Fun With Kids: Marina Bay Sands’ family deals, Giant Clam Calamity book, theatre show Brainstorm

SINGAPORE – Make family time all the more special with these ideas and activities.

Buy one ticket, get two free at MBS

Marina Bay Sands (MBS) is dedicating the month of October to celebrating children. Till Oct 31, receive two free passes for your kids aged two to 12 when you buy an adult ticket to four selected experiences.

Among these is The Shoppes’ sampan ride ($15 an adult), a nod to the traditional wooden boats that once plied the Singapore River.

Alternatively, take your children to the Digital Light Canvas by teamLab ($12 an adult), located outside the Rasapura Masters food hall. As they move around the 15m-diameter LED floor, they are making art right under their feet. Think “flowers” popping up and “fish” swimming around with every step they take.

Over at ArtScience Museum is SingaPop! 60 Years Of Singapore Pop Culture (from $25 an adult), curated by local entertainment veteran Dick Lee. The multimedia exhibition explores the nation’s identity through music, film, TV, fashion and food across different eras.

There is also a thought-provoking exhibition titled Another World Is Possible (from $18 an adult) that encourages children to envision the Singapore they desire and how they can make it happen.

SG Culture Pass credits can be used to buy passes for these two museum exhibitions. Go to

str.sg/jF9d

for details.

Giant Clam Calamity picture book

Local marine ecologist Neo Mei Lin

– or Giant Clam Girl, as she is affectionately known in her field – inspired the character of Dr Mui in the new picture book Giant Clam Calamity.

Co-authored by Pauline Loh and Emily Lim-Leh, the story follows two young classmates and Dr Mui on an intertidal walk along Lazarus Island. They encounter marine life such as hermit crabs, sea stars and sea cucumbers, but Dr Mui’s focus is on the giant clams.

The book reveals important roles of giant clams in the ocean, such as their ability to filter seawater and contribute to healthier reef ecosystems. It is the second title in the Earthkeepers series, which aims to educate young readers about often unseen creatures that play big roles in the environment.

To ensure accuracy, the authors consulted Dr Neo and visited her “office” – the St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory – to observe the conservation efforts.

Dr Neo, who has three kids aged one, four and six, says: “I never imagined my research on giant clams would someday be turned into a children’s storybook.”

She adds that illustrator Cheng Puay Koon’s drawings are spot on, capturing exactly what a marine scientist does.

The book ($16) is available at publisher Graceworks’ e-store at

str.sg/KeFW

Brainstorm with your teens

Strengthen communication with your teenage children by experiencing Gateway Arts’ Brainstorm together.

The 105-minute theatre production draws inspiration from real-life experiences of Singaporean teens and the findings of British neuroscientist Sarah-Jayne Blakemore of the University of Cambridge.

The play, directed by Samantha Scott-Blackhall, aims to help adults understand the emotional struggles faced by teens, who navigate constant demands from school, social media and family expectations; as well as empower its young audiences, reassuring them that their feelings are valid.

It runs on Fridays and Saturdays between Oct 17 and 25 at Gateway Theatre’s Black Box. Tickets, at $45, are available at

str.sg/9Zvz

. SG Culture Pass credits can be used for the programme.

Post-show, Touch Community Services will facilitate a discussion to help parents and teens communicate better.