KidsSTOP: New Oceans’ Buddies Exhibit

Been to KidsSTOP lately, mama? One mama checks out their newest exhibition and has a swimmingly good time…

KidsSTOP at the Childrens’ Science Centre in Jurong is probably one of our all-round favourite kids’ indoor play centres in Singapore. It scores big for kids because there are so many different areas to play in – from uncovering dinosaur fossils in the palaeontology sand pit to donning pilot jackets and pretend-flying the airplane, to doing a bit of karaoke. It scores big for mamas (and papas) because there are no queues for exhibits (hurrah!), and no consoling teary kids because they didn’t ‘get a go’ (a common scene at Kidzania). And also it won’t break the bank — although accompanying parents do have to pay, too (a little peeve we have in general) but the financial blow is softened a bit with membership discounts and if you are Singaporean or PR tickets are 75% cheaper.

Read more: Best Indoor Activities in Singapore for Babies, Toddlers & Kids, The Dos and Don’ts of Play Dates in Singapore, Indoor Play on Orchard Road: Sassy Mama visits the new Little Planet Playland

New Exhibit

Officially opened 12 May, 2016, Oceans’ Buddies is a new marine conservation project exhibit at KidsSTOP. One small corner of KidSTOP is set up for the exhibit, which consists of a colourful digital ‘aquarium’ projected onto the wall. Kids can sit down at little tables and colour in pre-drawn sea creature pictures – an eel or octopus, then their sea creature is scanned into a special computer programme created by home-grown The I-One Group and voila! – onto the virtual aquarium swims your sea creature! Pretty neat. The same concept is seen at Mosh! although at KidsSTOP the sea creatures are in 3D. Before each new seating, educators give a little informal talk to kids about the importance of protecting our ocean and to “recycle, reduce and re-use”.

If it’s been a while since you’ve had an afternoon at KidsSTOP we highly recommend a visit. Our only concern is that one of our favourite exhibits – the construction site where kids get to manoeuvre balls with a crane –  is, ironically, under construction and has been for a while. Luckily there are plenty of other spots to keep your kiddos busy:

KidsSTOP Highlights:

• Paelaneoglogy Dig – uncover a T-Rex dinosaur fossil hidden under the sand
• Be a pilot in the cockpit
• 7-metre giant J slide (mamas and papas get a go too – 7 metres is higher than it sounds!)
• Oceans’ Buddies technology aquarium – colour your sea creature and set it free into the virtual ocean
• Grocery shopping area with cashier scanner and educational screen
• Suspended Climbing Area – climb all the way tot the secret music room in the roof!
• Karaoke room
• Human Body – try out the human systems technology zone
• Critters Room – for the baby chicks and creepy crawlies
• Blue Foam building blocks – great for littler ones

Need to Know:

• Socks are needed for some of the exhibits (parents too)
• Aimed at 18 months – 8 years (under 18 months free)
• Click here for prices. It is worth buying a membership and going a few times a year.
• Sessions are timed: 9.30am – 1.30pm and then 2-6pm (call ahead to check for day closures or huge school groups or check here)

KidsSTOP, 21 Jurong Town Hall (Beside Science Centre Singapore), Singapore 609233, www.science.edu.sg/visit-us/kidsstop