It’s the year end, and what better way to lift the spirits of your playful preschooler than by letting them out to play? Not to run wild, free and unsupervised, but with one loving eye placed on them, of course.

Here’s how you can keep the energiser bunnies happy while making sure you get enough of a parental peace of mind. Bring the brood to these 5 fun-filled events where the young ones – and also, you – can get happy, stay safe and maybe even learn a thing or two.

1. Baby Shark LIVE: The Hidden Treasure

Before you know it, it’s time for you and the whole family to go “Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo” again with some cutesy characters. Nope, not the two-note theme from Jaws, but the inescapable earworm-y tune from Pinkfong’s “Baby Shark”.

Yes, everyone’s favourite fishy fella from the deep blue ocean returns this December to our shores in a 75-minute live theatre show, along with Pinkfong the cheerful fox, Hogi the forest green hedgehog and all of the other aquatic friends and family (Mommy and Daddy Shark included).

In this show, the town of Reefville is seen welcoming the Shark Family, with Baby Shark, Pinkfong and Hogi teaming up to join in the town’s First Annual Treasure Hunt. To find the hidden treasure, the trio will have to solve riddles and head to a mysterious shipwreck, all the while, dancing and singing.

That means your kiddo and you will also get to join in the “seadventure” by twisting, hopping and warbling along, and learning about treasuring loved ones, too!

Baby Shark LIVE: The Hidden Treasure, 24 to 26 December 2021, at The Theatre at Mediacorp. Click here to get the full details and to book tickets.            

BONUS: SAFRA members get to enjoy 20% off all ticket categories for Baby Shark LIVE: The Hidden Treasure. Click here for more information.

2. Peppa Pig Happy Day Interactive Play

If you haven’t heard, the world of Peppa Pig has been brought to life in Singapore! Yes, scenes from the animated series starring the preschooler’s favourite superstar porcine and her pals are now recreated in real life for the enjoyment of all of her fans in this interactive event.

You and your little one get to visit a soft play area, as well as installations of countryside, garden and city scenes, featuring life-sized, three-dimensional character statues so everyone can get playful posing for pictures with them.

What’s more, there are plentiful themed interactive video projections that will engage the LOs into hopping into muddy puddles, racing in running competitions and watering plants in a garden.

The highlight? Everyone in the family pen gets to meet and greet Peppa Pig or George Pig in the characters’ living room set-up!

Peppa Pig Happy Day Interactive Play, 3 November 2021 to 13 February 2022, Marina Square Level 3, #03-208/209. Click here to get the full details and to book tickets.

BONUS: SAFRA members get to enjoy 10% off tickets for Peppa Pig Happy Day Interactive Play. Click here for more information.

3. Jumptopia: Holiday Village

Have active tykes with loads of extra energy? Then let them loose at this humongous activity park.

Organised by Kiztopia, this 6 week-long amusement affair takes place over a whopping 44,000 sq-foot area at Hall B of the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands. And, boyyy, are there lots for your little adventurer go wild over.

15 giant bouncy castles, with new, comprehensive play concepts such as mazes, swings, slides, obstacle courses, human-sized bubble balls and faux rock climbing.

Adventure courses and games such as Bell’s Bakery Shop, Tiger’s Olympic Range, Drago’s Adventure Land and Happy’s Fashion Maze.

Toddler-friendly mini ball pits and obstacle courses.

Phew. If you think reading this list is exhausting, imagine taking your powered-up ranger to the park – it’s going to be way more exhilarating!

Jumptopia: Holiday Village, 19 November 2021 to 2 January 2022, at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Hall B, Marina Bay Sands. Click here to get the full details and to book tickets. 

4. Pop-Up Disney! A Mickey Celebration

This one’s for the kids – and, also for you kidults. An all-encompassing exhibition-slash-immersive experience, featuring all things Mickey Mouse. As the legendary black and white (and red) cartoon icon would say, “that sure is swell!”

Brought in all the way from the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, this multimedia showcase is landing here for the first time in Asia, which means us peeps on the isle will be the numero unos in the region to view this awesome show.

Expect 7 different themed experiences such as “Forever Mickey” (imagine getting lost in an infinity of Mickey Mouse ear hats) and “Mickey & Minnie’s Love” (a room that promises some cosy fun).

The ones to look out for are “Mickey Loves Singapore”, a special made-for-SG installation, and the Pop-Up Disney! A Mickey Celebration store retailing exclusive Singapore-only and Singapore-inspired Mickey merchandise.

So this celebration’s is not only ultra Instagrammable, but also “buyable” and memorable!

Pop-Up Disney! A Mickey Celebration, 19 November 2021 to 20 March 2022, at Suntec Convention Centre. Click here to get the full details and to book tickets. 

5. CoComelon at CLOVE

All play and no food makes Jacks and Jills hangry brats. And, you really don’t need a crying mood-spoiler on a supposed fun outing.

The solution: Feed your little monster with love and yummy nom-noms at CLOVE, touted as Swissôtel The Stamford’s “all-day dining destination” that’s done up extra special as the world’s first CoComelon-themed restaurant for the year-end.

While it may not be your regular kiddie-event, it definitely will be an event for the moppet-aged fans of this popular YouTube animation series. And, it certainly qualifies as a “fun-fare” fiesta for foodies, too.

Here’s why: Tables converted into booths and school buses (so your petite passengers can dine and “ride” at the same time) and lots of themed colouring placemats, keyboard-design floor stickers, hanging mobiles, character standees, posters and a photo wall featuring all of the CoComelon stars against a backdrop of Singapore’s iconic spots.

Meaning your sprouts can play to their heart’s delight after their tum-tums are filled, and you can get many opportunities for that money shot for Instagram. Plus, a wide variety of balloons, merchandise and toys for you to buy as gifts for your tykes to bring more CoComelon-ish excitement back home.

And the biggest “why” – the too-cute-to-chomp chow. A sampler of the dishes: A colourful CoComelon Rubik Cube made with Trio Melon, tropical fruits, yoghurt and mint from the hotel’s Aquaponics farm; the TomTom Favourite Burger that has chewy Angus beef stuffed between brioche buns and served with French fries.

There’s also creative desserts such as The Ba-Nay-Nay (a banana, chocolate, yoghurt and biscoff smoothie) and Wheels on the Bus (created from Oreo, cream, milk and vanilla ice cream). Just you try not to steal off your bambino’s plate.

CoComelon at CLOVE (walk-in basis only), from 15 November 2021,

2 Stamford Road, Level 2, Swissôtel The Stamford, 178882, www.swissotel-singapore-stamford.com/restaurants-bars/cocomelonatclove; +65 6431 6156

Click here to get the full details. 

The post 5 Kid-friendly Activities Your Little One Will Love This Year-End appeared first on eNSMAN.

On your mark, get set… crawl! SAFRA’s cutest race returned with a big bang at the SAFRA Diaper Dash 2019. Held at SAFRA Punggol over the weekend of 7 and 8 Sep, the competition brought together young families with their cutest tots in tow to participate in the race to crown SAFRA’s fastest baby.

The families gathered early to prepare their toddlers, some as young as six months old, to race across a three-metre cushioned racetrack. The Diaper Dash kicked off with the Families for Life (FFL) Freestylers category that pit fast-crawling babies against each other.

The Freestylers races, which were held on 7 Sep, were for two age groups: babies between 13 and 15 months old, and those between 16 and 18 months old. Speedy toddlers were able to use various ways – ranging from tumbling, crawling, walking or running – to get to the finish line.

The other category, which was the FFL Super Crawlers held on 8 Sep, was for toddlers between six and nine months old as well as those from 10 to 12 months old. Unlike in the Freestylers category, babies are not allowed to walk in these two races – those who do so have to start again from their last crawl point.

In the midst of the crawling actions, many parents were seen spurring on their little ones. There were also plenty of cheers at the finish line where parents coaxed their babies with a multitude of treats and other objects such as whistles and toys.

Cash prizes were awarded to the three fastest babies in the respective categories. Consolation prizes – an $80 SAFRA rewards voucher – were also handed out, including the “Baby Ambassadors” awards for merit. No baby went home empty-handed: All participants received a finisher’s race medal as well as a race pack comprising a race guide, an event shirt, among other attractive sponsored items.

The Diaper Dash was held in conjunction with My Family Fiesta, which took place on 8 Sep at SAFRA Punggol. Some of the other events on the fun-filled day included aspiring kidz-preneurs, an amazing bazaar and other healthy sports activities.

Families For Life

There has been much discussion on helicopter parenting where parents become overprotective of their child. However, parents need to understand that children are able to work through challenges themselves. Learning to cope with difficult situations and developing resilience are core skills that their kids can pick up. These skills will not only help move them out of their comfort zones, but also lead them towards their long-term goals.

Here are some tips:

1. Let go of the reins

If you are a parent who jumps in on every challenge faced by your child, they will not learn how to manage problems on their own. Let your children learn and develop their own problem-solving skills at their own pace.

2. Have empathy

Emotions can run high when your kids encounter problems. What you can do as a parent is provide guidance to your children while listening to them with empathy and reassurance.

3. Look on the bright side

Optimism and resilience go hand in hand. Acknowledge the challenges faced by your kids. At the same time, guide by sharing with them a fresh, optimistic perspective to situations.

For more tips on spending family time, visit www.familiesforlife.sg.
Brought to you by the Families for Life Council.

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