Puppetmaking and storytelling workshops, Celebrate Drama: 12 Aug

The Celebrate Drama festival is hosting puppet making and story-telling workshops for primary school kids, 4 years and above. $10 per participant at The Arts House. 2.00pm - 4.00pm & 4.15pm - 6.15pm. That's a lot of value per hour.

The festival also has loads of good stuff for older kids.

Kids zone at Heritage fest: 12 - 27 July

The Singapore Heritage Fest has set aside a kids zone with activities including games, story-telling, art-making and role-playing activities designed to explore the theme this year - heroes. Entry is free. Call Act3 on 67359986 for details.

High School Musical - The Ice Tour: 5-10 August

The neighbourhood pre-teens are terribly excited about the upcoming High School musical. I just find it a bit exploitative that they allow 2 years olds and above.

Children are missing out on theatre

There's a report yesterday in The Independent, UK, about how children are not being exposed to theatre. To quote:

"An engagement with theatre sparks children's creativity and imagination; it improves their social skills, sense of teamwork and confidence – all necessary for whatever career they may want to pursue, yet skills that are not gained by sitting exams."

I feel somewhat vindicated though I know lots of mums out there feel the same way. It's the rest of them focusing only on classes, either academic or 'enrichment,' that probably need to know this, but they probably don't read The Independent or this blog. Ah well.

The Boy Who Touched the Moon: 30 - 31 August

Act 3 Theatrics is back with their next show for the Esplanade Playtime series, featuring puppetry and shadow play for ages 2 - 4.

Thomas & Friends Live! on Stage: 3 - 7 Sep

I probably don't need to explain this to the legions of Thomas fans out there. There's an earlybird 15% discount off ticket prices if you book before 10 July. The Sistic p/w is 'train ticket'. Shhh....

HortPark on a not too hot day

Finally made it to HortPark on Alexandra Road this week. Unfortunately the weather played truant and we couldn't stay long and explore the Southern Ridges. The upside of a fairly downcast sky was that there wasn't a soul apart from a TV crew, a few enthusiastic makciks and a sprinkling of tourists.

HortPark is beautiful and there are lots of ideas for the green-fingered. The play spaces and fantasy gardens are great for the little ones, laid out as they are in various sections so that there is breathing space in between.

It's also the perfect place to take your kids if you want to introduce them to the world of caterpillars. We had to walk carefully to avoid stamping on one, they were everywhere and some of the bushes looked ragged, chewed up as they were.

I could just imagine it all baking under the Singapore sun on a clear day. Why don't planners think of some shade so more people can use it between 11-3 when most playgrounds are empty for that very reason? Take water and snacks along, HortPark only has one fine-dining outlet. We ended up at Ikea for lunch.

MAAD: 5- 6 July

The next MAAD weekend is back. Portraits at $8 are still part of the deal. Saturday, 2pm - 7pm.

Rainbow Fish: 1-14 September

American theorists might be dissing children's classic Rainbow Fish for preaching socialism, but I Theatre has made quite a name for themselves in places as far as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with their black light version.

Tix from Sistic. Early bird discounts till 7 August.

See what actual rainbow fish look like here.

Footwork Twinkle Toes, da:ns festival: 18 -19 Oct

Another gorgeous dance photograph courtesy of the Nederlands Dance Theatre and the Esplanade. 'Tis the season it seems.

Esplanade's da:ns festival coming up in October includes a parent and tot creative movement workshop for 3-6 years olds.

There's nothing on the Esplanade website yet so watch this space.