Singapore Expats

Hi there, we just moved here from canada a week or so ago. The kids are going nuts as they can't run around outside - not used to the heat yet. Are there any indoor playgrounds or kindergyms anywhere, where we could drop in? Perhaps around Orchard or near NUS?

There's one at Dempsey Rd. Go Go Bambini I think its called?

Turf City, upper bt timah - fidgets , www.fidgets.com.sg

Gracekids in Great World City.www.gracekids.com.sg

I'm staying near Orchard and a few I know of nearby are:

* JWT Kids Gym at UE Square (Robertson Quay). I think it's $50 to join and then you can get 5 sessions for $50. Google JWT Kids Gym to see the free play times.

* Royce Kids Gym at Liang Court Shopping Centre, opposite Fort Canning Park. $50 per kid to join and similar price for free play sessions.

I haven't tried either of the above but looked into them when I first came. Then we started going to Gymboree:

* Gymboree at Tanglin Mall. There's another at Harbourfront, I believe.

I went with Gymboree because they have free play sessions with a pretty decent range of climbing/obstacle activities for my 2 and 4 year olds. I think it's $50 family membership and then $12 per kid per one hour of free play. I think you can also do a trial class, which is free if you join.

They have a family pack of classes/free play sessions which can be used by siblings. Good value if you've got a few kids who want to do art/music/sport classes instead of just free play. Can be used over a year. They don't have a website, that I could find, so you'd need to go in to get the details.

I went to Go Go Bambini for the first time the other day and my 4 year old loved it. Less easy for toddlers as they're in the same area as bigger kids - my toddler kept being bowled over by groups of older boys charging through. Not a problem if you're going during school hours, though. And there's a good cafe with international newspapers and heaps of books to read if your kids are old enough to go off alone to play. Best play centre cafe I've seen!

If you can stand the heat, the Jacob Ballas Childrens Garden at the Botanic Gardens is wonderful. Try late afternoon when there's a bit of a breeze. There's a huge sand area, a tree house with slides, lots of room to run around, and a fantastic water play area (take spare clothes!). I can't imagine any kid not having fun there - it's just fantastic.

Royce Kids Gym on level 2 of Liang Court Shopping Centre is nice and clean and safe. I frequent the gym at least once per week but is moving away from that area very soon. But I still have lots of that gym fun play ticket with no expiry dates. Any one if keen to purchase $100 value ticket for 10 hours at $80.

Thanks all I will check these options out!

Hi,

You can check out the indoor play area of Paragon in Orchard. It's at the 5th level. They have a slide, mini carousel, some kiddie rides, computer games.

6th level is Toys R Us

Kris

I love taking my 18mth old to Polliwogs. It is in the East Coast (beach), next to Burger King's. They have both indoor and outdoor play area. The playground is big enough for adults to go in and crawl around with their toddlers. They also have a day care centre, called WeeCare.

I had a bad experience with Gymboree, Harbourfront. First, they have only a couple of toddlers per session, which does not facilitate socialising and play for the kids. Second, the teachers exude an air of inexperience. The play area's laden with wooden fiixtures which are not safe for toddlers. I will not recommend Gymboree, Harbourfront.

My toddler loved polliwogs at east coast.. you can check out the photos here http://mikahaziq.blogspot.com/2011/10/s ... iwogs.html

Regards