Moms and Dads need a break over the weekend – given the either hot or rainy weather in Singapore, shopping malls become a go-to place for families with kids. However, hanging out with babies and young children at a shopping mall can be difficult, especially if you have to scramble from floor to floor in search of somewhere to change diapers or struggle to keep your child entertain while you just want to drink your coffee in peace. Here are Singapore’s top 10 kid-friendly shopping centres that would give both your children, your spouse and you a lovely weekend!
1. Vivocity
Vivocity has many outdoor areas for children to play, including its open-air playground and roof-top water feature in the skypark. It also has a large variety of shops that cater to family needs, for instance, Giant Hypermart for grocery shopping, Toys ‘R’ Us for toy shopping and clothing brands for both men, women and kids. There is a rooftop amphitheatre where free performances are sometimes held. Sentosa beach is also a short train ride from Vivocity so families can hang out at Vivocity until the weather is cool and hop onto the train to the beach! Children can also have fun with the mini-express train ride for S$6 along the 300-metre promenade. Nursing and changing rooms are available but not baby strollers for rent.
Address: 1 Harbourfront Walk, VivoCity S(098585)
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm
Nearest MRT Station: Harbourfront Station
2. City Square Mall
City Square Mall is an environmentally-friendly mall, catered for families with kids. Apart from nursing rooms and changing stations, there are also baby prams and kiddy cabs available for complimentary use. There is an outdoor eco-playground, a ‘living maze’ and a skypark. It has NTUC Fairprice for weekend grocery shopping, both Babies ‘R’ Us and Toys ‘R’ Us. Many extra-curriculum schools are located at City Square Mall and moms can leave their kids in the schools and go for a spa located on level 6. Young children can also go for the animal rides around the mall for fun!
Address: 180 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208539
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm
Nearest MRT Station: Farrer Park Station
3. IMM
IMM is a huge draw during weekend because it is one of the few places with free parking for first 3 hours. Shuttle buses are also available to the neighbouring new malls, JCube and Westgate. IMM has nursing rooms and also complimentary loans of baby strollers. The nice thing about IMM is that it has refurbished its outdoor playground which now has adjacent wet and dry playgrounds and a 7-metre tree house. IMM is positioned as an outlet mall, thus have many sports and clothing brands sell their previous season’s items at discounted price. It also caters to home furnishing needs, wedding, along with Giant hypermarket.
Address: IMM Building 2 Jurong East Street 21 #04-60, S(609601)
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm
Nearest MRT Station: Jurong East Station
4. Westgate
Another new mall located in the west is Westgate, which is linked to another new mall Jem and very close to Jurong East MRT. Westgate is certainly targeting families with young children with its free 11,000 square-foot garden-themed playground. The playground has a 10-metre tall tree house, enormous watering can, giant insects, lily pads and flowers. Westgate has a kids shower room on Level 4, nursing rooms and also complimentary loan of baby strollers. Isetan is its anchor tenant.
Address: 3 Gateway Drive S(608532)
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm
Nearest MRT Station: Jurong East Station
5. United Square Shopping Mall
United Square is positioned as the kids learning mall with many enrichment centres such as Lorna Whiston, Mindchamps, The Learning Lab, The Ballet & Music Company and even a fencing school. It has a baby room, kiddy toilets, complimentary strollers and even rubbish bins are shaped after animals! It has pockets of play facilities and many kids’ shows such as Barney, Dora and Thomas are hosted at the indoor stage area.
Address: 101 Thomson Road United Square Shopping Mall Singapore 307591
Opening hours: 10.30am to 9.30pm
Nearest MRT Station: Novena Station
6. NEX
NEX is located at Serangoon Central with a public library and a dog park. It has a rooftop Skygarden that has both wet and dry playgrounds. The wet playground has overhead sprinklers and water buckets, with ‘gentle’ play areas for the younger ones too. NEX has nursing rooms, changing stations and such facilities are also located at Isetan. Complimentary baby strollers are available for loan.
Address: 23 Serangoon Central S556083
Opening hours: 10.30am-10.30pm
Nearest MRT Station: Serangoon Station
7. Clementi Mall
This mall made it to the top 10 list as it has one of the newest libraries located within a shopping mall and the library is a huge draw in itself for younger children. The Clementi Public Library has an interactive wall with two digital storytelling kiosks and an exhibit to stimulate learning. The mall has a small indoor playground, located near other kids clothing stores and Popular bookstore. It also has Fairprice Finest and a foodcourt with a play area, making it a one-stop affordable mall for families. Nursing rooms are available but no baby stroller for rental.
Address: 3155 Commonwealth Avenue West S(129588)
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm
Nearest MRT Station: Clementi Station
8. Sembawang Shopping Centre
This is another neighbourhood mall with a water play area, known as the Splash Park located at the rooftop. The water playground has colourful water toys such as spray guns, ground level water jets and fun frog-shaped fountains. It has a nursing room, changing stations and strollers available for rent.
Address: 604 Sembawang Road S(758459)
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm
Nearest MRT Station: Sembawang Station
9. Downtown East
Downtown East is well known as a chalet destination but it also has a shopping mall with NTUC Fairprice. It has many play facilities for children of all ages, such as Wild Wild Wet, Escape theme park and indoor eXplorerKid.
Address: 1 Pasir Ris Close, S519899
Opening hours: Various hours for different facilities
Nearest MRT Station: Pasir Ris Station
10. North Point Shopping Centre
North Point is another mall with a public library and coupled with its 5,400 square foot rooftop water playground, it is a draw for families with kids. It has nursing rooms and changing stations, kiddy cabs for a rental fee but not strollers. It also has Cold Storage for parents to do their weekend grocery shopping. This is at the bottom of the list because many parents have feedback that the play area needs renovation.
Address: 930 Yishun Avenue 2 Singapore 769098
Opening hours: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest MRT Station: Yishun Station
While shopping malls are certainly turning kids friendly to cater to parents with more spending power, they are also often crowded on weekend. While looking for places to shop, don’t forget to make use of free facilities such as public libraries and playgrounds, have fun!
By Mei
