Australia
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Singapore5 Fun & Educational Places to Visit With The Kids These School Holidays
Author: Jane Robinson
The school holidays can be a little hectic with the kids running around your feet, complaining of boredom, or worse still becoming addicted to their console games or technology based entertainment.
But take the time to look around and you will find so many exciting attractions right on your doorstep to entertain the kids. I have put together a list of fun but subtly educational activity idea’s that will not only help keep the kids amused but also keep their brains active as well.
1. MUSEUMS
What child doesn’t love the museum? Museums make learning fun and it’s a great way to interact with your child and to introduce them to things they may have never seen before.
Most museums have child-friendly school holiday activities on offer, from interactive displays, activity tables and play areas to movie rooms. There is always something new to learn or discover, which will spark your kids curiosity, creativity and imagination.
Kids have a natural curiosity for science and the world around them, so museums are the perfect environment for nurturing quality learning in your child, whilst also keeping it fun and exciting.
Discover your own local museum or better still visit your nearest capital city. Many put a lot of effort into engaging enquiring young minds and you never know, parents might learn something new too!
2. NATIONAL PARKS
Taking a trip to explore a national park with the kids will be sure to entertain them and pull them away from the allure of technology.
In today’s world more than ever, our children can benefit greatly from having contact with nature. Getting amongst the great outdoors, and breathing in the fresh air will be just what the doctor ordered.
Most national parks, especially over the school holidays have guided tours to really get a feel for the area and its heritage. Children love learning about the native wildlife and listening or reading stories of the past, so you can be sure to teach them something new about their own backyard.
Australia has over 500 national parks, so you are bound to find one somewhere close by. With breathtaking scenery and enriched history there is always something to discover and learn.
3. ART GALLERIES
Children naturally love art, drawing, painting, creating and designing. It’s all a part of them communicating their feelings without words and can be an original expression of who they are.
Children at different ages can learn to appreciate art in all its forms, art can widen their outlook and curiosity about the world we live in. Whether your child is an upcoming artistic or just likes to look at pictures or paintings, a trip to the local art gallery can be both fun and educational.
Exposure to the arts is an important way to foster creativity in all children. Even if your child has a learning difficulty or physical challenges, art can provide a way for them to feel confident and foster their capacity to excel in different ways.
Art galleries can take children on a journey to another world. It not only sparks a creative side but also gives a child time to reflect and connect. Art is a great way of sharing conversations with family and expressing different feelings and thoughts.
4. OBSERVATORIES AND ASTRONOMY
Observatories and planetariums are an exciting and informative day out for kids and adults alike. We all love looking up into the sky on a dark starry night, so what better way to learn about and observe the mysteries of space.
Observatories are a great way to study the universe around us and to understand how stars and galaxies form in different parts of their life cycles. Observatories can be a fabulous learning exercise for kids, a large observatory can warn us of solar flares or even look for unknown asteroids.
Our solar system is an exciting place regardless of your age, we are naturally inquisitive about planets, stars, constellations and comets? Exploring the universe can be entertaining for everyone in the family.
If you don’t live close to an observatory or planetarium just throw out a picnic rug, look up into the night sky and take it all in! If you're no expert when it comes to naming all the constellations there are some cool apps for phones and tablets that allow you to simply point your device at the sky and identify stars, constellations, satellites and more.
5. ZOO’S AND AQUARIUMS
There is nothing quite as rewarding as seeing your child’s eyes light up in a moment of fascination and excitement. Animals are a constant source of wonder for children and most kids have a natural curiosity of what role animals play in the world we share.
Along with the shared excitement of visiting a zoo or aquarium with your child and witnessing different animals for the first time, there are many incredible learning opportunities that can be experienced along the way. Whilst exploring the life of animals children will develop valuable knowledge and skills with exposure to many new ideas and concepts along the way.
Most zoo’s and aquariums offer special educational events and school holiday activities that encourage fun hands-on learning like touching and feeding the animals. This type of learning is great at allowing kids to really engage themselves and absorb the experience.
A visit to the zoo or aquarium is a great way to spend time as a family and is the perfect chance to develop bonding and special family relationships. Not to mention a big day of exercise and fresh air, guaranteed to wear the kids out at the end of the day. Win, win!
