Children's Season @National Museum of Singapore

Opening hours
Address

Join the National Museum of Singapore for this year’s Children’s Season, themed Get Curious!

All About the River. Explore how the Singapore River shaped the nation’s journey from bustling island settlement to global city through interactive installations, drop-in activities and hands-on workshops.

Designed for families with children ages 3 and above, visitors are invited to discover the river’s transformation over the years, celebrate Singapore’s river heritage, and share memories across generations!

The Museum is a proud partner of the National Family Festival 2026. Celebrate families with us this June, and strengthen the ties that bind – because Family Begins With Me.

Ticketed Programmes / Installations

Taste the Trade: A Pineapple Canning Heritage & Tart-making Intergenerational Workshop

30 May (Sat) & 6 Jun (Sat)
2pm – 3.30pm & 4pm – 5.30pm
The Salon, Level 1

SGD 40 per senior adult-child pair, inclusive of GST. Recommended for ages 5 and above, with accompanying grandparent or senior adult aged 60 years and above.

Discover how pineapple canning and the canneries along the Singapore River shaped the country’s trading heritage. As a nod to the industry, each senior adult-child pair will make pineapple tarts together – building intergenerational connection in the process. Participants will also get to take these memorable treats home, to be enjoyed even after the workshop is over.

Discovering the River: A Sensory Play Journey by Tiny Tinkers

31 May (Sun), 27 Jun (Sat) & 28 Jun (Sun)
10.30am – 11.45am & 3.30pm – 4.45pm
The Salon, Level 1

SGD 35 per adult-child pair, inclusive of GST. Recommended for ages 3 to 6.

Embark on a journey through history with four interactive play stations, where young children can get a taste of life as a boat builder, trader and early settler in the past!

Here I Am: A Map-Making Workshop with Superhero Me

6 Jun (Sat)
10.30am – 12pm & 2.30pm – 4pm
Get Curious Children’s Studio, Level 3

SGD 35 per adult-child pair, inclusive of GST. Recommended for ages 7 and above.

Explorers depend on them; pirates treasure them. Yet, maps are more than just navigational tools – they represent the stories of the places that they depict.

Discover the wonderful world of cartography in this workshop by Superhero Me. With reference to maps featured in our special exhibition, Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City, participants will learn more about legends and cardinal directions, and craft their very own map!

This is an inclusive workshop designed for children of all abilities.

From Foul to Fresh: A STEAM-Based Workshop by Explorer Junior

7 Jun (Sun) & 14 Jun (Sun)
2pm – 3.30pm (7 & 14 Jun) | 4pm – 5.30pm (14 Jun only)
Get Curious Children’s Studio, Level 3

SGD 43 per adult-child pair, inclusive of GST. Recommended for ages 6 to 10.

Follow a giant gourami family on their historical journey, as they retrace the Singapore River’s clean-up and transformation. Applying science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM), this workshop combines heritage exploration, hands-on water science experiments and a creative lamp-making activity to discover possibilities for the river’s future.

PLAY @ Children’s Season 2026: Bridging Generations Through Child-led Play Workshop

13 Jun (Sat)
10am – 12pm
The Salon, Level 1

SGD 20 per adult, or SGD 14 per senior adult aged 60 years and above, inclusive of GST.

Held in celebration of International Day of Play, this workshop on child-directed play and creativity is designed for educators, artists, caregivers and grandparents. Discover practical strategies for creating meaningful experiences that bridge generations, including tips on connecting over traditional games and encouraging intergenerational communication through play.

This workshop is part of PLAY @ Children’s Season 2026 organised by Children’s Museum Singapore, in collaboration with the National Museum of Singapore.

About PLAY @ Children’s Season 2026

In celebration of UNICEF’s International Day of Play, Children’s Museum Singapore, in collaboration with the Museum Roundtable and community partners, presents PLAY @ Children’s Season 2026 – a week-long line-up of workshops, drop-in activities, and a vibrant weekend carnival. This programme brings together children, caregivers, educators, and arts practitioners to champion play as a fundamental right and an essential part of learning, wellbeing, and social connection.

The River Road: An Interactive Drama Experience

20 Jun (Sat) & 21 Jun (Sun)
11am – 11.45am & 3pm – 3.45pm
Gallery Theatre, Basement Level
SGD 40 per adult-child pair, inclusive of GST. Recommended for ages 6 to 12.

Journey through time along the river road, and meet some of the people who helped to shape Singapore’s identity as a bustling trading port, including a sepoy and a Bugis trader. Catch this dynamic performance where actors engage directly with the audience, bringing history to life through interactive role-play, guided movement and sensory exploration!

Previously presented as "Interactive Storytelling: The River Road" during the Museum's National Day Open House in 2025.

Free Programmes / Installations

Get Curious! Building Our Singapore: An Interactive Installation

Ongoing until 9 Oct 2026 | Daily
10am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 6pm
The Canyon, Basement Level
Free of charge, no registration required. Recommended for ages 3 and above.

Travel through time in this installation! Role-play as early migrants and trace their journeys to their landing point at the Singapore River on an interactive map. Then, write or draw on a postcard to honour and show your appreciation to our migrant workers today.

First presented during Children’s Season 2025, in conjunction with the special exhibition, Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City.

Between Tides & Ties: An Intergenerational Showcase

30 May – 28 Jun | Daily
10am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 6pm
The Canyon, Basement Level
Free of charge, no registration required. Recommended for ages 3 and above.

This showcase presents a fleet of boats made from “fragments” – materials of different textures and size inspired by the Singapore River’s trade heritage. Crafted by pre-schoolers and seniors as part of a special intergenerational project led by multi-disciplinary artist Quek Jia Qi, each assembled boat represents the stories, memories and imagined history of the vessels that used to ply the river and the cargo they carried.

Visitors are invited to add their own “fragments” to the life-sized boat installation, letting their stories, dreams and imagination come together as a tribute to the history and ties that bind across generations.

Presented in collaboration with preschoolers from My First Skool at 137 Bukit Merah and seniors from NTUC Health Senior Day Care Centre (Bukit Merah).

The River Hunt: A Mission-Based Artefact Hunt Activity

30 May – 28 Jun | Daily
10am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 6pm
Children’s Season Information Counter outside the Gallery Theatre, Basement Level
Free of charge, no registration required. Recommended for ages 5 and above.

Join The River Hunt for an exciting adventure through the National Museum’s special exhibition, Once Upon a Tide: Singapore’s Journey from Settlement to Global City! Follow clues, answer questions, and unlock the ultimate treasure. Complete the mission and redeem a prize sponsored by Staedtler, while stocks last!

Standard charges for admission into the exhibition apply.

Kamishibai Storytelling by Sarah Ang

30 May – 1 Jun (Sat-Mon), and 6–7, 13–14 & 27–28 Jun (Sat-Sun)
11am & 4pm
The Canyon, Basement Level
Free of charge, no registration required. Recommended for ages 3 and above, with adult supervision.

Join author Sarah Ang as she uses the traditional Japanese paper theatre artform of kamishibai to tell the story of the Singapore River’s clean-up from her book, The River That Brings Us Life.

Book signing to follow thereafter. Limited copies are available at MUSEUM MARTKET by ABRY on Level 1 – purchase yours beforehand and bring it along for Sarah to sign.

Fold Your Own Fleet: A Drop-in Craft Activity

30 May – 28 Jun | Daily
10am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 6pm
Gallery Theatre Foyer, Basement Level
Free of charge, no registration required. Recommended for ages 4 and above, with adult support.

Learn to make origami models of vessels that once travelled through Singapore’s waters! Visitors will get to fold, build and take home their own paper sampan, bumboat or steamship. While stocks last!

Make & Discover Weekends: Drop-in Craft Activities

30–31 May, and 6–7, 13–14, 20–21 & 27–28 Jun (Sat-Sun)
10.30am – 12.30pm & 2pm – 6pm
The Platform, Level 2
Free of charge, no registration required. Recommended for ages 4 and above.

Join us for family-friendly crafts that encourage children to discover more about the Cavenagh Bridge – one of the most iconic structures at the Singapore River.

Visitors dropping in during the weekends of 30–31 May, 6–7 June and 13–14 June will create pop-up cards depicting the Cavenagh Bridge and its enduring role in Singapore’s history, connecting both banks of the river. On 20–21 June and 27–28 June, visitors will learn to make an agamograph, allowing them to compare how the design of the bridge has evolved over time. While stocks last!

PLAY @ Children’s Season 2026: Drop-in Activity Play Together: A Pop-up Playground

11 Jun (Thu) – 13 Jun (Sat)
10am – 1pm (11 & 12 Jun) | 3pm – 6pm (13 Jun)
Outdoor area near the A Whale of a Tale playground, Level 1
Free of charge, no registration required. Participants aged 12 years and below will need to be accompanied by an adult.

Celebrate International Day of Play with child-directed play at the Museum’s Pop-Up Playground by ChapterZero. Families will get to create imaginative spaces using simple materials, and share in an experience that promotes creativity, resourcefulness, and meaningful connections across generations.

Please note that this activity involves wet elements. Parents and accompanying adults may wish to bring an extra change of clothes for their children.

Acknowledgement of indemnity by the parent or accompanying adult of each participant is required. Forms are available at the A Whale of a Tale playground counter.

This programme is part of PLAY @ Children’s Season 2026 organised by Children’s Museum Singapore, in collaboration with National Museum of Singapore.

Children’s Season 2026 Stamp Booklet Activity

30 May (Sat) – 28 Jun (Sun)
10am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 6pm
Children’s Season Information Counter outside Gallery Theatre, Basement Level

Start your museum-hopping journey at the National Museum of Singapore! As a participating partner of the Children’s Museum Singapore Stamp Booklet, collect our stamp by scanning the QR code at our Information Counter and answering a question!

Stamp booklets are available at the Children’s Season Information Counter, while stocks last. Visit Children’s Museum Singapore for more details.