Jointly presented by the National Heritage Board (NHB) and the Museum Roundtable (MR), the annual Children's Season will run from 20 November 2021 to 31 December 2021.
This year-end school holidays, go on a hunt for Fantastic Critters at Singapore’s museums during Children’s Season 2021! The Festival aims to provide cultural and educational experiences that will educate and inspire both the young and their families on Singapore’s heritage.
Participants can expect to enjoy a range of family-friendly offerings of more than 90 exhibitions, programmes and activities by participating MR museums:
Collect Fantastic Critter Stickers at the Museums
Children’s Season 2021 features a host of Fantastic Critters inspired by Singapore’s diverse museums and their collections. NHB worked closely with Singaporean artist Candice Phang – also known as Puffingmuffin – who is known for her whimsical and colourful design style, to design these one-of-a-kind critters.
The 15 critters will be featured in a special Fantastic Critters Activity Booklet which includes activities based on participating museums’ collections and artefacts, for children to complete by visiting the museums.
By completing activities, children will be able to collect unique Fantastic Critter stickers representing each museum. These include a butterfly critter inspired by butterfly and flower motifs found on traditional Chinese clothing from the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial’s Hall special exhibition, a chicken critter based on the Malay Heritage Centre’s collection of ingots, and a colourful lighthouse to represent Singapore Maritime Gallery.
Upon collecting any 10 of the 15 available stickers, children and their families can scan a QR code in the booklet and redeem a specially-designed Fantastic Critters mask pack (1 x adult, 1 x child), while stocks last.
The Fantastic Critters Activity Booklet can be collected at any of the 15 participating museums from 24 Nov to 31 Dec 2021. Families can also choose to print out the softcopy activity booklet, which is available on NHB’s website, and bring the self-printed copies to the museums to collect the stickers.
A Diverse Range Of Family-Friendly Offerings
Beyond the Fantastic Critters Activity Booklet and related activities, museums island-wide will also be offering a slew of programmes under the Children’s Season 2021 umbrella from 20 Nov to 31 Dec 2021. Find the full list of programmes here, or read on to see our suggestions
Wan Qing CultureFest x Children’s Season 2021
Wan Qing Culturefest is Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall (SYSNMH)’s last signature event for the year and it celebrates Chinese arts, culture and heritage.
Visitors can expect an array of fun onsite programmes including dramatised storytelling, child-friendly craft activities, engaging workshops and an interactive heritage hunt. They can also take their pick from a number of self-guided activities. The fun and learning can also continue at home through our specially curated bilingual activity kit.
Fantastic Creatures @ACM – Children’s Season 2021
Venue: Onsite @Asian Civilisations Museum & Online
Date: 20 Nov to 31 Dec 2021
This Children’s Season, families can bring their little ones to ACM to embark on a quest to discover fantastic creatures and amazing animals in Asian art.
An exciting line-up of family-friendly activities await those young at heart, as they are presented with multisensory experiences, such as immersive storytelling, child-friendly workshops, and engaging craft activities, children can explore a world where creatures real and mythical roam to uncover a trove of Asian treasures.
ACM's school holiday programme line-up consists of both online and self-guided activities. So whether you’re at the museum or at home, pet ready to put on your explorer’s hat and seek out these fantastic creatures with us!
Here's what families can look forward to:
An Explorer’s Guide To Fantastic Creatures
Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum
Date: 20 Nov to 31 Dec 2021
Fee: Free Admission
Each child can take the lead during An Explorer’s Guide to Fantastic Creatures as this self-guided trail will take you on a search for fantastic creatures in the ACM galleries.
Pick up an activity trail booklet from our friendly visitor services staff at the Front Desk, then use it to discover animals and other interesting creatures in the museum. Learn more about the exquisitely crafted art objects they decorate as well. Show your completed trail booklet to our Front Desk staff to redeem a special DIY animal puzzle kit. While stocks last.
For those who prefer, a printable trail booklet is available on the ACM Website.
Recommended age: Ages 7 and up
Amazing Animals! DIY Puzzle Kits
Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum
Date: 20 Nov to 31 Dec 2021
Fee: Free Admission
Hone your problem-solving skills with the Amazing Animals! DIY puzzle kit. You’ll pet to assemble a 3D cardboard pencil holder of a rabbit or an elephant inspired by animal-related objects in the ACM collection.
The free puzzle kits can be picked up at the ACM Front Desk upon completion of the Fantastic Creatures trail activity booklet. While stocks last.
*The 3D rabbit puzzle will be available from 20 Nov to 11 Dec 2021, and the 3D elephant puzzle will be available for redemption from 12 to 31 Dec 2021. While stocks last.
Recommended age: Ages 7 and up
ACM’s Animal Performances: Children’s Drama Performances
Venue: Live on ACM Facebook
Date: 3 & 17 Dec 2021
Time: 2pm
Fee: Free Admission
Once home, families can tune in to ACM’s Facebook page to view interactive drama performances by Act3 International in ACM’s Animal Adventures as they tell stories on Asian mythical creatures and show how animals come to life.
Recommended age: Ages 5 to 10
Storytime With ACM: Animal Tales Of Asia
Photo Credits: Asian Civilisations Museum
Venue: Online on ACM Facebook
Date: 4 & 18 Dec 2021
Time: 10am
Fee: Free Admission
Travel around Asia and meet different animal characters —all from the comfort of your home. Tune in to ACM’s Facebook pape for a series of engaging Asian folktales presented by young storytellers from The Storytelling Centre Ltd.
Then, get creative at home and join them in a simple craft activity inspired by animal characters that you’ll meet in the stories!
Recommended age: Ages 5 to 10
Families can refer to the programme e-booklet that is also available on NHB’s website for more information on Children’s Season 2021, such as the participating museums and the full listing of holiday programmes for the young and young-at-heart. #ChildrensSeason2021 #MuseumRoundtable
Children’s Season 2021 at Indian Heritage Centre: Enchanting Forest
Photo Credits: National Heritage Board
Venue: Indian Heritage Centre
Date: 4 Dec 2021 to 2 Jan 2022
Time: Various times
Children’s Season returns to Indian Heritage Centre this December holidays with the theme Enchanting Forest! Pick up exciting craft activities that your young ones can try, sign up for a variety of fun workshops, storytelling sessions and more!
Here's what you and your little ones can look forward to:
Paper Flower Workshop
Venue: Activity Room (Level 2)
Date: 11 Dec 2021
Time: 2pm to 3pm
Fee: $8 per pax (Limited to 12 pax) | Register here
Get crafty in our paper flower workshop and create your own enchanting forest filled with a myriad of colourful paper flowers!
Workshop materials will be provided.
Recommended age: 7 years and above
Enchanted Stories – The Mischievous Monkeys
Venue: Indian Heritage Centre
Date: 18 Dec 2021
Time: 10.30am to 11am
Fee: Free | Register here
Enter the enchanted forest and meet a band of mischievous monkeys! Follow the journey of a hat seller who finds himself in trouble. Discover artefacts of mythological creatures within the gallery. Listen to our storyteller’s tale for a swinging good time as you join in the antics of the cheeky monkeys.
Recommended age: 5 years and above
Design Your Own Christmas Ornaments Workshop
Venue: Indian Heritage Centre, Activity Room (Level 2)
Date: 18 Dec 2021
Time: 11am to 12pm
Fee: $10 per pax (Limited to 12 pax) | Register here
Christmas is around the corner! Unleash your creativity at our Christmas ornaments workshop and design your own ornament with vines and flowers. Snap a picture of your decorated ornament on your Christmas tree and tag us on social media!
Workshop materials will be provided.
Recommended age: 10 years and above
Take-Home Craft Activities
Venue: Indian Heritage Centre, Lobby
Date: 4 Dec 2021 to 2 Jan 2022
Time: Tue to Sat, 10am to 7pm | Sun, 10am to 4pm | Closed on Mon
- Madhubani Bookmark Craft Activity
Madhubani is an Indian-painting technique made of eye-catching geometric patterns. Add some colour to your books through our Madhubani bookmark templates featuring the Enchanting Forest creatures. Grab your bookmark templates at IHC and spot these animals in our galleries!
- Sock Monkey Puppet
Design your own sock monkey puppet and bring the animal to life in your stories! Hop by IHC to collect the instruction sheet to make your own sock monkey puppet!
- Lentils Craft
Create your own lion-shaped sensory craft object by using lentils or other ingredients you can find at home! Pick-up the template and spot the artefact featuring the lion in our permanent gallery.
- Pakhi Fan
Design your very own pakhi fan with an Enchanting Forest twist. Flaunt your decorated pakhi fan on social media and remember to tag us!
*Limited kits available, while stocks last.
Sikhs in Singapore Special Exhibition E-Resource
Date: 19 Nov 2021 to 2 Jan 2022
Calling all kids! Join Sarjit and Simran as they bring you on a tour of the ongoing Sikhs in Singapore special exhibition! Scan the QR code at IHC to access the e-resource for children (ages 7 and above). Present the completed e-resource page at the visitor services counter to redeem freebies*!
*While stocks last.
For more details, visit the IHC website.
Children’s Season at the National Museum 2021: Get Curious! Stories of You & Me
Venue: National Museum of Singapore
Date: Till 9 Jan 2022
Admission: Free, charges may apply for activities
From now to 9 Jan 2022, gear up for an exciting school holiday at the Children’s Season at the National Museum 2021: Get Curious! Stories of You & Me and explore our galleries and discover the exciting stories of the museum's artefacts. Titled “Stories of You & Me”, this edition of the festival also invites different generations within the family to exchange stories and experiences with each other!
Families can look forward to opportunities for bonding, fun and learning through “Our Home” and “Our School”, two interactive installations for the whole family to explore how home and school experiences have changed over the years. They will also explore the history of Amusement Parks in Singapore, including playing at one that has been set-up within the museum too!
