Together with all my three kids, we made a trip down to Playeum, Singapore's First Children's Centre for Creativity and checked it out. This unique centre is a combination of an indoor playground, an enrichment centre and an art museum. All of us love it, and I had difficulty getting them out when Playeum was closing for the day. Here are 7 reasons why your kids should not miss this exhibition which will end on 30 October 2016.

Be it a flying insect or a dead roach, Ch and L shriek for Mommy's protection whenever they see one. That annoys me because I love most invertebrates and I've been trying to educate them so that they will realise that most often, their fears are unfounded. I was surprised to see them so calm and interested with the creepy crawlies at the 'Knock, Knock! Who lives there?' installations!

Knock, Knock! Who lives there? by artist Isabelle Desjeux

Children can observe small animals which are found around the Playeum compound in the comfort of their own space. This is because special surveillance cameras have been set up at the natural habitats of these invertebrates and live footages are streamed to the television screens inside the Playeum building. Look out of the windows and you might also spot some live insects comfortably housed in a specially constructed Bug Hotel.

To complement their learning, children can also write to the animals and drop their letter into the red mailboxes below each TV screen. Replies are not promised, but one Playeum staff told me that they do make an effort to reply the sender depending on the content of the letter.

We know how important sensory play is for a young child's development and the good news is, there is no lack of sensory play in this immersive environment. Children get to use their hands, legs, eyes and ears to explore different textures, sounds and lights.

The 'Creature Cave' is one huge cardboard art installation that has a range of textures and lights, as well as sound pads on the floor which produce sounds of frog and insects when pressed. With padded flooring, this installation is suitable and safe for infants and toddlers to be engaged in a multi-sensory play. 

Creature Cave by artist Bartholomew Ting

The Dark Space by artist Richard Kearns

With so many activities to do at this exhibition, it is a great opportunity for parents to work together with your child to observe, create, imagine, communicate, and play. Also, I noticed that children below 8yo need some parental guidance else they will just be running wild.

Making music like insects at Welcome to my World by The People's Atelier

Exhibitions at the Children's Centre for Creativity most closely align with the Reggio Emilia Approach hence the indoor space is set up to encourage collaboration, communication and exploration. Stretch your child's imagination and pretend to be a spider or a worm. They can construct shelters using bamboo poles at the 'Welcome to my World' artist installations while exploring sights and sounds through the eyes and ears of insects.

Welcome to my World by The People's Atelier

Make a bee's nest, moth cocoon or musical instrument using natural materials at the 'Welcome to my World' installations or create a "house" for your imaginary creature using clay at 'Make-believe Hideaway'. There are no fixed rules so just let your child's imagination run wild!

That's the beauty of the Hideaways - Creating with Nature exhibition. Each installation is not a fixed product of the artist's work. Some of the installations are somewhat work-in-progress and your child's creations can be added on to grow the structure throughout the exhibition's duration. Musical instruments made by the children can be attached to the Tunnel of Sound, a skeletal structure outside the building. Try striking on the materials in the tunnel to hear the beautiful sounds created. L wants to revisit the exhibition to check on his clay creations at the 'Make-believe Hideaway' installation.

Left: Make-believe Hideaway by Madhvi Subrahmanian; Right: The Tunnel of Sound at the 'Sounds of Earth - Nature's Ensemble by Shogun Creatives

Art, science and music are some of the disciplines that are clearly evident in this exhibition, but there are many more 'soft' skills that are emphasized while your child is engaged with each installation. Ch had difficulties holding up her structure at the 'Welcome to my World' installation but I was glad she persevered. Just like Ch, L couldn't figure how to draw the insect specimens but he sat there patiently, observing each specimen and tried his best without getting frustrated.


In addition, a series of creative workshops, holiday camps, artists interventions, dance, art jams and other activities will form the Hideaways' programme to allow children and adults to engage and reflect on the subject of the natural world. 

7. You are showing support for this not-for-profit organisation.