing to hear the parrots say, “Hello” and “Goodbye”.

Colourful birds

There were terrapins in this farm as well, but they were much smaller compared to the giant turtles at the Turtle Museum and she wasn’t keen on them.

Terrapins

There is a little pond with catfishes and she fed the pellets one at a time, watching how they opened their huge mouths and swallowed them one by one.

Catfishes

Finally, she was left with the green leafy vegtables and the long beans and she proceeded to feed the goats.

Feed em’
Pat em’
All in a day’s work

She enjoyed feeding them so much and asked if she could buy another basket of food. This round, she was concerned about the animals at the back of the cages, and ensured that all the sidelined animals were fed.

Sheltered
The Animal Corner is tucked in a corner of Farmart, and next time we might try coming in the evening to see what else is going on. We were there on a Saturday morning and by the time we left at about 11am, there were some adults prawning, but the food stalls and the rest of Farmart seemed quiet.
Farm in Singapore

Farmart Centre
67 Sungei Tengah Road
Singapore 699008
Opening hours 10am – 10pm
www.farmart.com.sg

~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~
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The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum

In my bid to spend more time in nature and to slow down our hurried lives, I took Kate to the Turtle museum. Not only has she never seen giant turtles, she has also never stepped foot in the Chinese Garden. Perfect outing for a Friday afternoon!

I expected the place to be fairly quiet, but was still surprised that there was only 1 other family there, and they were tourists. Must be because the place is so ulu (secluded), and I guess turtles doesn’t seem exciting to kids (nor parents) these days. It is called a museum, but is more like a garden.

They have a really impressive collection of rare species from around the world, but all that was lost on Kate. She just wanted to see them and feed them.

Free to roam turtles

We purchased our tickets along with a bunch of long beans ($2) and entered the garden. As Kate approached the pond, the turtles seemed to know she was bearing food and started climbing out of the pond towards her. Seeing an army of turtles advancing, she ran away terrified!

Relating the story to the older kids at dinner, they were amused, “What kid is afraid of turtles? Kate, as-slow-as-a-turtle, you know?”

Hungry turtles

We moved away to the tortoises kept in the enclosures and she felt much safer. She fed them by dangling the beans and dropping them when they opened their mouths.

First time feeding tortoises

There are many different species of turtles housed in the tanks, and several strange looking ones like this pig-nosed turtle that I pointed out, but she was hardly interested in the amazing facts I was reading out to her.

Pig nosed turtle

She much preferred the open garden, and went back to look for the bigger turtles and tortoises. I encouraged her to go nearer, but she kept a good distance, thinking they might crawl to her very quickly like the small ones in the pond.

I demonstrated how to stick the long beans out, and we watched the turtle chomp on it.

Kate tried to be brave, and edged closer and closer, but chickened out and threw the beans from a safe distance before backing off. I was amused watching her doing that repeatedly.

“Here, for you!”

It was rather hot at 4pm, but Kate thought we were on an adventure and gayly explored the place. She found a (really) little cave and called out to me excitedly to come explore with her. City kids.

She asked to buy another round of beans and spent the rest of the time simply watching the turtles, as they climbed on top of one another to get to the food.

We spent more than an hour there and I’m happy that she is still at the stage where it does not take much to keep her entertained. I’m sure the older kids would have walked one round, fed 1 or 2 turtles, and ask to leave after 10 minutes complaining that it is “too boring”.

Live Turtle Museum
In fact, Kate loved the experience so much that we went back to feed her “turtle friends” 2 more times!
Getting braver..
She managed to face her fears, and hung on to the beans instead of dropping them quickly. On our third visit, I was surprised when she wanted to challenge herself and finally dared to touch the ambling tortoise.

She was exclaiming jubilently, “I touched the shell! I touched the shell!”
and braver!

We bought a cold ribena from the auntie manning the entrance (she sells drinks and ice-cream) and sat here enjoying the silence and serenity.
Just what my soul needed, to wind down from a hectic week.

Great spot for ‘me time’
The Chinese Garden is now top on my list of favourite outdoor spaces to unwind with the kids. They even have lovely picnic spots!
Garden picnic

The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum is located within the Chinese Garden, near the entrace. Just walk up this slope and it’s housed in the pavillion in the background.
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6 ways to squeeze time for the kids as a working mum

This is the first time I am working during the school holidays! I took Kate along with me to our enrichment centre for Dino camp, but she stayed home last week while we ran our P1 Prep camp.

 So how do I squeeze in time for her and the other kids during the week? It helps tremendously that I don’t have to stick to a 9-5 work week, and depending on the demands of the day, I either get in an hour or two later or leave earlier and resume working at home after they have gone to bed.

 1. Start the day early

 Even though it is the holidays, Kate and #5 are up by 7.15am. Resisting the urge to sleep in, I think of the hours I’ll be away from them and that never fails to get me out of bed. There is nowhere much to take them that early in the morning, hence it’s always some park or other.

 This little monkey shimmied to the top of the pyramid by herself and called down, “Mum, take a picture of me!” She sure is catching up with the older siblings.

Chilling

2. Kill two (or three) birds with one stone

 Instead of rushing to finish breakfast before heading out, we hastily pack a picnic basket with breakfast staples and hop into the car. In that relaxing hour, we get to spend time together, have a proper breakfast and enjoy the benefits of nature.

Xiao Guiling

3. Mobilize the kampung

 It really helps that the hubs works from home and instead of rushing back to pick the kids and getting stuck in peak hour traffic, we arrange to meet at the destination and have time to enjoy the outdoors before heading home for dinner.

 Sometimes we ask the grandparents to join us, or if the kids end up with friends or aunts, we find somewhere convenient for the kids to play or for a quick dinner together.

Southern ridges

We were trekking through MacRitchie reservoir and Kate was convinced that she found a Dinosaur foot!

MacRitchie reservoir

4. Mummy is there in spirit

 When I’m not at home, it doesn’t mean that I’m disconnected from them. Kate’s obsession this holiday is rollerblading. She loved watching Elsa ice-skate during Disney on Ice and has been asking to go ice-skating every other day. After taking her there 4 times (I’m the one exhausted!) I told her she needs to practice with her rollerblades before I’ll consider taking her back.

 She was so motivated that she spends 1-2 hours per day on her blades and when I get home, she is ever eager to show me how much she’s improved. What a great attitude. Looks like I have to take her ice-skating soon, as promised!

Blade girl
5. Find different ways to be involved

 As the kids grow older, they require less and less face-to-face time with you. Any parent of a teenager will tell you that they spend a lot more time in their rooms and communicating with their friends via gadgets. However, this doesn’t mean that we stop being involved in their lives.

 #3 was lamenting that besides filling her time with clocking the required CIP hours and meeting up with her old friends from primary school, she was bored at home as I am not able to take them out nor go on holidays as #1 is not on term break.

 I simply told her to start thinking, and find something gainful to do, make or sell. She started experimenting with home beauty remedies and came up with products to gift her friends, and that led to some orders as well! I encouraged her and told her I was very proud of her efforts.

 These days, with technology, we can still stay connected even while we are at work. For teenagers, to be there for them on a daily basis means being able to reply their Whatsapp messages when they need advice or permission to go out with their friends.

 Sometimes, it’s me who needs advice from them about using technology to make videos or helping me to buy presents online for my staff for Christmas, and that’s how we update one another about what is going on in our lives.

Mix n measure

6. Support them daily

 Even though I only get to see all my kids during dinner, I keep up-to-date with what they are currently interested in and give them words of encouragement and support.

 #2 has just finished her Os and she has the next few months planned out. Last week, she was concentrating on decorating her room as the siblings have just done another round of roommate swopping (yes, it seems to be an annual tradition for them).

 She was happily showing me what she has been working on and I was extremely impressed. Instead of spending money on decorations for her room, she decided to make her own. She bought a wooden board ($4 from Art friend), painted it marble, and knocked little nails in it to form the world map.

DIY Wall deco
She painstakingly wound black thread around the nails, ensuring that they were taut, to form the design. Wow. I loved it, and told her so. Sincere words are food for the soul they carry with them through the day, even without the presence of mummy. Sometimes it is encouragement they need, while other times, it may be words of concern and care.
Using nails and thread

To be honest, I was caught off guard at how much easier it was to go to work, be tired, and spend the weekend resting, and not having to deal with the day-to-day demands of the kids at home.

 However, I am wary that it is all too easy to let this pattern slip into our norm, as the time we have with our children will never be returned, once lost.
Having these pockets of time to be still, to be present to our surroundings is very grounding for me, no matter how rushed my day is nor how tough things can get sometimes.

Idyllic mornings

Even though these days I’m away between 5-9 hours per day, I’m glad we’ve managed to work things around this new schedule and am able to spend a reasonable amount of time with the younger kids throughout the week.

I am thankful to have flexible working hours and support from the hubs in caring for them, but whatever your situation may be, try to think out of the box and perhaps you might find opportunities to squeeze time out for your kids during their school holidays.

Related post:

Our June holidays earlier this year where everyone was running at breakneck pace.


~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~ 

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Glamping in Bintan @ The Canopi

We went glamping (glamorous camping) at this newly opened resort in Bintan and the kids loved the place so much that they are already asking to go back.


It felt like we were entering a make-believe land, a Smurf village of sorts.

The wow factor is definitely there, and everything looks picture-perfect.

However, operationally, they do not seem ready although they have been running for 9 months.

Here are some tips so that you go prepared and will be able to make the most of your holiday.

Glamping – glamorous camping

From Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, it took us an hour to reach Bintan. Guests of The Canopi are ushered through the express lane and it was a short 5 minute ride to our resort.


Once we alighted from the shuttle bus and stepped into the lobby, this magnificent view awaited us.

“This is the largest swimming pool I have ever seen!” exclaimed #5.
The Lagoon

The lagoon stretched as far as the kids could see.


Right in the middle is the wake boarding section, which is run by a Singaporean.

The rest of the water and land activities are situated at the far end of the lagoon.
Little smurfette
We got the keys to our room and the kids couldn’t wait to dump their stuff before heading out to do the activities.

They oohed and aahed about everything and loved the safari themed rooms. All in high spirits as though they had stepped into magical land.

Tip: There are no phones in the rooms, so you either have to walk to the lobby reception for any requests, or you can WhatsApp the number that is given when you checked-in.

Also do note that there is no mini bar, thus no fridge to chill anything you might need to chill.

#5 called it his fort

Some examples of our requests, to manage your expectations:

Bedroom slippers, please. Sorry, we don’t provide.
Hand towels? Sorry, ran out.
A glass of beer? Sorry, machine broken.

The tent floor is really rough so pack bedroom slippers along if necessary. Or perhaps that’s what the cute little ‘well’ outside each tent is for!

To wash everyone’s feet AND slippers so you can wear them inside the tent. Ok, maybe it’s just me who has sensitive feet, but it felt like I was walking on woven rope.

The kids quickly changed into their swim gear and headed towards the water sports centre. After realising that they had to walk one big round, they decided to swim across instead.


Thank goodness I brought Kate’s pram along, because she could not swim across and it was taking her a long time to walk such a long distance.
$9 per  hour

There are a lot of activities for the kids. They started with the Water Sports Park which has giant trampolines, slides and obstacles.

Kate did not join them but was content to play with her pool toys.

The kids enjoyed the water park so much that they went again the next day. If the kids are young, they need to be accompanied by an adult.

Bumper boat – 15 min

They also had lots of fun in this Motorised Bumper Boat, with water guns to spray one another. It can go quite fast, and #5 loved spinning it around like those dizzy tea cups at theme parks!

Kayaking

Both single and double kayaks are available and it was rather idyllic kayaking around the lagoon.

The Land Sports Centre is situated right behind the water sports and it is open to public as well. As we were there over the weekend, it was very crowded with locals, especially on Sunday.

The kids were disappointed that they did not manage to do any of the land activities.

The electric scooters were all rented out, and we were told that the ATV bike adventure only commenced at 3pm. When we went over at 3pm, they told us that it was over-subscribed.

Wake-boarding

This is a nice place to learn wake-boarding and the kids were able to stand on the first few tries. #1 even managed to turn successfully!

There were several groups awaiting their turn and as most people paid for the 1 hour session, and with 2 cable lines, it was quite a wait.

If we ever do return, it will definitely be on a weekday.

Chilling

The resort has 1 giant float, which was anchored right in front of our tent.


The younger kids woke up at 7am and after breakfast, they relaxed here while waiting for the older girls to get ready to start the other activities together.
Getting around

After a few times of walking round and round under the scorching sun to get to the activities, we decided to call for a buggy.


There is Wifi throughout the resort and you can WhatsApp the reception for a buggy but they have only 2 or 3 serving all the guests so you might have to wait.

Tip: Don’t forget to bring hats, sunscreen and goggles as there isn’t any gift/merchandise shop.
One and only restaurant

The biggest bugbear is the lack of food options at the resort, and the fact that it is not cheap.

There is only one restaurant to serve the entire resort. No beach front cafes, no bars, no convenience stores.

There is a little kiosk right at the far end of the lagoon (at the land sports centre) selling a small assortment of drinks and ice cream.

Breakfast: The buffet breakfast was included in our stay, but the spread was very basic. It also took a long time for them to replenish the food when the crowds came in.

Lunch: We ate here again to save time, but the standard was generally below average. The only items which were slightly better were the pizzas, spaghetti bolognese and mee/nasi goreng. Rather expensive at $20 each for a simple lunch with drinks.

Dinner: We decided to venture out to one of the several kelongs around the resort. It was quite an experience for the kids, to take a powerboat out to the kelong, however the food was average. We ordered the set menu, which came up to $20 per person.

Dinner at Kelong
If you have ample time, getting out of the resort for good nasi padang or Thai food would be a much better option.

Tip: Pack along biscuits, snacks and mineral water. Or why not go all out and bring tinned food, cup noodles and portable stoves and have a picnic under the stars! I’m sure the kids would love the novelty of that.
Right in front of our door step

Choice of tents:

We booked the Lagoon View tents, which was great because of the convenience. The kids found it simply amazing to open their front door and almost literally step out into the water.

I loved the convenience as the kids could easily nip back in to use the toilets and I could still be in the room with Kate while she napped, while keeping an eye on the older kids.

However, it was really noisy with the music blasting the whole time, and if you have little children who are easily awoken, a better option would be the Safari tents at the back which are away from the lagoon.

If you are going with several families, it would be nice to book the Safari tents as they are clustered around a central pavilion and the kids can play together in a safe space while the adults sit around and chill, or prepare a BYO alfresco dinner under the stars.

We found the Jacuzzi tents a tad strange, as people were soaking in these little jacuzzis at their doorway in full view of everyone walking past to get to their Safari tents.
I was woken up in the middle of the night and sat outside my tent for awhile.

The utter silence, and fairy lights twinkling over the vast lagoon made the place feel rather mystical. Just an hour’s ferry ride away from home yet it felt like we were in a distant land.
Bintan Resort Ferries

The ferry ride turned out better than the kids expected as there was a deli (hotdogs, muffins, chips, cup noodles) and Madagascar 2 was being screened, so the hour passed quickly enough.

Fun times

All in all, it was a perfect holiday for us (the kids got over their disappointment with the land activities pretty quickly) as our friends who were there a day earlier pre-empted us and we were prepared.

I’m sure the kids would hold fond memories of this spectacular resort for a long time to come.

The Canopi

Treasure Bay Bintan
Lagoi
Bintan Island
Indonesia
www.adventureglamping.com

~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~
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Stand-Up Paddling – Fun for the entire family

We had the opportunity to try a new water sport, Stand-Up Paddle (SUP), at Constant Wind Sea Sports Centre which is located off Changi Coast Road.

The kids said it was one of the best family activities we’ve ever tried.

While I was arranging this sponsored session (thank you Constant Wind!) I showed them pictures and the 4 older girls were excited to give it a go.

#5 is fearful of water sports and asked if he could stay at home. I told him he has to come along, but could sit at the side and watch until he felt comfortable enough to join in.

Kate, being the gung ho little kid who wants to do everything the older jie jies do, quickly changed into her swim gear and waited at the door lest we left her behind.

I was a little apprehensive of how it would pan out with 1 reluctant kid and 1 young kid who can’t swim, but was thrilled that it turned out wonderfully.

The good thing about this sport is that you can take it as easy or as competitive as you desire.

Preparing to race

On the long drive there, the deserted road leading to the seasports centre set the mood that we were about to go someplace out of the ordinary. The kids were feeling high anticipation coupled with slight apprehension.

Upon arrival, we headed to the Pro-shop to register and sign the indemnity forms.

Our instructor for the day was a nice young man, Raymond, and he pointed out the changing rooms and got us togged out in life vests.

We slathered on sunblock before making our way to the edge of the facility where Raymond taught us how to paddle, turn, and most importantly how to fall off properly.

We attached the velcro band to our ankle so that our board will not float away if we fall in.

Our instructor held the board for us while we sat down, and we pushed off quite easily.

It is similar to kayaking but instead of a boat, we sit on a flat board.

Setting off

Kate and #5 refused to go on the board and agreed to follow the boatman gor gor.

His job was to ensure the safety of the group as he could speed to anyone who needed assistance. He was also the designated photographer and all these photos were taken by him. Thank you Bryon!

Kate’s first time in a power boat

As Kate watched us drift further and further away, she started to get worried and told the boatman gor gor that she wanted mummy. He sped to me but she started crying because she was afraid of the loud engine sound.

He was so accommodating that he turned off the engine to pacify her and paddled the 2 kids towards me.

When they reached me, Kate said she was afraid that “Mummy will disappear” and was agreeable to come onto my board.

I’m getting the hang of it

As you can see, she was really stiff and apprehensive of the whole deal. Gradually, she warmed up to what was happening as we reassured her that none of us was going to vanish into the distance and she was happy being paddled around by #3.

Acccording to Raymond, Kate is the youngest child they have ever had on SUP (previously they had a 4-year old), and he just had to add that he has never had so many kids in a family too 🙂

#5 is by nature very cautious with new experiences, but after watching from the boat for about half an hour, he was ready for some action.

Steadying her little brother

He hopped over from the boat and it was easy for him to stand up as #1 was providing the balance. After he got the hang of it, he progressed to doing it on his own, nicked my board and paddled all the way back!

So proud of him for overcoming his fear.
Once we got the hang of balancing and paddling, all of us managed to do it standing up and none fell into the water!

The older girls even raced each other far out and had a good workout.

What I really like is that with this flat board, we could lie flat and relax. (Yes, we all had different agendas). It feels wonderful to gaze up at the sky in the silence and stillness of the waters.

Before we knew it, the 2 hours was up and we paddled back to shore.
Spaghetti Bolognese $16

We were ravenous after the session and had an early dinner at Stella, which serves western and local cuisine. The charming ambience more than made up for the average food, although we really liked their Fried Chicken Wings ($11.50).

With planes flying overhead, the kids commented that it feels like we were on holiday, and it was such a bummer they had tests the next day and we couldn’t hang around longer.

Kate finished her meal before us and went to play at the little house and made new friends.

Simply idyllic

They are having a promotion from now until March 2016. Call 64455108 or email them at reception@constantwind.com to book your slot.

We loved the whole experience so much that we will definitely be back during the school holidays!

Constant Wind Sea Sports and Sailing School
(National Service Resort & Country Club Seasports Centre)
11 Changi Coast Walk
Singapore 499740
Tel: 64455108

Disclaimer: We were sponsored a session of Stand-Up Paddle. All opinions are my own.

~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~
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Top 10 things to do with kids in Singapore

My kids have rounded up their Top 10 favourite activities here in our little red dot. We are not that boring after all. (Singapore, I mean. My kids will tell you that our family is really boring.)

1) Sentosa

Our island resort has seen extensive transformation over the past decade to become Singapore’s bona fide playground for the whole family.

Start the morning by taking the Cable Car over from Mount Faber to enjoy the scenic view. Delve right into the excitement with the Skyline Luge, a non-motorised vehicle using gravity to zoom down the slopes.

During the hottest part of the day, take shelter in 4D AdventureLand where admission fees include unlimited entry to the multi-sensory simulation rides and interactive shoot-out game.

In the evening, head out to Palawan beach where the adults can sit and sip a pina colada while watching the kids play at the beach. Or head over to Port of Lost Wonder, a pirate ship water play area designed with the young kids in mind. For the older kids, get their hearts pumping at the MegaZip Adventure park, Wave House, or Flying Trapeze.

If you prefer something more chi chi, Quayside aisle @ Sentosa Cove is the answer, as you dine within view of million dollar yachts. Satisfy your gastronomic cravings with their wide selection of fine restaurants and casual cafes.

Best suited for: The entire family
Approximate duration: A whole day, or two!

Sane tip: The island resort is also accessible via monorail from Vivocity, by foot along Sentosa Boardwalk, or by car/taxi. Grab a map of Sentosa as the island is divided into segments such as Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), Imbiah Lookout, Palawan Beach, Siloso beach, Sentosa Cove and more.

There are several hotels spread around Sentosa, the most family-friendly being Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa along Siloso Beach which has a kid’s club. Within RWS itself, Festive Hotel offers family rooms, and staying on the island is convenient if you are spending the day at Universal Studios theme park. The older kids would also love Adventure cove, a water park situated within RWS.

Official website: Sentosa

Photo credit: Sentosa

2) KidsSTOP @ Singapore Science Centre

Learn Science in a fun and engaging way at KidsSTOP. Plenty of hands-on experiences including flying an aeroplane, dino pit excavation, pretend play at the supermarket, stop-motion animation, making friends with the feathered, furry and four-legged, and even a two-story climbing structure with mind boggling exhibits.

Best suited for: Ages 2-8
Approximate duration: 2 – 4 hours
Sane tip: Strollers are not allowed inside the premise. Socks are required for some areas.

Official Website: KidsSTOP @ Singapore Science Centre

Older kids can explore the adjoining Science Centre which includes an Omni-max theatre and outdoor water play area.

KidsSTOP

3) River Cruise @ Marina Bay

Swimming (or taking selfies) in the infinity pool on the 57th floor of Marina Bay Sands hotel has attained the ‘must experience before you die’ status. Another fabulous way to soak in the breath-taking Marina bay skyline is to hop aboard a traditional bumboat for a leisurely river cruise.

Best suited for: The entire family
Approximate duration: 40 minutes
Sane tip: Avoid the hottest part of the afternoon

Official Website: Singapore River Cruise

For the younger kids, take them on the Duck Tour which departs from nearby Singapore Flyer, and watch them squeal with delight as the Wacky DUCK bus transforms into a boat and makes a splash into the bay.

Marina Bay

4) Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Get up close and personal with three diplodocid sauropod skeletons nicknamed Prince, Apollonia and Twinky and feel the bone of the edmontosaurus dinosaur which lived 67 million years ago. There are more than a million specimens preserved at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum located on the grounds of the National University of Singapore.

Best suited for: Ages 6 and up
Approximate duration: 2 hours. Longer if the older kids are interested in reading all the information presented.
Sane tip: Tickets have to be pre-bought via Sistic, and collected at their authorised agents, for crowd control. However, they do sell left-over tickets at the door on a first-come-first-serve basis. Call +65 6601 3333 to try your luck!

Official website: Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.

For history buffs, it is worthwhile to visit the National Museum of Singapore and it has areas dedicated to children. For art enthusiasts, make some time to visit the newly opened National Gallery.

Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

5) Parkland Green @ ECP

The East Coast Park (ECP) belt has been transformed with a new stretch of F & B outlets at Parkland Green to enhance the outdoor seaside experience. Have a leisurely tea break with unobstructed view of the beach while your kids play a round of laser tag. If you are feeling active, rent the family bicycle from Lifestyle Bike & Skate which can sit 6. Be prepared to sweat it out, especially if you are the only one paddling your tots!

After all that hard work, reward yourself with a satisfying dinner at East Coast Seafood Centre, and don’t forget to order Singapore’s signature Chilli Crab dish.

Best suited for: The whole family
Approximate duration: Varies
Sane tip: Most of the restaurants are crowded on weekends, make a reservation or have an early dinner.

Photo credit: Mamawearpapashirt.com

6) Trampoline Park

The weather in Singapore is erratic, and if faced with wet weather, let your kids expand their energies at an indoor trampoline park. According to my kids, the trampolines at Amped are bouncier and the large main arena provides sufficient space for stunts like back flips while Zoom Park Asia is more interesting with segregated areas for dodgeball, slam dunk and a rock climbing wall.

Best suited for: Kids of all ages, even the parents!
Approximate duration: Bookings by the hour.
Sane tip: Pre-booking required, and of course, a pair of socks.

Official website: Amped, Zoom Park Asia

Amped @ Jurong
7) Children’s Centre for Creativity

Nestled in the quiet Gillman Barracks off Alexandra road is the Art of Speed, an installation for kids to explore the essence of speed through four different but interconnected sensory and open-ended environments. Build your own cars and zoom them down the slope. The catch is, there is a hurdle right in the middle which the cars have to cross!

Best suited for: Ages 2-12
Approximate duration: 2 hours
Sane tip: Check their website for Busy Times as they may be closed for school bookings.

Official website: Playeum, Children’s Centre for Creativity
Art of Speed
8) Family-friendly dining

Why not incorporate some fun and lovely ambience into your meals? Our latest dining haunts are Brewerkz at Sentosa Boardwalk, and the Open Farm Community.

All time favourites include the award-winning Shunjuu Izakaya Japanese restaurant at the hip yet chill Robertson Quay, and the DIY pancake cafe Slappy Cakes at The Grandstand. (You might like to spend an afternoon at The Grandstand, where the kids can have a spin on the Go-Karts or fidget away at Fidgets World Indoor Playground while mum satisfies her retail craving at Pasarbella, the unique farmer’s market.)
Brewerkz @ Sentosa Boardwalk
9) Gardens by the Bay

Before you leave, don’t forget to make a stop at Gardens by the Bay, winner of several prestigious international awards for creative excellence. Stroll around the beautiful gardens, or pay for admission into the 2 domes with rotational displays.

The highlight of this yuletide season is the Christmas Wonderland attraction, where visitors will be enthralled by the combination of magnificent sculptures of light and sound. Do expect a huge crowd. 

Best suited for: The entire family.
Approximate duration: 2 hours
Sane tip: Savour our local cuisine at Satay by the Bay where there is a wide range of cuisines available, and little tables for the kids. Situated in the corner of Gardens by the Bay. Do go early as it gets crowded at mealtimes.

Official website: Gardens by the Bay

Photo credits: Gardens by the Bay

10) Indoor playgrounds

Besides the usual indoor playgrounds, unleash your child’s creativity at Kaboodle where they can build with giant foam blocks. Located at East Coast Park (visit #5 Parkland Green at the same time). For the under 5s, Hokey Pokey at Millenia walk has a huge array of play things to keep them entertained in a safe environment.

If time permits, other staple tourist attractions include Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and Jurong Bird Park.

Kaboodle at ECP
This post was first published as a guest post on Kuala Lumpur Kids.

~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~ 
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MacRitchie Nature Trail

These days, the weather is so hot that although we want the kids to spend more time in nature, they would rather be in air-conditioned environments.

We have found the perfect place to go, where the trail is easy and very much shaded. We were there at 10.30 am and it was nice and cool.

Happily hopping along

Soon after we walked in, we came to a fork and decided not to take the TreeTop walk as there wasn’t enough time. This path is wonderful for children, with the marvels of nature waiting to be discovered by the young minds.


“Looks pretty amazing.”

The hubs spotted an intricate spider web and was pointing it out to the kids. It did look very much like a trampoline!


“Gor gor will protect you”

We came across this gigantic fallen tree and were awed by it. The hubs thought it would make a fantastic photo, but #5 was afraid it was going to topple and he didn’t quite dare to go on it until he saw that Kate was fine.


Daddy’s girl

The pathway is flat and easy even for the kids and erm, me. We had a leisurely stroll and they kept stopping to pick things up to study closely.

MacRitchie Nature Reserve

We spotted some monkeys and Kate wanted to feed them leaves. We told her the monkeys could get very fierce and we had better not go too near. She kept insisting that they were hungry and didn’t want to leave. #5 managed to convince her that if she threw the leaves with all her might, the monkeys would be able to get it.

She was way tired after almost an hour of walking and daddy had to piggy-back her out.

It was a surprisingly lovely place to spend a morning. We will be back the next time with the older kids when we have more time to explore the Treetop Walk, and perhaps try kayaking at the reservoir during the school holidays.

~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~