If you are looking for something fun to do with the kids, why don’t you go on down to Ikea?

No la…I am not talking about the Cafe, and Yes…I do know that its a favourite hangout for couples and families…but how about getting the kids to help you set up some furniture! Yes! U can actually get the kids involved as well!  

 

Recently, at the invitation of Ikea Singapore, we had the chance to set up some new furniture for Grandma. The best thing about the project, was that it was going to be a family effort, and the kids were going to help Grandma make some side-tables for her house.

With this objective in mind, we trooped on down to Ikea at Tampines. Frankly, at the mention of IKEA, the kids did not put up  much of a protest!  They love going to the playground at IKEA, and they are always hungry. Do u have the same problem with your children?!?

Well, to cut the chase, we decided on a pair of side-tables called “HOL”! Check out the picture below to see what the finished product should look like. 

I have never really got the kids to help with the assembly of furniture before, and my initial plan was for the kids to just help out with the little bits and pieces. But it seems that the kids really loved their practical “Fix-It” lesson and helping Daddy out at home!  For them, it was like “Bob the Builder” coming to life and they wanted to be involved in everything!

Being the boy, Nathan loved making Jig Saw puzzles and watching “Bob the Builder”, and it was to no surprise, that he  really put his little muscles into the project!

With supervision from Daddy, all 3 kids got involved in putting in the final touches to the side-table as well.

I taught the kids how to use the Allen Key, and all of them took  turns at turning the Allen key and seeing their Master-piece come together.  In fact, they liked it so much, that Daddy had to  make sure that everyone had an equal chance! (That is Daddy’s Politically Correct way of saying, that they fought for their turns…)

And within an hour…Our Side-table was ready for Grandma!

Personally, I thought that it was really quite a fun thing to do with the kids.  Previously, the kids got to bake cookies, and bread with Mummy, and this time round, it was time for some Macho Man stuff with Daddy! So I thought that it was a good balance in terms of exposure for the kids!   Looks like I will definitely get the kids involved again, when I next purchase some furniture from IKEA.

In closing, thanks so much to Ikea for sponsoring the project and making it possible. We all had great fun!

Looking for places to bring your kids during the March Holidays?

Well, besides the light display at Marina Bay, you can check out the Science Centre during the day.

They have a new permanent exhibition called “Untamed Earth” which aims to show how natural disasters are created and their affects on our daily lives.

From the onset, you can walk into the centre of the earth as you uncover the secrets within the depths of the earth.

The journey does not stop there, as you get to experience a wind simulator, which makes you feel that u are in the middle of a cyclone.

With headphones supplied by the Science Centre, you get to walk into a chamber and feel the simulated wind in the eye of a tornado. The kids were a bit apprehensive as they heard the noise, and in the end, Daddy had to go into the chamber to be the model!  

Picture the earth thousands of years ago, as one gigantic land mass. And with natural phenomenons like earthquakes,the land masses become separated. Nathan saw it as a fun jigsaw puzzle, as he tried putting the pieces together.

Another interesting exhibit is the simulator which aims to show what happens in the home of a resident as he faces an earthquake.  Check out the dining room light swaying to-and-fro in the picture below.

Overall, it was a interesting exhibit, and for the wind and the earthquake simulator were the highlights.

I definitely left the science centre equipped less ignorant about mother earth.

The school holidays is here, and if you are looking for some scenic activities for the kids, you have got to head down to Marina Bay.

Yes! The i Light festival will be starting Today at Marina Bay and it will be running from the 9 March to 1 April 2012.

Organized by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the festival is Asia’s first and only sustainable light Art Festival, showcasing more than 30 innovative and environmentally sustainable light installations. The Artists come from  17 different countries, and this light show is one that is Environmentally friendly  

A key objective of i Light Marina Bay 2012 is to advocate environmentally-responsible behaviour and promote the Bay as a culturally vibrant and sustainable urban waterfront precinct. With much of the bay lights coordinated to bring out the effects of each installation, the bay was definitely transformed!

Here is a sneak peek of what you can expect at the festival. Pictures were taken with a Lumix GF3, a mirror-less compact camera, which is the official camera for the Marina Bay Bloggers.

Entitled “Key Frames” and conceived by a group of French designers, this installation  tells a story of human movement through light animation. As lights are coordinated in sequence, the stick men tell a story.

Parmenides I is a large scale geometric sculpture incorporating 360º projection mapped video. The work has been previously exhibited at the New Museum’s New Ideas for the New City Festival in New York. This sphere is a hypnotic 3D projection of swirling abstract patterns that present an amazing sense of movement, colour and form.

The Art Science Museum has also been transformed into a backdrop for an 8 minute animated feature. Using light and a variety sound effects, the Art Science Museum (Called the Mangosteen by my friends as it is next to the “Durian-like” Esplanade), the light display looks really impressive against the Marina Backdrop.

If these sneak pictures are enough to whet your appetite and you intend to bring your family down, here is a map to help you move around the Marina Area.

 

Free Guided tours are available from Friday to Sunday (Registration required) and you can even hop onto the boat taxis to get a better view of the lights ($4 per pax)

For a full listing of the events at the Bay, do check out this link

Recently, we were invited by the organizers to the Singapore Air Show. I can vaguely remember going to  a “Open house by the Singapore Air Force” when I was much younger, but otherwise, it has been ages since I last went to an Air Show.

When I told the N2 and N3 about going to the Air Show,they were naturally excited. However, Daddy was a bit apprehensive…Could they handle the Jet Engines,when the aeroplanes had their after burners on?!?

Well…this was them when the show started…

And they remained pretty much in the same position for a good half an hour

And if you are thinking about bringing the kids to the Air Show, you can be rest assured that you will not be alone. There were tons of other parents there with their kids too.

Did the kids enjoy the show?

Well, let’s just say that it was a hot day, and after a while, Coke was more entertaining for them  

But it was certainly an eye opener for the kids, as they got to see the aeroplanes and missiles really close up. Will upload some of those pictures soon!  

Btw, if you are thinking about going to the Air Show, do use public transport, as the crowds there are really out of this world!

Parents are always on the lookout for new recreation areas, and the good news is that Punggol has a new mini water feature for kids.

My Waterway @ Punggol features Singapore’s longest man-made waterway at 4.2 kilometre-long and has five bridges. Created out of barren land, it connects Punggol Reservoir to Serangoon Reservoir and is created out of barren land.

Located at the far end of Punggol, this Water Feature which does not have any entrance fee was a Big “Hit” with the kids.

The Water Course is quite simple, with a few water canons sporadically placed. Although there are no water slides or buckets, the place is still great fun for the kids, who just basically love to play with water.

The place maybe simple but its great fun for the kids. If you are looking for the place, drive towards the new Watertown Condo, and you will see it near the river.