Just because Singapore is sort of in a mini lockdown (with dining out at restaurants temporarily banned and going out highly discouraged), it doesn’t mean we’re deprived of fun activities to do.
In fact, many concerts, art exhibitions, and workshops have pivoted and switched to digital platforms so that everyone can attend it from the comfort (and safety) of our homes.
Not sure where to begin? Don’t fret, we got you covered with a list of virtual activities you can do while adhering to safe distancing regulations in the month of June. Thank us later!
1. Explore Singapore’s museums at home
If you’re an avid lover of culture and history, delve into Singapore’s own treasure trove of artefacts that are waiting to be explored. Here’s a round-up of virtual events and online activities several museums have organised for you to whet your artistic appetite.
National Gallery Singapore
If you’re looking to get a dose of what the National Gallery’s collection of modern Singaporean and Southeast Asian art has to offer, check out Gallery Anywhere on the museum’s website.
It provides a thrilling 360-degree virtual experience through exhibitions like Stories in Light: For Modern Photographers in Singapore, Chua Soo Bin: Truths & Legends, Suddenly Turning Visible: Art and Architecture in Southeast Asia (1969 – 1989), and Latiff Mohidin: Pago Pago.
You can also visit National Gallery’s Facebook page to take a look at all its virtual events, including videos with museum curators, showcases of local artists and writers, and premiere tours streamed on Facebook Live.
ArtScience Museum
Visit the ArtScience Museum by attending its latest online programme: ArtScience at Home. It offers an exciting lineup of virtual tours, workshops, talks, screenings, and performances that will be updated on its website and social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Asian Civilisations Museum
Devoted to exploring Asia’s antiquities and decorative art, Asian Civilisations Museum offers virtual tours on the website to view Augmented Reality-enhanced models of the museum’s spectacular artefacts, audio description tours of key collections, and a virtual visit to the Material and Designs galleries.
You can also visit the museum’s Facebook page for educational webinars with museum professionals and even live-streamed performances.
National Museum of Singapore
Our nation’s oldest museum, the National Museum of Singapore, houses one of the richest collections of the country’s history and culture. Fortunately, you can explore several archives of its digital exhibitions on the website such as Every Body Plays a Part.
Throughout June and July, the museum has also curated various online programmes like Artefact Highlights: Show and Tell, Interactive Storytelling – Timmy and Tammy: What is Singapore?, Do The Splits Risograph Workshop, and A Landmark Story Family Scrapbooking Workshop for people of all ages!
Visit the website to check out the specific dates and prices of each programme.
2. Hello From The Wild Side
Calling all animal lovers! Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) is organising an interactive virtual experience for you to get up close and personal with various animals and keepers.
For just S$10 a session, meet Natalie and Hanna – animal trainers from the Animal Friends Show at Singapore Zoo – who will teach you all the skills you need to train your domesticated pets. Each contribution goes towards WRS’ wildlife conservation efforts and care of the animals.
The next Animal Behaviour and Training session will be held on 19 June at 10am and can be booked directly here. So come with all your burning questions and let the WRS team answer them all!
3. Jazz It Up! 2021
Presented by Jazz Association – Singapore (JASS) and Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC), Jazz It Up! concert will be live-streamed on JASS’s Facebook and YouTube pages, as well as SCCC’s Facebook page, on 20 June (Sun), 8pm SGT (GMT +8).
Led by Singapore’s veteran jazz musician Jeremy Monteiro, and JASS Associate Music Director Weixiang Tan, the virtual concert presents a repertoire of Chinese modern-classic songs set to sophisticated jazz arrangements performed by the Jazz Association Singapore Orchestra.
The show will feature Sing! China 2017 finalist Joanna Dong, Singaporean singer-songwriter Tay Kewei, and up-and-coming singer-songwriter Marcus Lee.
4. Virtual cooking workshops
If you’re looking for something wholesome to do with your partner at home, here’s your chance to brush up on your culinary skills and enjoy a romantic meal together.
At S$128 for two pax, attend the Celebration Feast Online Culinary Workshop to learn how to cook crispy russet potatoes with herb and butter as well as a perfectly roasted and succulent spring chicken served with Panzanella salad.
For the same price, you can also attend French Pastries Online Food Workshop to bake decadent French treats like profiteroles and eclairs, and Spanish churros rolled in cinnamon sugar.
All ingredients will be delivered to your doorstep, and you can sign up for these classes on the Date Ideas’ mobile app.
5. Online personal training (PT) session
With gyms and training centres closed, some of you might be worried that you might not get your daily exercise in for the month of June. Fret not, Date Ideas is offering training sessions for couples with a professional fitness instructor who will tailor a workout routine according to your wants and needs.
For S$80 for two, the Online Couples Personal Training will assign you one personal trainer who will give live personalised exercise demonstrations, nutritional advice, and meal plans through a video call. If you want more attention, you can opt to pay S$110 to get a personal trainer assigned to each of you.
Additionally, you can also attend Home HIIT with Bae from S$60 for two pax to receive a 30-minute personalised HIIT session that will push both of you to the limits.
You may also be interested in: 12 Instagram and TikTok accounts to follow for easy #foodinspo you can recreate for your kids
6. Children’s Biennale 2021
Want to keep your child entertained as you work from home? This bi-yearly multi-sensorial art experience is the perfect solution. Kickstart the programme via National Gallery’s kaleidoscopic microsite, and view online artworks that will empower children with a renewed sense of empathy and confidence to engage with their surroundings.
Featuring nine local and international artists, the online works you can explore include: Head/home, Illuminated, Voices from The Centres, Calling for Rain, Because It Makes Me Feel, Conversations with an Octopus, Behome, Superstar, and A Day’s Book.
When restrictions are eased, you and your child can visit the on-site installations at the National Gallery Singapore from 4 September 2021 to December 2022.
7. National Library Board’s online programmes
The school holidays are here but don’t get frustrated at the safety restrictions that are currently in place just yet – there are actually many online activities and resources that are both educational and fun-filled for your child that you can consider.
For the school holidays in June, National Library Board (NLB) has come up with a slew of such programmes for the whole family to attend.
Storytelling sessions
To encourage a love of reading in children, NLB will be hosting online storytelling sessions in four languages – English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. Each session is hosted by librarians, volunteers, corporate partners or local authors, and last between five to fifteen minutes.
Catch these sessions on the respective Facebook pages below or NLB’s YouTube channel with your kids this month!
- English: 2nd and 4th Saturdays monthly, 10am, suitable for ages 4 – 10 (Facebook link)
- Chinese: 1st and 3rd Fridays monthly, 7.30pm, suitable for ages 4 – 8 (Facebook link)
- Malay: 1st and 3rd Saturdays monthly, 11.30am, suitable for ages 4 – 10 (Facebook link)
- Tamil: 1st and 3rd Fridays monthly, 7 m, suitable for ages 4 – 8 (Facebook link)
School Holiday Special with Librarians
NLB will be releasing a series of fun short videos to teach youths of all ages how to make certain objects or give tips inspired by books on different themes and topics ranging from science, technology, and engineering to mathematics and even arts.
For example, Stay Curious with Your Child has exciting bite-sized activities and resources that you can explore with your little one while Teen·Things offers challenging activities for youngsters that boost their creative thinking. Follow NLB’s Facebook page to receive a notification when these videos go live!
Book Bugs: Explorers of Stories Past
The third edition of NLB’s bug-themed collectable card game, Book Bugs: Explorers of Stories Past will be offering printable activities and digital resources like sticker packs and phone wallpapers that are going to be uploaded on the dedicated site every second Monday of the month.
It will also upload a recommended booklist related to each Book Bug that your child may be interested in reading. More information and updates can be found here.
Digital making programmes
MakeIT at Libraries offers free live-streamed workshops on coding, robotics 3D printing and other forms of digital fabrication and making. These workshops are recommended for children aged 13 and above, and no prior experience is required!
Follow MakeIT at Libraries’ Facebook page or NLB’s event portal to be updated on upcoming sessions.
NLB’s various online talks and activities
On top of all of the above, NLB will be hosting a multitude of other online programmes for kids, teens, and even adults. If you are interested in any of the programmes below, simply register on NLB’s GoLibrary website to receive a Zoom link.
- Toddler Songs and Rhymes: For toddlers aged 1 to 3, this session will be filled with songs and rhymes to boost their development.
- Baby Songs and Rhymes: Parents with babies below 1 year old will learn simple songs, rhymes, and fingerplay that they can use to bond with their child.
- (WordPlay) Classified – A Detective’s Training Manual: Join AJ Low, the team behind the bestselling Sherlock Sam mystery series as they teach you how to investigate, record, and write a story. This session is suitable for children aged 9 to 12.
- The Link Between Food Allergy and Eczema in Young Children: Hosted by Hugo Van Bever, National University of Singapore Professor and Senior Consultant and Head of Paediatric Allergy and Immunology at National University Hospital, this talk will be educating parents on eczema flare-ups in children and giving tips on its treatment and prevention.
- Adventure with Smiley: For children aged 4 to 8, join POSB’s squirrel mascot, Smiley, as he teaches financial literacy through short interactive activities.
- How to Go Safe Online (Secondary School edition): For teens aged 13 to 17, this programme teaches them the different types of cyber threats and basic cybersecurity tips to protect themselves from cybercriminals.
- How Do You Feel? – Storytelling, writing & illustration workshop with Quek Hong Shin: Illustrator Quek Hong Shin will read his book, Universe of Feelings, to children aged 4 to 6.
- Storytime Saturday: Volunteers from Storytelling Association (Singapore) will be giving a storytelling session to children aged 4 to 9.
- How Sweet Should You Be?: This interactive talk targets youths aged 13 and above to educate them on sugar intake aims to help them be more sugar-smart.
- Nurturing with Nature: Learn about eco-parenting and the importance of mindfulness in early education hosted by a local non-profit community group, backtogroundzero.
- Reading – Greek Mythology with BookOrators: For upper primary students, this reading session will teach them about Greek gods and myths as well as practise their persuasive techniques through fun group activities.
- How to Go Safe Online (Primary School edition): For children aged 7 to 12, this talk will teach them about cyber threats and give tips on good cyber hygiene habits.
- (WordPlay) Creating Impact – Greta Thunberg Style: For children aged 9 to 13, this session nurtures their public speaking and presentation skills through the topic of climate change.
8. Museum Week 2021
From 7 to 13 June, participate in a worldwide cultural festival that takes place on social media. For each of the seven days, explore seven different themes identified by their unique hashtags: #OnceUponAtimeMW, #BehindTheScenesMW, #ChildrensEyesMW, #EurekaMW, #CaptionThisMW, #ArtIsEverywhereMW, and #WordsForTheFutureMW.
You can choose to share your own posts with a hashtag on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Weibo, WeChat, and VKontakte, or enjoy virtual events organised by participating partners. More information can be found here.
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