Keeping Kid Amused in Singapore

Q: My six year old son Thabang and I are travelling to Phuket in December via Singapore. We have a seven hour layover in Singapore and I was wondering whether we would be allowed to leave the airport and whether you could recommend something I could do with him, something out in the open where he can run wild after been cooped up on the plane for 10 hours. - Lezly Pretorius

A: While seven hours can feel like an eternity at the airport, it is not as long as it may seem for a visit outside of the airport. It can easily take 30 or 40 minutes to leave the terminal, and once you have added the transport time to and from your destination to the fact that you need to be back in the terminal two hours before your flight, you may find that you only have three hours to sightsee or have fun. However, as your aim is to keep a youngster entertained, it may be worth considering a trip outside the airport. If you do decide to stay in the airport, there are some great playzones. In terminal two there is a playground made of tubes and plastic structures. There is also a TV room showing kiddie programmes. Another play area features a 12m jumbo spiral slide. For a bit of nature, there is a Sunflower Garden, Butterfly Garden and Koi Pond with feeding times. In the terminal outside of the transit area, there is an area with giant inflatables for the youngsters to use up some of their energy. For a quieter time, there is a kids painting corner in terminal three. If you decide to leave the airport, a great destination is Sentosa Island. This is truly a wonderworld for children. They can swim at the beach, meet pink dolphins, go to a butterfly park, zip over the rain forest canopy and ride on a tram. They can also visit Universal Studios Singapore, with its great theme park. An alternative is to visit the Singapore Zoo. This top-notch facility does not have its animals in cages. There is plenty of space for a youngster to run wild or spend time seeing the excellent displays. You can also visit Rainforest Kidzworld, which has a water play area, petting zoo, horse carriage rides, carousel and pony rides. You can catch a taxi to and from your destinations. These are easy to find and affordable. (24/7/11)