Singapore’s first museum just for children opened today, December 10. The highly anticipated Children’s Museum Singapore (CMSG) by the National Heritage Board invites children who are 12 years old and under to enter a wonderful world of play and learning.
The Children’s Museum Singapore is housed in a historic colonial building, formerly the Singapore Philatelic Museum, built in 1906. It boasts an array of playful experiences such as family-friendly interactive exhibitions, alongside engaging programmes for all age groups, created in collaboration with educators, to help develop children’s learning about Singapore’s heritage and the rest of the world.
The museum features a permanent exhibition spanning four galleries on the ground floor and three rotating galleries on second floor. Each gallery aims to evoke children’s curiosity and motivate learning through rich storytelling.
Permanent Gallery: A Voyage Back In Time
A Voyage Back In Time teleports children to different time periods in Singapore, with the help of CMSG’s Mascot from the future WonderBot and a task-delegating adventurous sea Captain. Children will discover stories of the past and present day through the Hidden Chamber’s theatre show, Ahoy Singapore!, The Marketplace shophouse heritage trades and a modern day My Neighbourhood.
Special Galleries
The special galleries on the second floor will change regularly. Currently, the themes are Imagine A Garden, Play Pod and Happy Birthday. Visitors can explore various birthday cultures, admire life-like paper sculptures in a garden and let toddles between aged two and four roam free around a fruit and vegetable pod.
In a press release, Wai Yin Prkyke, CMSG’s director, said: ”We envision our museum to be an inclusive space for children of different ages and abilities,” adding that it’s a safe place of joyful learning for all children to engage with.
Interestingly, the museum was co-designed with the help of children such as choices of colours and logos, as well as children’s inputs on what exhibitions and programmes would be useful.
The Children’s Museum Singapore is sold out until January. However, entry will be free for all children and adults until March 31, 2023. Adults need to be accompanied by a child to enter. Due to limited capacity, it’s best to book tickets online via the Children’s museum website. Tickets are available for booking 30 days in advance.
📍Coleman Street, 23-B, Singapore 179807