Kidzania Singapore

We went to Kidzania Singapore on the eve of Singapore's National Day. Hubby took half day leave so once he was home, we drove to Sentosa. We parked at the Beach Station Carpark and there was a bridge to link us to Kidzania.

Tickets cost $58 for kids and $35 for adullts. Tickets for toddlers between 2 - 3 years old cost $25. If you are a Maybank card holder, you are entitled to 10% discount on ticket price. If your child is a student of Learning Lab, your child need only pay $51 instead of $58. For online booking of tickets, you can click here.

We did not know what to expect as we have read some good and not so good reviews about Kidzania. One of the negative comments mentioned that the waiting time was too long. 

When we reached the counter, there were only a few other families. We arrived at 1pm. That day, Kidzania was closing at 8pm as it was the eve of public holiday. The kids were given 20 kidzos each and an ATM card. All of us had to wear a wristband to identify the child to the parent.

Once we entered Kidzania, we noticed that there were not as many children as we had expected (we expected A LOT more). I guess it helped that we were there on the eve of National Day. I would expect a bigger crowd on public holidays. 

Recording in session

The girls have been bugging hubby and me to take them to Kidzania, so when we were there, they were wow-ed by the place. It is really a Kids City. We were on our way to activate the ATM card when we saw that the Discovery Film Studio had no queue. We remembered reading some reviews somewhere that the bank queue might be long so Ulfa and Auni decided to go ahead and queue outside the Discovery Film Studio to be a host/film editor. 

Film Editing

What you will see outside each station

Outside each establishment, you will see a sign stating the capacity of kids that can play that role at one time, time taken for activity, age limit of participant etc. For the Film Studio, the age limit was 7+. Ulfa was not 7 yet but she really wanted to try out as a Host/Film Editor. The person who was in-charge was nice enough to ask if Ulfa could read, to which Ulfa answered "yes'. She then asked if she could test Ulfa's reading to see if she was suitable to participate in the activity. So after the quick test, Ulfa was allowed to join.

The Bank

While Ulfa and Auni were waiting for their turn, I took Nuha, who is 4 years old, to activate her card at the bank. Outside the bank, I had to write Nuha's name and her birthdate on the paper with the card. Nuha had to queue up at the bank on her own as parents were not allowed inside. I worried a little then as I wondered 'What if she does not know what to say at the counter', 'What if she is scared' etc. But my worries were unfounded. Nuha went in, albeit a litle bit unsure at first. She then followed the others who were queueing and went up to the counter herself. At this point, I went "Bravo!" in my head.

Delivering Newspapers

After we left the bank, Auni and Ulfa were not done yet so Nuha went on to the Kidzania Post to try out as a Newspaper Delivery crew. She was alone as the one other girl who was in the queue wanted to try out as a Journalist. So I accompanied Nuha around her trip. I didn't help her carry the papers. I didnt help her knock on the doors or tell her what to say. She did it all by herself. She was a bit shy at first and could not remember everything that she needed to say (it was on the board she was carrying but she couldn't read all of the words yet). Subsequently she got the hang of it. It helped that the Kidzania staff were all so friendly. 

By the time Nuha was done, Auni and Ulfa were queuing at the bank having completed the Host/Film Editor job. We found out that the film could be downloaded online with the password given to us!

Thereafter the girls tried out a few other jobs like the Water Quality Assurance Specialist, Tourist Guide, Baby Expert, Runway Model, Climber, Chef and Cabin Crew.

Inside the cockpit

Qatar Airways

For the cabin crew or first officer jobs, look out for the distribution time for the jobs and queue up outside the Kindergarten for it. The staff will then give you a time for you to come back later. 

Stadium

Driving School

Runway Model

For most jobs, parents can only watch from outside the window. However, there are some jobs like cabin crew and Runway model where you can participate. For example, when your child works as a cabin crew, they will serve you on the plane. When they become Runway Models, you get to be an audience at a fashion show.

You do not really need to accompany your children around Kidzania if they are older. They can do everything on their own and it allows them to become more independent. Auni is 8 and I pretty much let her go about choosing the jobs on her own. I noticed that the kids make fast friends as they work together with other kids. 

Working at KFC

Most jobs allow them to earn Kidzos while there are some jobs where they have to pay. For example, the girls had to pay 10Kidzos when they worked at KFC (they were given 1Kidzo off as they reused their hair net). However, the fun part was they get to eat what they prepared. The girls loved this. When they ate the burgers they prepared, they commented that it tasted really good.

Some reviews I read mentioned that the staff at Kidzania does not appear too enthusiastic. I guess it really depends on the staff themselves. I must say that most of the staff we met were very friendly to the kids. I particularly liked the staff - Ivy and Raihana - who were managing KFC when we were there. They were so fun and friendly with the kids, you could see the kids really enjoying their company. The kids were laughing and giving hi-fives to them. At the end of the session, the kids went up to them to give them hugs. It was really wonderful to see that. 

Kidzania Department Store is packed at closing time

We ended the day at 8pm. The kids went into Kidzania Department Store to spend their Kidzos. They had to do this on their own as parents were not allowed inside. It is good to check the balance in their cards or withdraw the money so that kids know how much they can spend. If you worry that your child might not know what they can spend on with the amount of money they have, look through the windows with your kids and tell them what are the things within their range. Alternatively, the staff inside will assist them.

As parents, we worry a lot, but they'll survive Kidzania.

Before going to Kidzania, I personally wondered how I'll survive the long hours there when it is only my kids who are having fun. However, time passes by really quickly and before you know it, it is closing time. When the girls were doing the activities, hubby and I managed to get alone time where we spent chilling out at the in-house Killiney Kopitiam and KFC (there are other food establishments there).

Other food establishment

Theatre

Tour Guide and Tourists

Climbing School

Hospital

Quality Assurance Specialists

Acting Academy

Our girls (and us) thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They could not stop thanking us after the visit. We will definitely visit Kidzania Singapore again.

Some tips on visiting Kidzania Singapore:

1) Avoid peak periods unless you don't mind the waiting time.

2) Get a lanyard for the kids to put their cards or Kidzos. You can purchase one there but they cost around $10 - $15 (Maybank card holders get 10% off). I saw some parents holding the Kidzos and cards for the kids. You can do that too but it'll be good to teach the kids to handle their own cards and Kidzos.

3) Before you go to Kidzania, tell your kids that there are a lot of different jobs they can try. Some jobs are those they've never heard of. They need not be doctors and firefighters ALL THE TIME.

4) Let your kids choose whatever they want to be. It is their city and their day, not yours.

5) Take note that you are not allowed to queue for the kids. They need to queue if they want to play.

6) Your child can activate the ATM card later if the queue at the bank is too long. They can just do the activities first.