A Day at the Changi Jurassic Mile!

The newly opened Changi Jurassic Mile is a 1km long path stretching from East Coast Park all the way to right at the entrance of Changi Terminal 4. As the name implies, the path is filled with statues of dinosaurs, making it feel like you've just walked into the movie Jurassic World.

The entrance to Jurassic Mile at the Changi end.

We visited right before noon, but the sun was still glaringly hot, so we would definitely apply more sunblock in future. There were many people around, particularly young families, but everyone was largely orderly and queued up at each photo op in an organised fashion. There will be some people on bicycles or scooters, so always keep an eye on your kids. I liked how the area was designed to look as if we were really walking into a danger zone in a dinosaur zoo, with warning signs and restricted "doors" everywhere.

This "do not feed" sign cheekily parodies zoos around the world.

Nets and fences have been installed between the path and the dinosaurs to prevent any incidents, which does affect the viewing experience but is not really significant. The "dinosaurs" did look extra realistic and the statues emulated what the dinosaurs would have really looked like. There were also educational signs near every exhibit, showing some information about that dinosaur and where they were discovered.

Velociraptors playing with a jeep

To get there, we drove and parked at carpark 4A which is conveniently positioned right across the road from the Jurassic Mile. Bear in mind that if you are driving, you would need to walk through the mile twice to get back to where you came from. I would recommend against just walking. The end of East Coast where you emerge is pretty far from any MRT station. Meanwhile, the airport terminals seemed closed except to air passengers with a negative COVID-19 test, so we couldn't just take the Skytrain to Jewel/T1 (where the MRT station is). Another option is to bring a bike with you or rent a bike either at East Coast Park or Hub & Spoke (a bicycle shop within the Changi Airport area), which will make your life easier.

All in all, the Jurassic Mile is both an interesting and educational experience particularly for young children. We look forward to seeing more developments by the Changi Group!

Have you visited the Jurassic Mile? Do you have any thoughts? Feel free to drop a comment below for us to read.

2011 Museum's Open House Days

International Museum Day: 29 May
National Day: 9 August
Hari Raya Puasa: 30 August
Deepavali: 26 October
Christmas Day: 25 December

*Unless otherwise stated, Open House Days involve all NHB museums.

List of NHB Museums

Asian Civilisations Museum
Memories at Old Ford Factory
National Museum of Singapore
Peranakan Museum
Reflections at Bukit Chandu
Singapore Art Museum
Singapore Philatelic Museum

Family Sports Day

Learn a new sport as a family, and who knows, you may develop a new hobby for the family!

Date: Sunday, 26 June 2011
Time: 2pm - 6pm
Venue: Bishan Active Park (Bishan Street 23)

Pre register now for any Sporting Clinic for FREE via SMS to 9642 2902 in this format < Name of Sport >, < Your Name >,
< Age >, < Contact Number > and < Email Address > or email info@nfc.sg or call 6777 1672 for more information.

Participate in the activities and stand a chance to win attractive prizes like Jetstar vouchers and LCD TVs!
Lucky Draw @ 4pm
- 3 sets of $100 Chiharu Dining Vouchers
- 3 sets of Jetstar Vouchers, each worth $400.00
Grand Draw @ 6.15pm
1st Prize: Jetstar Vouchers worth $1,900.00
2nd Prize: iPad
3rd Prize: LCD TV
Special performance by Hong Junyang at 6pm!

Family Day Out Carnival

Date: Saturday, 25 June 2011
Time: 9am to 6pm
Venue: Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade (outside Marina Bay Sands)

The Carnival will feature exciting activities suitable for everyone, young and old. Families can look forward to taking part in bonding activities and winning attractive lucky draw prizes!

Free admission.

Gardeners' Day Out

Date: Saturday and Sunday, 11-12 June 2011
Time: 9am - 6pm
Venue: Hort Park

Meet avid gardeners and learn more about gardening with your family! Also don’t miss the great bargains and interesting plant offers at the Gardening Bazaar, which includes:
Family activities and workshops
Garden tours
Picnics and bouncy castles
Demonstrations
Story telling sessions
Gardening bazaar

Free admission

Free printables

Now that the school holiday is here, what do you do to occupy and entertain the kids? Overseas holiday? Outing? Sign the kids up for holiday programmes?

What if the kids fall sick and we can't go anywhere? I prefer not to letting my kids watch TV or play iphone games for hours. I have posted some free activity ideas on the Internet here.

My kids love doing activities with me. They are bugging me 'to do activities'! It's great that there are many homeschooling moms who created and selflessly shared great printables. Those are really life saver to me.

Some of them that I love:
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/ : Lots and lots of nicely done printables, you're spoilt for choice!
http://confessionsofahomeschooler.blogspot.com/ : I love its letter of the week curriculum, really great to teach my preschooler daughter.
http://bogglesworldesl.com/bigletterstracing.htm : For me this is more to complement the letter of the week curriculum.
http://www.homeschoolcreations.com/preschoolprintables.html : Again, lots and lots of printables!

Just pick any that suits your kid's ability, print them out, and sit down with your kids. You can also pick a suitable theme, e.g. we've been doing the Christmas theme recently. It is educational and promotes the parent-child bonding...

Of course, many times I am too busy to sit down with them. During those busy time, my kids usually do the things that they can do on their own, e.g. cutting and colouring. Or I'll ask them to sit in the dining room while I am busy cooking or cleaning the kitchen. Something like that. Still better than watching TV or playing iphone games...

Top 10 Family And Kids Friendly Shopping Malls In Singapore

Today's Motherhood lists Top 10 Family and Kids Friendly Shopping Malls in Singapore.

This might be a useful list for you. However, do note that you may have different criterias from theirs. For example, for me a nursing room or a diaper changing station is thankfully no longer necessary as my two kids have passed that stage :)

I like huge outdoor playgrounds and wide space to roam around like the ones at VivoCity or IMM (I am not too keen on indoor playground - I just feel that it's too enclosed for the kids to play around).

VivoCity's link to Sentosa through the Sentosa Express is a big draw for us (my kids really love the train rides to and fro Sentosa).

Anyway, here is the list:
1. City Square Mall
2. VivoCity
3. Jurong Point Shopping Centre
4. North Point Shopping Centre
5. Suntec City Mall
6. AMK Hub
7. IMM
8. United Square Shopping Mall
9. West Coast Plaza
10. Downtown East Shopping Centre

I would like to add Sembawang Shopping Centre to this list too. It has a huge outdoor playground with a number of food outlets surrounding it.

And Changi Airport - it is really like a huge shopping mall, with so many different kind of entertainment for families. My kids love the Sky Train rides connecting the three terminals. The viewing of airplanes is a nice bonus for the kids. We have been to the Terminal 3 (the newest addition to Changi Airport) so many times and still love it!

Enjoy!

MacRitchie Reservoir

The last time we visited MacRitchie Reservoir was just before it underwent improvement. Now that the phase one of its makeover has completed, we can look forward to a family outing to this park!
MacRitchie Reservoir is like a hidden treasure in the city for us. It is so close to our house, yet it's like a journey back in time to the old days when much of the island was covered with lowland, tropical forest.

The park has also become a popular spot for exercise enthusiasts, especially joggers. It is also popular amongst families as a park for morning and evening walks or just a stroll along the water's edge. And the kids can look out for the monkeys, turtles, fish and more!

The park has a food kiosk, an exercise station and several shelters and benches that face the scenic reservoir.

Visitors to MacRitchie Reservoir can expect exciting enhancements, such as a new multi-storey carpark for some 300 lots, an amenities centre and an improved floating pontoon for kayakers.

To enable the public to enjoy the view of the reservoir, a previously-closed dam is now open and acrylic panels have been installed on the grilles by the side of the dam.

Goat Farm Visit

Visit the only goat farm in Singapore, for an educational and fun outing! The farm is open daily (Monday-Sunday) from 9am to 4pm. Milking demonstrations is from 9am to 11am, and so visitors are encouraged to come in the morning.

Individual or small families (less than 10 people) are allowed to visit the farm without any charges or bookings. For group visits with more than 10 people in a chartered coach, it is compulsory to make a prior booking with Hay Dairies.

Address: No.3 Lim Chu Kang Agrotech Park Lane 4, Singapore 718859
Tel: (65) 6792 0931

The Animal Resort

For the animal lovers, your family will love The Animal Resort is a resort for animals, where short-term accommodation for animals are available, and pet owners have to pay for the service.
You can have a day of fun there for free, where your family can get in touch with nature and animals. For a token donation, you can get feed for fishes, rabbits, chickens, the resident horse and goat. Fishing is also allowed.

Location:
T81 Seletar West Farmway 5
Singapore 798061
Open daily from 10am to 6pm
Contact 6338-7665

Open House at Central Fire Station

The red and white Central Fire Station, completed in 1908 (and still in use), has a watchtower and living quarters for firemen. On Saturday mornings kids can ride on an engine and take pictures with the Red Rhinos (a smaller version of the fire truck) and the firemen. Then head next door to the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery (open 10am-5pm Tue-Sun), a mini fire-fighting museum housing old trucks and equipment, plus interactive games and activities on the second level.

Free admission, every Saturday 9am - 11am
62 Hill Street, Tel: 6848 1519

Sembawang Shopping Centre

Newly refurbished, Sembawang Shopping Centre (SSC) is completely disabled-friendly. The entire building is wheelchair accessible, with ramps and travelators serving all levels. A key highlight of the new SSC is its 15,000 sqft rooftop "Splash Park", a dedicated water play area with interactive features to provide entertainment and amusement for children. The mall is anchored by the Giant hypermart. Popular stores include Daiso, Challenger, Popular bookstore, World of Sports, Bata, and Esprit. F&B outlets in the mall include Ajisen, Fish&Co, New York New York, and Starbucks.

Sembawang Shopping Centre
604 Sembawang Road, Singapore 758459
Tel: 6757 8000
Open daily 10am-10pm

Free shuttle bus service
To and from Khatib, Yishun, and Sembawang MRT (9.30am to 10pm daily)

Nature Appreciation Walk

Date: Every 2nd Saturday of the month
Time: 8.30 - 10.30am
Venue: Admiralty Park, amphitheatre

Experience the nature area filled with rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. Appreciate the beauty of the river at different water levels. Venture through both the secondary Rain-forest and the mangrove forest, and seize the opportunity to observe the various plants and animals.

To register, please email Dorothy at dorothy_lim@nparks.gov.sg

HortPark

HortPark aims to provide visitors with recreational, educational, research, and retail activities under one roof. It is equiped with various facilities and amenities to support its role as a gardening hub as well as for recreation and leisure.

This 23 hectare regional park in south-west Singapore is also a park connector connecting Telok Blangah Hill Park to Kent Ridge Park.

Location:

33 Hyderabad Road (off Alexandra Road)
Singapore 119578

Tel: 6471 5601

Getting to Know MacRitchie

MacRitchie Cafeteria, 2nd Saturday of every month, 9am

Embark on this “Earth & Water” walk, suitable for young children, to understand why forests are so amazing and their relationship with our most essential necessity – water. Meet at the MacRitchie cafeteria at 8.55am.

2009 dates: 10 Jan, 14 Feb, 14 Mar, 11 Apr, 9 May, 13 Jun, 11 Jul, 8 Aug, 9 Sep, 10 Oct, 14 Nov, 12 Dec

Up Close & Personal @Peirce

Lower Peirce Trail, 1st Saturday of every month, 9.30am

The walk is along the boardwalk and is suitable for young children. The guide will introduce you to the common flora and fauna found in our secondary forest. Meet at the Casuarina Entrance of the trail along Old Upper Thomson Road, which is a 2 minutes walk from Casuarina Road, at 9.25am.

2009 dates: 3 Jan. 7 Feb, 7 Mar, 4 Apr, 2 May, 6 Jun, 4 Jul, 1 Aug, 5 Sep, 3 Oct, 7 Nov, 5 Dec

Walk in an Ancient Forest

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

3rd Saturday of every month, 9.30am

Along a slightly undulating nature path, the walk is suitable for children aged 9 and above. The guide will introduce you to the forest structure and flora and fauna of our only substantial patch of primary forest. Meet in front of the ranger counter at the visitor centre at 9.25am.

2009 dates: 17 Jan, 21 Feb, 21 Mar, 18 Apr, 16 May, 20 Jun, 18 Jul, 15 Aug, 19 Sep, 17 Oct, 21 Nov, 19 Dec

Botanical Wonders of MacRitchie

Prunus Trail (MacRitchie Reservoir)

2nd Saturday of every month, 9.30am

The walk is along a boardwalk that hugs the MacRitchie Reservoir and is suitable for young children. The guide will introduce you to the flora and fauna of our mature secondary forest. Meet at the entrance of Prunus Trail (50m after the canoe kiosk in the eastern side of the reservoir park) at 9.25am.

Playground @ Big Splash

Playground at Big Splash is the place for all kinds of fun and exciting activities. Previously known as Big Splash, this once-popular water theme park is now redesigned and rebranded with a new “play” theme that caters to not just the young and sporty, but the entire family!

Visitors to Playground @ Big Splash will enjoy the diverse range of wine and dine outlets available that includes: Seafood International Market and Restaurant, The Vista Bistro, Starbucks, KFC, Indian Times, 1 TwentySix, Mingles, Old Town White Coffee, Seafood Man, Sushi Tei and Carl’s Jr.

Kids will love the activities offered at LilliPutt and Chiltern House. They can get their adrenaline pumping at Urban Inline- an inline skating school, they can soup up their two-wheelers at T3 Bicycle Gears, or they could take off down the East Coast on their Kangoo Jumps from the Kangoo Jumps Concept Store.

NEWater Visitor Centre

Come and visit the newly upgraded NEWater Visitor Centre and be immersed in a world of water and especially NEWater. Come and be edutained! You will be edutained by multimedia presentations and hands-on interactive games. At the end of the experience, you will have a comprehensive knowledge of a wide range of water-related topics and especially on NEWater and its uses. You will also get to see a NEWater factory that is incorporated in the NEWater Visitor Centre. You will be able to witness at first hand the operation of advanced membrane and ultraviolet technologies in the production of NEWater.

Getting there
There are shuttle services provided from Tanah Merah MRT Station to the Visitor Centre. The pickup times for the shuttle buses are at 8,45am, 10,30am, 12.15pm, 2pm, and 3.45pm.

Public buses: 12, 24, 31, 38.

By car/taxi: take PIE Exit 4A or ECP Exit 2B.