Children's Day falls on 6th Oct 2022, and here are some of the activities to bring the children (and the young at heart) to celebrate their day!
*Updated for 2023
You may recall that Children's Day falls on 1st of Oct, but this was changed in 2012 to the first Friday of October as it gives teachers and children a long weekend instead of a random day off.
However, this brings up the issue of filling up 3 days with things to do for the kids! Here's a list of events happening that we hope will be helpful for parents needing to find ways to keep the kids occupied.
1. Play and More at Octoburst! at the Esplanade
Venue: Esplanade, various locations
Dates: 6 Oct 2023
Admission: Free
In conjunction with Children’s Day in October, Esplanade presents Octoburst! – A Children’s Festival – a festival that encourages artful play and fun for all.
Audiences of all ages and abilities can look forward to an array of exciting performances and activities that will charm both children and adults. Kick off the day with the talented young performers from Bukit View Primary School on the angklung and kulintang followed by an upbeat performance by Junior Rave Harpers. Vibe to familiar tunes, from uplifting renditions of songs about Singapore to Latin-themed songs.
Families can also join the Zip Zap Zoom Collective on a sing-along session featuring well-loved songs. Not to be missed either are Job Search, a roving performance by Freddo’s Children Theatre that inspires young ones to explore their dream jobs, and Musical Tales of Little-Known Tails, a curious musical storytelling adventure by Lin Xiangning.
At 4 pm, come celebrate PIP’s birthday as Dawn Wong and her friends (including PIP, Esplanade's most colourful and friendliest face!) perform jazzed up nursery rhymes and a jazzy birthday song! This is a free programme but registration is required!
2. Take Part in the Family Friendly Trick or Thrills at Universal Studios Singapore
Venue: Universal Studios Singapore
Dates: 6 Sep - 5 Nov 2023
Admission: from $76 (compare admission tickets here)
While it is not a children's day event, families who visit Universal Studios Singapore will be rewarded with spooktastic fun at the Universal Studios Singapore Trick or Thrills! Families can expect meet and greets with popular characters including Illumination’s Minion Monsters, Sesame Street friends, as well as the return of the Universal Monsters and Scorpion King, while a notorious crew of candy thieves will get guests grooving along to a new live dance and percussion show!
Throughout the park, fan-favourite characters decked out in their Halloween best will be available to meet and interact with guests. Come catch the Minion Monsters and Gru’s girls from Illumination's Despicable Me, Oscar the Grouch, Count von Count and Cookie Monster from Sesame Street; as well as Autobots Bumblebee and Megatron from Transformers, with new Halloween greetings for Bumblebee.
This will also mark the return of the Universal Monsters – Dracula, Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein – as well as the Scorpion King in all his might. Not to be missed is a new meet and greet with The Sorceress, whose enchanting beauty and power draws guests under her spell.
3. The World of Nickelodeon at Marina Square
Venue: Let's Play @ #03-208/209 Marina Square
Dates: 23 Sep 2023 - 14 Sep 2024, 10 am - 8.30 pm
Admission: $31 (Mon - Thu), $35 (Fri - Sun, Ph and school holiays) - Ticket available on Trip.com
Calling fans of PAW Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Dora the Explorer! "The World of Nickelodeon" is back with more exciting immersive experiences at Let's Play @ Marina Square!
At The World of Nickelodeon, imaginations run wild as children explore a world of entertainment and adventure with incredible interactive gameplay and immersive exploration with the exhilarating realm of Nickelodeon characters.
The World of Nickelodeon is located at Let's Play @ Marina Square Level 3.
4. Celebrate Children's Day with Grandpa and Grandma at Celebrating Our Grands!
Venue: 7 Oct 2023, 4 pm - 7 pm
Dates: Gardens by the Bay, West Lawn (Next to Bayfront Plaza)
Admission: Free
Celebrating Our Grands (COG), an annual event by Families for Life (FFL) to honour grandparents or elderly extended family members, returns this year with a picnic that everyone in the family, young or old, will enjoy! Head down for a day of family fun with exciting activity booths and stage programmes!
The picnic will be held at Gardens by the Bay where families can spend quality time with your ‘grands’ and let them know how much they mean to you!
5. Redeem Voucher Combos For Children's Day Fun on Sentosa
Venue: Sentosa
Sentosa is the perfect destination for families to unwind, create memories, and have a blast – and now there is more reason to visit the island this Children's Day long weekend! Discover a trio of exciting combo deals, packed with free vouchers that promise you a fantastic time on the island! From stays and F&B options to various activities on the island, there’s a way for anyone and everyone to rest and be rewarded!
Here is a selection of vouchers you can redeem
- 20% off on a 4-in-1 combo at 4D Adventureland
- 10% off on watersports at Ola Beach Club
- 10% discount on the Breakfast Buffet Sunset & City Lights Dinner Cruise at Royal Albatross
- 10% off food and beverages at Tanjong Beach Club
- 15% off the best available rate at Oasia Resort Hotel Sentosa
Simply sign-up for the free Sentosa Islander membership to redeem these exciting discounts! Don't forget to read our 5 tips to maximise your Sentosa Islander membership for more fun times on Sentosa too!
*BYKIDO SHOP PROMO: Heading to Sentosa, get our exclusive Hello! My Dino + VR Attraction package for extra fun at HeadRock VR
6. Celebrate Children's Day at the Sentosa Festive Market
Venue: Palawan Beach Walk, Sentosa
Dates: 7 & 8 Oct 2023, 10 am - 7 pm
Admission: Free
Head down to the Palawan Beach Walk on 7 & 8 Oct 2023 to reconnect with your inner child for a playful and educational outdoor weekend market under the trees.
The Sunday Social Market is organising a special edition Sentosa Festive Market featuring over 20 eco-conscious brands and artisans, walk-in activities for all, a groovy playlist by Blackout Agency, a dog pit stop and 12 mini entrepreneurs aged between 7 and 14 years old showcasing their business skills on Sunday afternoon alongside seasoned vendors.
Families can also expect face painting by Starrylight Paints, craft & educational activities by Creatopia, Soil Social, Wild Dot and The Book Balloon & Maker’s Makings as well as a lucky draw too!
Admission is FREE, so head on down for an exciting weekend of family-friendly fun, community spirit, and eco-conscious discoveries.
7. PastaMania Invites Kids to Eat for Free
Venue: All PastaMania Outlets except Pioneer Mall
Date: 6 Oct 2023
PastaMania celebrates Children's Day where kids (10 years old and below) can enjoy a free kids meal with every adult main ordered. This is available at for dine-in at all PastaMania outlets except Pioneer Mall.
Little ones can choose from the Kid's menu, including Cheesy Chicken Sausage, Mac & Cheese, Chicken Bolognese, and more. Each main comes with a complimentary side and Milo!
Other activities and promotions will be happening at PastaMania during October as they celebrate their 25th Year!
8. Try the All New Kids Meal at Dian Xiao Er - Launched on Children's Day
Venue: Dian Xiao Er restaurants island-wide
Dates: From 6 Oct 2023 onwards
Fees: $9.90 per set
Dian Xiao Er launches its Rainbow Kids' Meal for 12 year old kids and below. Little ones can choose from 3 different sets with flavours to cater to their taste buds and promising a splash of colour to keep them entertained!
Each serving is made from fresh ingredients to achieve nutritional balance and cooked up from a medley of colours, tastes and textures to keep things fun for robust palates. Also launched at the same time is the Dian Xiao Er Kid's Membership.
To celebrate the launch, for three days only from 6 - 8 October 2023, every child who orders a Dian Xiao Er Rainbow Kids’ Meal and finishes their meal will be rewarded with a Dian Xiao Er DD.Duck too!
9. Pen Your Child's Little Wins to Redeem a Free Vanilla Cone at McDonald's
Venue: Selected McDonald's Restaurants
Dates: 4 - 8 Oct 2023
This Children's Day, McDonald's will be making every child feel like a champion with the My Happy Little Wins campaign!
Between 4 to 8 Oct 2023, parents are invited to bring their children below the age of 12 to selected McDonald’s restaurant where children can pick up a “My Happy Little Wins” sticker to jot down their cherished wins and to redeem it for a free Vanilla Cone!
10. Get A Free Ice Cream at National Museum of Singapore
Venue: National Museum of Singapore, Level 2 Glass Atrium
Dates: 7 & 8 Oct 2023, while stocks last
It might not be a Children's Day event, but families should visit the National Museum of Singapore between 7 and 8 October to celebrate its 136th birthday with a scoop of ‘mystery flavour’ NMS sorbet!
Inspired by the food and beverage section in its ongoing exhibition, Now Boarding: Experiencing Singapore through Travel, 1800s – 2000s, the National Museum worked with Kind Kones to bring you a refreshing vegan treat featuring a flavour derived from one of the plants in its prized William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings. Five lucky visitors who can guess the correct flavour of the sorbet will also receive a $20 gift card courtesy of Kind Kones!
On top of trying out free ice-cream samples and guessing the flavour, visitors can also immerse themselves in a captivating journey through 1980s Singapore with travel-themed pop-up rooms and an immersive audio tour that provides deeper insights into Singapore's iconic tourist attractions and rich history.
Don’t forget to visit Now Boarding: Experiencing Singapore through Travel,1800s-2000s and rediscover the evolution of Singapore as a travel destination!
11. Eat and Learn with LingoAce and Haidilao
Venue: Haidilao 313 Somerset, Marina Square, City Square and Downtown East
Dates: 2 - 19 Oct 2023
In the lead up to Children’s Day 2023, leading online learning platform, LingoAce, has teamed up with the much-loved hotpot concept Haidilao, offering a cultural immersion experience to guests and LingoAce users!
Families dining at the participating outlets will discover LingoAce pop-up booths offering a range of discounts, treats, and activities including a dedicated Secret Code Challenge, entertaining games and activities to introduce food culture - hotpot, as well as LingoAce’s Sing and Learn Series and a colouring book with Chinese Mandarin learning content, encouraging a blend of learning and dining in a fun-filled manner.
That's not all! You will also walk away with exclusive door gifts, including trial lessons and limited-edition merchandise while existing LingoAce users can redeem Haidilao dining vouchers worth S$20 (with a minimum spend of S$120) at participating outlets.
12. Disney 100: The Sound of Magic
Venue: Esplanade Theatre
Dates: 7 - 8 Oct 2023 (2hrs 30mins with 20mins intermission)
Admission: $58 - $198
Join us for Disney 100: The Sound of Magic, a symphonic celebration of Disney music, animation and memories - 100 years in the making!
Favourite characters and soundtracks from the Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Parks come to life on stage and the big screen at the Esplanade Theatre in a live-to-film concert like never before.
Journey on a magic carpet ride through the most memorable song, score and movie moments of the first 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, including Peter Pan, Moana, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, Frozen, The Lion King, Fantasia, Encanto, Disney Parks classics, and more!
13. Embark On A Space Adventure with the New IKEA AFTONSPARV collection
Venue: IKEA in-store and online
The new IKEA AFTONSPARV collection is a series of space-themed toys and accessories that brings the outer space into the home space, these include soft-toy astronauts and aliens, a cardboard rocket play tent, a spaceship, finger puppets, space-age lamps, galaxy-inspired bed textiles, and a glow-in-the-dark curtain.
What's interesting is that the idea behind the collection is developed in collaboration with a group of young space enthusiasts between the ages of 3 and 7, and is aimed at sparking play and curiosity about the outer space! Making it a great addition to the home for more play time this Children's Day!
The AFTONSPARV collection will launch in-stores on 28 September, and online on 1 October.
14. Bid Le Le Farewell at the River Wonders
Venue: River Wonders
Dates: 6 - 31 Oct 2023
Admission: Tickets to River Wonders apply
Having crossed his second birthday and growing more independent, Le Le is set to return to China to fulfil the important mission of contributing to the conservation of the Giant Panda species. Le Le will leave for China in the second half of December.
Prior to Le Le's departure, River Wonders is also set to hold a series of activities for you and your family to say your goodbyes to Singapore's beloved Giant Panda cub. You can also catch Le Le when visiting between 10 am to 2 pm.
15. Free Children's Day Event at Kids Art Haven
Venue: Kids Art Haven Parkway Centre,#09-06, 1 Marine Parade Central, Singapore 449408
Dates: 6 Oct 2023, 10 am - 2 pm
Admission: Free
Kids Art Haven is organising a free Children's Day event on 6 Oct 2023 from 10 am to 2 pm where little ones will get to enjoy activities from different schools and organisations. Starting rom 10 am, join Cecilia from @natventure for captivating tales in the woodland-themed playspace, where imagination take center stage. From 11 to 12 pm embark on a grassland adventure with sing-along stories and sensory play in our captivating, taste-safe small world with Indri from @littlejoyplay.
Next up, explore emotions with Playdough with Therapist Chloe from @kidsarthaven and well loved homegrown brand @thetinytrove, and the event ends with free play session from 1 to 2 pm where little ones get to indulge in unstructured play at the space, explore new kid friendly products with immersive experiences.
Event is free with registration required.
16. Visit a Kids-Friendly Museum
Did you know that there are over 60 museums in Singapore and definitely more than 100 exhibitions and showcases at any time? Did you also know that Singapore is home to MANY amazing family-friendly museums and many are free for Singaporean residents too?
Here's a our list of 30+ of the best kid-friendly museum and exhibitions, and you can take your pick on which to visit over the Children's Day weekend.
17. Enjoy A Meal at a Family-friendly Restaurant
A family that eats together, stays together! That's why we are encouraging you to discover new dining ideas with our popular restaurants lists! Here's a list of kids dine for free promotions and another list of restaurants and cafes with play areas for extra fun!
18. Bring the Kids Out to Play at an Outdoor Playground
With a playground at almost every block away, the choices of outdoor play are aplenty! But this Children's Day, you may wish to bring them to a special play experience at some of the Best Outdoor Playgrounds in Singapore!
From water play at the Dino-themed Water Playground at Causeway Point to the Nature Playgarden at the Como Adventure Grove at Botanic Gardens, you will find the best in the list and more in our round up of the best outdoor places to go for fun - and all for free! We have put them together by categories, while some playgrounds fall into multiple categories, we have put them into the most appropriate one.
19. Shop & Play at these Playground in Malls
Perhaps heading outdoors is not your thing, how about a trip to the shopping mall where mummy gets to shop, daddy get to eat and the little ones get to play? Here's a list of malls with free indoor and outdoor play spaces, as well as free water play too!
Playgrounds at the malls are no longer just about simple structures, instead you will find the Splash-N-Surf, the water playground with kids and toddlers zones at Kallang Wave Mall, the massive open space at the VivoCity Play Court, as well as the Pirate-themed KidzPlay @ SkyGarden at NEX Singapore, just to name a few!
20. Discover The Thrill of RC Car Racing
Venue: 190 Middle Road, Level 6B of the Multi-Storey Car Park, Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979
Opening Hours: Sat - Sun / PH: 10 am - 7 pm
Admission: $60 (U.P. $90)
Want to try RC Car Racing? Head over to the Urban RC, Singapore's premier RC model car hobby shop and race track where families can give this hobby a try by renting a true hobby grade RC model car.
For a limited time, you can purchase an exclusive Urban RC Trial Package at $60 and it includes 2 x 30mins RC Car Racing for 2 pax, and a FREE 1 x 30mins RC Car Racing! The additional 30 mins can be used by 1 pax or shared by 2 pax (15mins each).
Do note that Urban RC is only open on Sat & Sun, thus you will not be able to visit on Children's Day but the weekend instead.
21. Go Bonding While Flying A Plane (Simulator)
Venue: Oxley Bizhub # 01 - 50, 63 Ubi Road 1, Singapore 408728
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun (10 am - 10 pm)
Admission: $140
Here's an interesting parent and child activity! Head down to Aeroviation and let dedicated instructors guide you and your child through the steps to fly an aircraft on the flight simulator - take over the controls and fly the aircraft on your own as well! We have done it and we believe you can too!
This 1 hour Flight Experience is suitable for parent and child, with a suggested age of 7 years and older.
22. Go on a Parent-Child Fishing Experience at Nature Kindred
Venue: 65 Sungei Tengah Road, Singapore
Opening Hours: Sat & Sun, 10 am to 7 pm
Admission: Free, fees apply for activities
Nature Kindred is a nature-themed family venue located within a plant nursery where it aims to provide an opportunity for parents to disconnect from their everyday routines and responsibilities and focus on their relationship with the family.
One of the activities at the venue is the parent and child fishing experience as you use a net to try to catch the fast swimming guppies in the beautifully designed fish pond. It isn't easy to catch the fishes but definitely an experience for the young ones.
Those who purchase the Parent Child Fishing Experience with DIY Kit package ($38) will get a decorative fish tank that they can decorate using rocks, sand and figurine to bring home. Do note that the tank will fit 2 to 3 fishes. You may also purchase the experience without the kit, and you will receive a plastic container to bring the fishes home! fishing as each of you try to catch these fast swimming friends.
23. Children's Day Gift Teddy Beary Cookies Deco Kit From Genius R Us
Venue: Home
Dates: While stocks last
Price: from $3 per kit
Maybe you are looking for gifts for your child or your child's classmates, the Teddy Beary Cookies Deco Set from Genius R Us is both a gift and activity that you can do with your child at home! This little gift is perfect for the little ones at school to have fun together or bring home to bond with their mom and dad!
Available in a min. order of 10 pieces with discounts for bulk purchases.
