Weekend

Holiday fun: 20 activities for kids during the week-long March holidays

In two weeks’ time, school-going kids will be able to kick back and let loose during the week-long March holidays. GURVEEN KAUR and SARAH GIAM round up 20 activities to keep them occupied

Catch your own fish in the longkang (above) at Orto park in Lorong Chencharu, make clay sheep at Clay Cove and bake animal-shaped breadat Bakerz@Work. -- PHOTO: ORTO
Catch your own fish in the longkang (above) at Orto park in Lorong Chencharu, make clay sheep at Clay Cove and bake animal-shaped breadat Bakerz@Work. -- PHOTO: ORTO

GET SPORTY

Fishing, Prawning And Futsal At Orto

The former Bottle Tree Park has been revamped and is now a free public access park, Orto, covering an area slightly larger than seven football fields.

Visitors can go fishing in a man-made "longkang" which takes up to 40 kids at once or do prawning in one of the 10 ponds. There are also four futsal courts available for booking.

Families can dine there at Thai barbecue restaurant Mookata, halal Western restaurant Taste Garden (open from the second week of March) and SGMY, which serves local and Malaysian fare.

Where: 81 Lorong Chencharu, about an eight-minute walk from Khatib MRT Station. Parking is free and there are 109 lots available.

Admission: Prawning: $36 for three hours in the freshwater ponds, where you can catch prawns and lobsters, and $38 for three hours in the saltwater ponds, where you can catch seawater tiger prawns. Baits and rods provided. The 10 ponds are open 24 hours and manned by staff.

Longkang fishing: $12 a child (recommended age is four to 12 years), plastic tank and net provided. Open from 9am to 11pm daily during the March holidays.

Futsal: Call 6303-0663 to book the courts at least one to two hours in advance for weekdays, and a few days in advance for weekends.

Info: www.orto.sg

Behind-The-Scenes At The Swimming Pool

Experience what a lifeguard and a pool operator do daily - learn how to give cardiopulmonary resuscitation in emergencies and take water quality samples, in this tour by ActiveSG.

Where: At various swimming complexes and sports centres, go to www.myactivesg.com for more information

When: One-hour sessions on March 14, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21

Admission: Free, but entry fee to swimming pool applies. Class caters to children aged six to 12. Sign up over the counter at the venues

Yoga For Children

Introduce your stressed-out child to yoga through these affordable sessions conducted by Ms Cynthia Chua, who has a yoga diploma and pre-school teaching certificate. She teaches breathing exercises and special postures through a play and story approach. Each class takes five to 12 children. Bring your own yoga mat.

Where: Dance studio in Teck Ghee Community Club, 861 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10

When: March 16 to 20, 4 to 5pm

Admission: For children aged five to 12. $50 per child for five sessions for People's Association (PA) members, $60 per child for five sessions for non-PA members

Info: Sign up at one.pa.gov.sg

K-Pop Dance, Zumba And Bokwa Classes

Your child can work up a sweat and pick up dance moves in three one-hour sessions by ActiveSG. The classes are KpopX Fitness, which consists of simple K-Pop dance moves with aerobics and body-toning exercises; Zumba and Bokwa, where participants draw numbers and letters with their feet while executing easy-to-follow steps.

Where: Tampines Sports Centre, Pasir Ris Sports Centre and Hougang Sports Centre

When: March 15 to 17, 11am to 12pm (Tampines Sports Centre); March 20 to 22, 4 to 5pm (Pasir Ris Sports Centre), March 20 to 22, 5 to 6pm (Hougang Sports Centre)

Admission: $36 a child (aged four to 12)

Info: Sign up at members.myactivesg.com/programmes

gurveenk@sph.com.sg

sarahgyx@sph.com.sg


COOK UP A STORM

Fresh Pasta At ToTT Cooking

Studio ToTT Cooking Studio has two junior chef classes where kids can learn how to bake banana brownies and cream puffs, or make fresh pasta and a creamy broccoli sauce from scratch.

Where: ToTT Cooking Studio 2, 01-01A Sime Darby Centre, 896 Dunearn Road

When: You "Bake" Me Happy, Mommy! class: March 19, 10am to noon and Look Mummy, I am Eating My Vegetables! class: March 21, 4 to 6pm

Admission: $98 for each parent-child (aged six to 12) pair

Info: Call 6219-7077 or go to www.tottstore.com

Dainty Sweet Treats At Genius R Us

GeniusRUse

Kids can attend enrichment centre Genius R Us' classes to create treats such as watermelon cupcakes, rainbow pound cake and lollipop cookies.

Where: 07-08 City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road

When: Two-hour classes daily from March 16 to 20 at 10.30am, 1.30 and 4pm

Admission: $45 a child (aged five to 12) or $75 for each parent-child (aged 2½ to five) pair a class. Kids can sign up for day camps for the five days.

Info: Call 6634-6020, SMS 8183-0563 or go to www.geniusrus.com

Animal-shaped Bread At Bakerz@Work

ST 20150228 GKBAKER 8 1101054e

At baking school Bakerz@Work, kids can have fun moulding dough into a crabby crab, friendly snail or plump hedgehog.

Where: 01-18 Citimac Industrial Complex, 605 MacPherson Road

When: March 19, 10am to 2pm

Admission: $99 for each parent-child (aged five to 13) pair

Info: Call 6820-7578 or go to www.bakerzatwork.net


PICK UP NEW SKILLS

Singapura: 700 Years - A Dig Into The Past! At The National Museum Of Singapore

ST 20150228 GKARCHAE 1101072e

Young archaeology enthusiasts can join professional archaeoleogists in an introductory workshop, and unearth the skills and thrills of the job.

Where: Seminar rooms at level 2 of the National Museum, 93 Stamford Road

When: March 7, 14, 21 and 28, April 11 and 25, May 9, 10am to 12.30pm

Admission: $21 each (aged 13 to 15). Includes workshop materials and Sistic booking fees

Info: Go to www.nationalmuseum.sg or e-mail jasmine_low@nhb.gov.sg

Sentosa KidZ Flea

This flea market, run by children, is back for its fourth year. Kids get to set up their own stalls, selling items including handicrafts, storybooks and clothing. There are an estimated 40 stalls each day. At least one-fifth of the proceeds from each stall will be donated to non-profit organisation Rare Disorders Society Singapore.

Games stations, as well as henna and nail art, will also be available. Spend money at the flea market and have a go on the popular tikam tikam machine, which allows you to redeem prizes.

Where: The Beach Plaza at Sentosa

When: March 14 to 22, 2 to 7pm

Admission: Free, go to www.sentosa.com.sg for various packages available for booking a booth

Info: E-mail skf2015@duva.sg to sign up for a stall before March 5


UNLEASH YOUR INNER GEEK

Robots VS Zombies Lego Robotics Workshop By WondersWork

ST 20150228 GKHOLROB 1101730e

Build Lego models of vehicles, zombies and machines, then programme them to move with special software, in this workshop that exercises both creativity and critical thinking.

Where: 02-23, Liang Court, 177 River Valley Road

When: Various two-hour sessions from March 16 to 20. View the full list at www.wonderswork.com.sg.

Admission: Two sessions at $168, three sessions at $238 or five sessions at $368 for each child (aged five to 13)

Info: Call 6333-4088 or e-mail enquiry@wonderswork.com.sg

Cool Chemistry By The Science Centre

Kids will see demonstrations such as how rainbow-coloured flames are produced when different chemicals are ignited. They will make soap, and create artworks through chromatography, using the different- coloured inks present in a marker.

Where: At the KidsStop Party Room at the Science Centre

When: March 17 and 18, noon to 2.30pm

Admission: $42.80 for each child (March 17 class is for four- and five-year-olds; March 18 class is for six to eight-year-olds)

Info: Register online at www.kidsstop. edu.sg, call 6425-2500 or e-mail KidsSTOP_Prog@science.edu.sg

Stop-Mo Animation - Me And My Pet By The People's Association

Love your pet? Direct, film and produce a stop-motion animation video about it, using simple art materials, in this workshop conducted by non-profit social enterprise Playeum. Kids are encouraged to bring a smartphone, iPod, or iPad to record their animations.

Where: Bishan North community centre, 233 Bishan Street 22

When: March 20, 10am to 12pm

Admission: $35 each for People's Association members, $45 for non-members (aged six to 12 years)

Info: Sign up online at one.pa.gov.sg

Artful Ninja - Young Scientists Make Toys By The People's Association

Kids get to make their own toys, while learning about the science behind their creation. Put together a Humpty Dumpty, cannon launcher and balancing parrot, using materials such as cardboard, rubber bands and ping pong balls. Conducted by the Kip McGrath Education Centre.

Where:Thomson Community Club, Woodlands Galaxy Community Club

When: March 18, 10am to 12.30pm (Thomson CC); March 18, 2 to 4.30pm (Woodlands Galaxy CC)

Admission: $15 for PA members, $20 for non-PA members. The class is for kids aged seven to 12. There is a $2 fee for materials.

Info: Sign up at one.pa.gov.sg


SING, DANCE, GET CRAFTY

My Little Pony Show And Pony Ride

ST 20150228 GKK 1101835e

Kids who love the animated series My Little Pony can sing along with their favourite characters and ride a pony too.

Where: City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road

When: My Little Pony live show - March 14 to 22, 2 and 7pm on weekdays; 1, 4 and 7pm on weekends. Interaction with live ponies - March 14 to 22, 28 to 29, April 4 to 5 and 11 to 12, 1 to 8pm.

Admission: Free for live show. $15 for a child above the age of two to ride, handfeed and take a photo with ponies

Info: Go to citysquaremall.com.sg or www.facebook.com/citysquaremall

Sheep-Themed Stamp Exhibition

Get into the spirit of the Year of the Goat at Singapore Philatelic Museum's Counting Sheep, Dreaming Goats exhibition, and find out if sheep and goats are actually related.

Where: 23B Coleman Street

When: Till Sept 27, 1 to 7pm on Monday, 9.30am to 7pm from Tuesday to Sunday

Admission: Free for Singapore citizens and permanent residents. $6 an adult and $4 a child (three to 12).

Info: Call 6337-3888 or go to www.spm.org.sg

Pottery Classes By Clay Cove

ST 20150228 GKCLAY 8 1101052e

Kids can mould and paint sheep in the form of pottery or plates, and bring their creations home after they have been fired twice. Tools and aprons provided.

Where: 05-01 The Centrepoint, 176 Orchard Road

When: Pottery sheep - 10.30am to noon, 1 to 2.30pm, 3 to 4.30pm, or 5 to 6.30pm on March 16 and 19, and March 17 and 20. Clay plates - 3.30 to 4.15pm on March 17 and 20.

Admission: Pottery sheep - $90 a child (aged five to 14) for two sessions. Clay plates - $80 a child (aged three to four) for two sessions.

Info: Call 6733-8129 or e-mail moni@claycove.com

Adventures In The Magical Kingdom by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Kids can sway and sing along to popular Disney tunes from Beauty And The Beast, Lion King and Sleeping Beauty.

Where: Victoria Concert Hall

When: March 21, 11am, 2 and 4pm

Admission: Tickets at $25 or $30, suitable for ages four to 14

Info: Call 6348-5555 or go to www.sso.org.sg


BASK IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

A Walk With Your Neighbours - The Macaques Of MacRitchie

ST 20150228 GKMON 1101038e

Mention MacRitchie Reservoir Park and long-tailed macaques might come to mind.

Join a group of macaque experts and go on an educational walk to learn more about these cheeky creatures.

Where: Lawn @ Paddle Lodge, MacRitchie Reservoir Park, 182 Lornie Rd

When: March 14, 5 to 6.30pm

Admission: Free for adults and children aged above eight

Info: E-mail names, number of participants (maximum five persons per registration) and contact number to sg.monkey.walk@ gmail.com at least three days in advance. Go to www.nparks.gov.sg for details.

Gardens By The Bay's March Monster Mash

Have a monstrous good time at Gardens by the Bay.

Kids can go on an outdoor guided trail at the Supertree Grove, as well as learn to use household objects to create monster costumes. A hands-on workshop will equip them with the skills to host their own wild monster-themed party.

Where: Various locations at Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens

When: March 13 to 22, various timings

Admission: Charges to the conservatories apply and some workshops are priced.

Info: Go to www.gardensbythebay. com.sg

Flying Colours! The Butterflies Of HortPark

Spend a couple of hours close to 25 species of butterflies, including the Common Rose and Tawny Coster, at HortPark's Butterfly Garden, and learn why they are beneficial to the environment. Participants on this guided walk can see butterflies in their natural habitat and find out what they feed on.

Where: Greenhouse Workshop, HortPark, 33 Hyderabad Road

When: March 21, 9.30 to 11.30am

Admission: $25 a child (aged five to 12)

Info: E-mail names, number of participants and contact number to NParks_HortPark@ nparks. gov.sg to register or go to www.nparks.gov.sg

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.