Activities You Can Do in Singapore with Young Children
Key Takeaways
Activities like park strolls or nature hikes allow parents to get their steps in while engaging with their children. Pushing strollers, carrying toddlers, or playing at the playground can double as light strength training.
Swimming with your children or kayaking together provides a great cardiovascular and muscular workout for adults while teaching kids valuable skills.
Spending active time outdoors with children reduces stress, boosts endorphins, and fosters a sense of accomplishment for both kids and adults.
Rock climbing or cycling with older kids enhances adult fitness levels, building strength and coordination while sharing a fun challenge with your children.
Shared fitness activities cultivate stronger family connections while reinforcing healthy habits for both parents and kids.
Singapore has numerous activities that are perfect for families with young children, encouraging physical activity and outdoor exploration. Whether you’re parenting a newborn or a pre-teen, here’s a guide to age-appropriate activities that will keep you and your little ones active and engaged.
For Ages 0 to 1: Gentle Movement and Bonding Outdoors
At this stage, it’s all about gentle movement and establishing a routine of physical activity that works for both parent and baby.
Strolls in the Park for Low-Impact Exercise. Taking your baby on regular walks in stroller-friendly parks like Singapore Botanic Gardens or East Coast Park is a great way for parents to get some light exercise. The act of pushing a stroller provides an upper-body workout, especially when navigating uphill or uneven terrain, which engages core muscles and arms. In addition, the fresh air and relaxed pace can help clear your mind.
Baby Swimming for Parent-Infant Bonding. Infant swimming classes not only help your baby build motor skills but also provide you with a full-body workout. The buoyancy of the water allows you to engage your muscles with less strain on the joints, making it an excellent exercise option for parents.
Parent-Infant Yoga for Flexibility and Mental Calm. Gentle yoga classes for parents and infants help improve flexibility and strength, while also offering moments of relaxation. For parents, yoga provides an opportunity to de-stress and recharge while building muscle strength.
For Ages 2 to 5: Playful Exploration and Active Learning
As your child grows, so do the opportunities for physical activity. At this age, many activities encourage both strength-building and cardiovascular health.
Outdoor Playgrounds for Full-Body Engagement. Playgrounds like Jurong Lake Gardens’ Forest Ramble, Marsiling Park’s Butterfly-shaped Playground, Changi Beach Park’s Kampung-themed playground, Esplanade Park, and Punggol Waterway Park’s Sand play area are designed for active play. Parents can engage in climbing, sliding, exploring and chasing with their toddlers, offering a great workout that improves balance, coordination, and cardiovascular fitness. These activities burn calories, engage multiple muscle groups, and are fun for adults as well as kids.
Nature Walks for Endurance and Connection. Explore easier trails like MacRitchie Reservoir’s Prunus Trail for a nature walk with your toddler. You can also find nature playgardens such as East Coast Park’s Sotong Play Nature Playgarden, Woodlands Healing Garden, Fort Canning Park, Clementi Woods Park, and one-north Park’s Nature Playgarden and Playground. These playgardens are designed for pre-schoolers to connect with nature. Some include wall rope, sand pits and slides to keep children entertained. Meanwhile, these low-impact exercises are excellent for increasing stamina, strengthening leg muscles, and offering mental clarity for busy parents. Walking in nature is also known for reducing stress and boosting mood.
Toddler Gymnastics for Core Strength. Parent-child gymnastics programs help parents work on their core strength while interacting with their child. Tumbling, balancing, and stretching will improve flexibility and posture, providing a fun way to get fit without feeling like a workout.
For Ages 6–9: Building Strength and Endurance While Having Fun
Kids within this age group can handle more physically demanding activities. This is a great time for adults to push their fitness levels while staying active with their children.
Cycling for Cardiovascular Fitness and Leg Strength. Renting bikes and cycling at East Coast Park or along Marina Bay’s cycle paths not only strengthens your child’s leg muscles and coordination but also offers a great cardiovascular workout for adults. Cycling helps build leg strength, boost stamina, and improve overall cardiovascular health, all while enjoying the outdoors as a family.
Swimming for Low-Impact Full-Body Fitness. Swimming is a low-impact workout that is easy on the joints and great for improving cardiovascular fitness. Taking your child for swimming lessons or enjoying free swim time together strengthens muscles, boosts heart health, and enhances endurance.
Dance Classes for Coordination and Mental Clarity. Dance classes are a fun way for both parents and children to stay fit. These programs not only improve agility, balance, and rhythm but also help parents improve their cardiovascular health and flexibility while having fun with their children. The Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre offers parent-child dance classes that are suitable for kids ages 3 to 4.5 years old. Dream Dance & Yoga, meanwhile, has mother and child belly dance classes for children ages 4 to 6 years old, or 7 to 10 years old.
For Ages 10 and Above: Adventurous and Team Activities
Older children are ready for more demanding activities that require teamwork and physical endurance. These activities are also highly beneficial for adults.
Rock Climbing for Full-Body Strength. Indoor rock climbing is an excellent workout for adults and kids. It builds upper body strength, increases endurance, and improves flexibility. For adults, climbing is a great way to challenge your core, arms, and legs in a fun, supportive environment while spending quality time with your child.
Kayaking for Endurance and Stress Relief. Kayaking offers both parents and children a chance to strengthen upper-body muscles while also improving cardiovascular health. The team dynamic in kayaking helps foster communication and collaboration.
Hiking for Mental Clarity and Stamina. Hiking is perfect for boosting cardiovascular health and building stamina. Hiking helps to clear your mind, reduce stress, and strengthen leg muscles. These trails provide an excellent opportunity to disconnect from the daily grind and enjoy nature with your children.
To find hiking trails to go to, the NParks website is a great resource. Search for a specific park and access their trail map. To explore hiking trails for a park, simply click on the hiking icon under the "Activities" section and then select the "Find Out More" button. This will take you to a dedicated page with details of all hiking trails for that park.
Here are some of them:
Central Catchment Nature Reserve which is Singapore’s largest nature reserve with more than 2,000 hectares of forest and over 20km of trails.
Thomson Nature Park, site of a former Hainan Village.
Mount Faber Park, one of the oldest parks of Singapore, with amazing views of the southern coastline and Southern Islands.
Telok Blangah Hill Park, which is part of the Southern Ridges, offers a peaceful view of nature.
Labrador Nature Reserve, a nature reserve known for its thriving plant and animal life with an amazing view of the sea.
Incorporating physical activity into your daily routine is a great way to stay fit while spending quality time with your children, and it’s even better when you can complement this with personalized fitness programs that support your long-term health.
That’s where NOVI Optimum Fit comes in.
With NOVI Optimum Fit, you’ll receive:
1:1 personal training sessions with experienced coaches who will guide you through the workouts to ensure that they are safely executed.
Fitness coaches who are experienced at creating personalized training programs for individuals with medical issues.
Training programs that are flexible and constantly evolve with your progress.
Regular measurements of body fat percentage and muscle mass so you can track the results of your efforts.
Fitness coaches who work closely with NOVI doctors or dietitians to ensure that the training program complements your nutrition plans and medications taken.
A personal fitness coach who will keep you motivated and accountable for your fitness.
With NOVI Optimum Fit, you can take your fitness journey to the next level and ensure that it aligns with your health goals and helps you achieve lasting well-being so you can feel your best, both as a parent and as an individual.