This week we are going to the far west of Singapore.
Play@SG: 60 Jurong West Ctrl 3
Where
Beside Frontier CC or Jurong West Public Library
Nearest MRT: Boon Lay
Fun Factors
This entire playground uses rope as it’s main feature. There are no slides but pure climbing structures that help the kids in balancing, gross motor skills and spatial awareness.
There are structures that allow the kids to climb to the top, or structures that allow them to cross horizontally to the other side.
The boy enjoys the rope ladders and swinging on the horizontal structures.
Apart from my boy, I have seen a lot of other kids who enjoyed “swinging” on the ropes.
Crowd
We were there on a Saturday late afternoon. The place was slightly crowded with about 10+ kids playing. However a group left and there were only 4-5 kids left. And around 15 minutes later, the crowd started to build up again. Hence I will say this playground is pretty crowded on weekends with occasional thinning.
As the playground is meant for older kids, it meant that it can get a little rowdy as the older kids are very likely unaccompanied by adults. Kids being kids, you know how they behave when they think no one is watching.
Cleanliness
As the playground is make up mainly of ropes, it appears rather clean and well maintained. I will give it 4 out of 5.
Age Group
I would say this playground is for older kids. Maybe around 4 years and above. We brought Zai here when he was younger but all he could do was the horizontal crossing ropes and swinging. But now that he is 4 months shy of 4 years old, he is able to conquer most of the structures with some help from us.
I would also highly recommend all parents of the younger kids to stay near them when they play.
While There
This playground is just right at the front of Jurong West public library. So the entire family can visit the library before or after play.
Jurong Point shopping mall is just across the road from the playground. You will be spoilt with food choices as there are 4 foodcourts within the mall!
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Hope you have enjoyed the series thus far and found it useful. Do feel free to leave me a comment.
From this post onwards, I will include what to do in the vicinity near the playground so as to make the series more family friendly. The adults can do things there while the kids will be rewarded with a trip to the playground after that. Hope that will be more useful to you.
Fun Factors
This is a neighborhood playground so it has the usual stuff we see around. The slides being most common. Climbing structure is also at most playground. For this, they had a metal chain to help the kids along (See demo by Zai below).
Up and Up I go!
Do you know that kids need to learn to estimate spaces? This structure will help promote the kids spatial awareness and of course gross motor skills.
Spatial awareness is an important skill.
Something not commonly found in neighborhood playground, a periscope.
Periscope to look beyond the playground.
Crowd
We were there on a weekend morning after breakfast. There was only 1 kid playing there. However, about 15 mins later, the playground became more crowded. There were about 15 kids playing there. Mainly young toddlers with parents guiding them.
Cleanliness
I will say it’s rather decent. The kids feet were definitely black after play since it’s outdoor and in a neighborhood. But we didn’t find rubbish or ants crawling around. So for a neighborhood outdoor playground I will give it a 3.5 star out of 5 for cleanliness.
Age Group
Neighborhood playground usually have something for everyone. The older kids gets the climbing structure, the younger ones have slides and rockers.
Rock along with me!
While there
Do try out the food at Redhill market. I love their congee, but it’s usually sold out by 8+am. If you are there in the afternoon, check out the fried “tau kwa” store. Traditional hawker fare not is not easily found now.
While the kids play, maybe one of the parent can sneak to the wet market to do some marketing. That’s what happened to us, but it was the grandma who was doing the marketing. 🙂
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Hope you have enjoyed the series thus far, do feel free to drop me a comment.
There are actually 3 play areas in the IMM “roof top” play area. This post is dedicated to the tree-like play structure that is found to the left of the building.
Play@SG: IMM Treetop Slide
Where
IMM 3rd Floor Open Area.
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (Free Shuttle from JCube)
2 Jurong East Street 21 Singapore 609601
Fun Factors
As you can see from the above photo, the structure is quite tall. My guess is about 1.5 floors tall. There are two slides, one at the top and one somewhat in the middle.
The boy trying to get to the top of the slide, with Chubby helping him out.
To get to the top of the slide, the kids will need to climb up the ladder inside the tree. And soon they will be at the top of the “world”.
At the top of the slide. I like how there are railings to let the kids look out but yet safe enough that they won’t fall over.
Although the slide is tall, the “sad” thing is it’s not really that smooth. So the kids won’t really be sliding down at a high speed. Safety yes, but kills a little fun.
If you are afraid of letting your kids play at the structure alone, you can join them. Chubby did a stress test on the slide and it was still going strong.
Chubby coming down the slide after the boy. Apart from some bump on the head, both Chubby and the slide is fine.
Apart from the slides, there are some “fruits” that let the kids climb on.
Fruits structure just beside the “tree-top” slide
Crowd
The first time we were there it was a weekend, the slide was rather crowded. There were older kids that attempt to climb up the slide via the slide itself. Some attempt to climb on top of the slide.
We went back again on a week day for short while. The place was so much quieter. There were only 2 other kids playing there.
Hence if your kids don’t like crowd, choose a weekday. It’s much better.
Cleanliness
The place looks rather well maintain. The floor is “carpeted grass” and our feet wasn’t black after the play. I guess asking the kids to take off their shoes outside the playground helps.
Age Group
Although the signage says it’s meant for kids 5 years and above, our 3.5 year old did fine. But I must say he had rather good gross motor skill for his age. Climbing of ladder is not an issue for him. And like I mention above, the slide wasn’t that fast. Hence I believe kids above 3 should do fine, just watch out for the part where they get up the slide.
Outdoor playground play time is all that need to make a kid happy. Best of all, it’s free!
If you have any comments for me, or want more information about the playground, please leave me a comment. I will try to reply where possible. If not, please join me next week again for more free play in Singapore!
This is the first post of the series. Initially I wanted to post about a “real” playground but decide to let this post “cut queue” as this play area that I’m about to introduce is a temporary setup for Christmas.
We can ride a motorbike!
Where
This play area is located at the atrium of Square 2 (Novena). This building is link to the Novena medical suites and the MRT.
Fun Factors
They have a few big size animals and bike (as seen in the above pic) setup at the atrium. We placed the kids a few times on the bike but was never chased down by the staff. So I assume they do allow the kids to “ride” on it. There is also a lion structure which I saw a parent put their kids on. But my kids preferred the bike, so no pics of the lion *opps*.
Legos, Legos and more Legos!
At the center area, you see a few large boxes of Lego Duplo setup for the kids to play. They also had some animal with some Lego base on their body for the kids to put the Lego on (See pic of Zebra). The girl (2 y.o) had some fun putting up the duplos, which is kind of surprising as she doesn’t really play her Duplos at home.
For the older kids, there are tables with Lego base set in the atrium for them to build. If you have been to Legoland, you will be quite familiar with the tables.
Crowd
I went twice on two different weekends, the place was slightly crowded with like 5-6 kids at each box or table. However, there was still enough Legos and Duplos to go around.
Cleanliness
I seriously don’t know if they clean the blocks at the end of each day. For the short period that I was there, I didn’t see them do any form of cleaning. Hence, if your kid have a tendency to put things in their mouth, I will suggest not to let them play there. And as with any play area, sanitize their hands after play. For a free play area we don’t expect too much.
Age Group
With the availability of both Duplo and Lego, I will think age 2 years and up will be able to have some small fun there. Daddies and Mummies can visit the small Lego hut to see a small town build with Lego while waiting for the kids.
Zai: MeiMei hold tight! We are zooming to the next playground. See ya guys around. *Zoom zoom*
That’s all for the first post of Play @ SG! Do leave a comment if you have visited the place and let me know how you find it there. Till the next post, have fun!
Starting from December, I’m starting a new series called Play @ SG. It’s a series whereby I will review the free playground found in Singapore. It may be indoor, it may be outdoor. It may be at shopping mall or just some neighborhood. The idea is just free and good play for the kids.
I know of the side effects of TV and electronic gadgets on kids. However, I can’t help but need this electronic baby sitters. So to reduce their screen time, I wish to bring them outdoor. The best bet is playground for my two toddlers. And I also realize that our little country has no lack of such facilities. This is why I started this series.
Hopefully with the series I force myself to bring the kids out to explore more and readers of the blog will also find the information useful!
PS: I will categorize post in this series by the nearest MRT station I know of. Hopefully it will make it easier for you. 🙂
PPS (for Chubby): You know what this means right? 😛
A few weeks back Zai was caught hitting his MeiMei. This is not new and time and again he will hit his MeiMei. We have always attributed him getting excited after playing. Until that day we told him to apologise but he was quite adamant. Chubby brought him to the naughty corner and talked to him.
Subsequently I heard from Chubby that during their “talk” the boy claim that he doesn’t like MeiMei. He feels that MeiMei has taken away Mummy from him. MeiMei always want Mummy. That is the reason why he hit her. Upon hearing this, my heart aches.
The boy is into changing lyrics for a period of time. I remembered him changing the lyrics for a song to “MeiMei always call MiMi. Or MeiMei always want MiMi”. I should have picked up these little clues but I didn’t. I thought he was just trying to be “funny” and is trying out his lyrics changing “skills”.
I feel that I should have handled the time between them better. When Loi was young, I was feel that I didn’t spend enough time with her as Zai was at a stage where he requires lots of our attention. I attributed her finger sucking to the lack of security as we didn’t spend enough time with her. Now that she reach the toddler stage that requires lots of attention, I always give her my attention as a form of “repaying” the time we lost when she was younger and left the boy very much to Chubby. As a result, the boy felt that Mummy didn’t have time for him.
I’m actually quite lost as to how I should try to balance the time between. The best I can do is to make a conscious effort every weekday night to split my time equally among them. Like after spending an hour with the girl, I will spend the next hour to read or play with the boy. However, as the girl still need me to sleep with her, I still have to leave the boy with his dad or grandma. I hope such an arrangement will make him feel better and reduces his rivalry on MeiMei.
On the other hand, I feel that the boy still somehow love his sister. When his MaaMaa asked him if we can give his MeiMei away, he will always say no and will try to “protect” MeiMei. Like in this photo, he also automatically went to put his hand around MeiMei shoulder.
Brotherly Love
I hope I can reduce such rivalry as soon as possible. And they can soon enjoy each other company.
If you have any idea how I could better manage the situation, please share it with me by posting a comment. Thanks!
Notice the title difference? The girl who is picking up in her vocab is joining us in the talkative series! Here is what we have for September.
The talkative kids…
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We were going out one day. And I was the last to enter the lift as I need to lock the door. We always like to play a game where we pretend we couldn’t see one of the kids as they are blocked by adult.
Me: Where is my baby?
Loi: No… Baby! Xi!
The girl is trying to tell me she is no longer a baby and is using her name. But she only manage to pronounce the 2nd word, which is “Xi”. She can now identify herself as “Loi Loi” and her name. My baby has really grown.
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You know how they always say kids always mirror how their parents talk and behave. Well, below are two good examples.
Daddy: Zai… Go Bathe..
Zai: No.. *!@#$$%^* (talking about some irrelevant things)
Daddy: *laughs at the boy for trying hard to avoid going to bathe* Go bathe now…
Zai: *in a serious tone* It is not funny…
Chubby was a little taken aback by the boy reaction, but we both feel that is “so Chubby”. There were times where the boy will fool around and Daddy will tell the boy off by saying “It is not funny”.
Another incident happened one morning, I was about to leave for work, the girl had just finish her milk and was walking out of the bedroom with her milk bottle in hand.
Loi: DeeDee… watch… Cess (Daddy, I want to watch Princess Sofia).
Chubby turned on the TV for her and the girl proceed to pass her milk bottle to Chubby. Before Chubby could reply..
Zai: *in a serious tone* DeeDee is not the basin.
When we both heard it, we were again caught by surprise. But it is also the kind of reply that Chubby will give. The son did it before the Dad could do anything. Looks like Chubby had rub off quite a bit of his style on the boy!
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It is common for us to go to the supermarket on weekday morning after dinner. We usually bring the kids along and treat is as a form of bonding. This particular night the boy was playing with his magnetic puzzle in the living room.
Zai: MeeMee.. nobody wants to be the student. (He always act as the teacher with the white board and puzzle).
Me: Ok, MeeMee be the student. But I need to go NTUC. You want to come along with me first?
Zai: But.. But… But.. I need to stay at home to protect my sister.
Me: Protect your MeiMei?
Zai: Yes. Later you all go out, nobody at home to protect her…
Oh… so sweet of the boy… But we all know actually he just want to stay behind and play with his puzzle. He was probably tired that day, as he usually love to join us in our grocery shopping.
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This incident was related to me by Chubby. Chubby is usually the one who send the boy to school since his childcare is at Chubby’s office. On days when Chubby need to go to work early or have meeting outside, my Dad (Zai’s Gong Gong) will send the boy to school. The boy doesn’t like Gong Gong to send him as Gong Gong is fierce and he is scared of him. So he usually will kick up a fuss when he knows that Gong Gong is sending him to school. So that day Chubby had to reach work early, so the night before he told the boy…
Daddy: Zai… Tomorrow Gong Gong will send you to school because Daddy need to reach office early to work.
(Chubby was expecting the boy to whine and say no. That he loves Daddy and wants Daddy to send him to school.)
Zai: Ok Daddy. You must work and earn a lot of money Ok.
Daddy: *shock* Ok
Zai: And you must give me all the gold one. I don’t like the silver one.
(His referring to the $1 gold coin and 50 cents silver coin.)
We are teaching the boy concept of money. About how Daddy and Mummy have to work to buy him his nuggets and how much his nuggets will cost him. The boy has grown up and is more understanding now. We are happy but at the same time feel that time has moved so fast, we are just catching on the last bit of his “cute toddler-hood” before he moves on to be an independent boy.
On a similar note, there was a day where the boy asked for money to buy his nuggets. Chubby passed him a $2 bill told him he is lending him the money, so he has to return. Guess what the boy did when Chubby asked him for the money? He pulled one side of his clothes down so it shows off his shoulder and tells him that is his way of returning. We both can’t stop laughing but on a serious note, we need to be careful what the boy is watching when his grandma is watching her dramas and sitcoms.
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Zai: MeeMee, the Kuey Buluh tickler (tickle) my tongue.
I was too caught up with work that I didn’t manage to post this in time last week. Anyway, here is the latest installment of our Talkative Boy.
“MeiMei push me!”
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Dad: Zai, come here and drink your medicine. Son: No! (Continues playing) Dad: Come here and drink. Son: No! Dad: Son, how does you like it when Daddy keeps telling you No? Like when you ask “Can I have your phone” and I say “No!”? (Continues to nag at the same point for a while) Son: (Drinks his medicine)
Dad thought he won…
A few days later, just before bed… Son: (Chanting to himself) Cannot say No. Can only say don’t want…. Cannot say No. Can only say don’t want…
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The son was getting lazy at walking and keeps wanting to be carried by his dad. He has come out with different reasons to be carried. One day, it was this… Son: Daddy, carry… Dad: Why? You have legs right? Son: I’m very tired. I want to sleep. Dad: Oh… You are tired. So when we reach home you will go to bed immediately and not play with your toys or watch TV? Son: I’m tired. I want to sleep.
Dad nags a little and started carrying the boy. The boy pretends to sleep by shutting his eyes.
When we reach home… Son: (Open eyes automatically and exclaim loudly) Oh.. I wake up already!
We were still thinking how he would try to wriggle his way through when we reach home, as we know he wouldn’t go directly to bed. We were very surprise that he actually thought of that. However, we still give him a good piece of our mind since that is outright lying. I was happy that he understood and stopped all those nonsense the next day. He promptly told his Dad that he wants to be carried instead of coming out with all the different excuses. Though a small part of me will miss to see his different excuses and reaction, but we should nip out bad behaviors early.
A few days back when I was in the car on our way home, we pass by Queenstown and I saw a banner stating that Queenstown is celebrating its 60th year anniversary. And because of that, they have some celebration going on.
If you do not know, Queenstown is the first satellite town in Singapore. And at the heart of Queenstown, is the Queenstown bowling center, the hawker center and a small shopping belt which use to house Emporium.
I have an affinity with Queenstown, cause my parents started their family there in a one bed room rental flat. The address on my siblings BC is an address in Queenstown. I heard from my Mum that she and my dad use to go on dates at the bowling center. They even brought my Bro along when he was just a baby. We subsequently move to Clementi after I was born as they needed a bigger space. However, my Mum still bring us back to Queenstown very often. Our typical weekend starts with a lunch at the hawker center follow by a visit to the Queenstown Public Library. My secondary was also around the area, so I visited the Queenstown area very often too. Especially when I need to visit the library to do my projects.
I have so many fond memories build in that area.
Unfortunately, just as Queenstown was celebrating its 60th Anniversary, the charm of the Queenstown that I knew was gone. The hawker center was pulled down and the demolition work for the bowling center also started back in June 2013. What is left of my memories are just rubble. What an irony.
I remember a few years back, I went to a seminar by HDB. They were still sharing that they will preserve the Bowling Center but revamped it and build HDB flats around it. But it seems like the piece of land was too precious that it was eventually sold to some private developer.
As we make way for advancement, are there ways to preserve our childhood memories? I hope not only in the form of photos or archive. Something more real? Or I’m just getting old and standing in the way of “advancement”?
The Little Mom 