3 Last Minute Things To Do These School Holidays

Yes, we can, and it's at Changi Airport Terminal 3, Basement 2, where Elmo, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch and gang have popped up to delight your mini-mes and you, too (c'mon, we all grew up with Sesame Street!). Check out thematic zones and scenes from the well-loved television series and snap an adorbs pic or 10.

Ginormous toy capsule machines shaped like Elmo and Cookie Monster? The kids and kidults won't be able to get enough. Try your luck and win Sesame Street-themed capsules filled with special deals and prizes from shops and restaurants in Changi Airport. (P/S: Present a maximum of two same-day receipts with a minimum spend of $60 ($80 for supermarkets) from any Changi Airport Public Areas retail or F&B outlet to redeem one Game Token for the Gachapon Machine.)

A definite highlight is the Inflatable Fun with Sesame Street, where kids can slide down a 4.7m-tall slide that leads to a huge multi-coloured ball pit, and navigate their way through inflatable obstacles like tunnels, a ladder and a climbing wall. This 30m-long inflatable playground will be in Terminal 3 Departure Hall from 9 March to 8 April, before moving to Terminal 4 from 25 May to 1 July. (P/S: Present a maximum of two same-day receipts with a minimum spend of $60 ($80 for supermarkets) from any Changi Airport Public Areas retail or F&B outlet to redeem one entry pass to the Inflatable Playground).

Also up for grabs: Exclusive Sesame Street Mahrker notebooks, which will be available till May 1, at $6.90 each with a minimum spend of $60 ($80 at supermarkets) in the public areas. Kids can also redeem a Passport to Fun to collect stamps for the adventures they complete, as well as colouring and sticker books.

If you're not squeamish and after something a little more wild, check out the new RepTopia behind-the-scenes tour at the newish RepTopia attraction. While the awesome reptilian exhibits at RepTopia are free to explore, the behind-the-scenes tour is a special VIP one-hour tour with additional cost that serves up up-close-and-amazing interaction with our scaly friends. Expect to be able to cuddle snakes, feed lizards and chameleons, and watch a snake slowly devour a mouse. Like we said, not for the squeamish. The takeaway: Reptiles can be kinda cute (especially when a little Crested Gecko licks fruit puree off your finger with his little tongue), and not that scary!

The RepTopia behind-the-scenes tour is $98 for adults, $65 for kids (3 to 12 years old). Zoo entry charges not included.

Photo: @celine_tan_

Let your kiddos Learn more about fascinating reptiles from the knowledgeable keepers and if they're brave enough, have them feed Kayla the chameleon. That long tongue darting out to snap a cricket out of your hands is a sight to behold.

Photo: @celine_tan_

Sorry, it's not an indoor playground, but an experiential and interactive play zone spanning a whopping 2,150 square metres in total – 850 square metres indoors and another 1,300 square metres outside. Buds by Shangri-La is an immersive and curated play space which will keep kids entertained, screamingly happy and out of their parents' hair for hours. This pic you see here is the Fire Mountain in the Explorer Zone, a giant double-storey play space filled with ball pits, slides, crawl spaces, things to climb and even ball cannons. Consider it a big level-up from your standard-issue playground.

Of course, this amazing experience doesn't come cheap. While it's complimentary for Shangri-La Singapore hotel guests who book the Themed Family Suite and Family Deluxe Room, it's $28 per child (four to 12 years old), $18 for toddlers (below four years old) inclusive of one adult for Shangri-La Hotel, Apartment, restaurant and/or spa guests. For non-hotel guests, entry is $48 for child (four to 12 years old), $28 for toddlers (below four years old) inclusive of one adult, for three hours. Classes and Special activities are charged separately.

It's not all rough and tumble physical fun. Kids can partake in themed activities in dedicated spaces to encourage more fun learning: The Muddy room, seen here, is for budding artists who like to make a splash; Stage is a music studio for young performers; Bake, a fully equipped cooking classroom for children and parents; and an interactive Party Room for celebrations. Teachers are on hand to help kids along. Separate charges apply.

There's also a dedicated Toddler Zone for the very young ones, as well as a café called Recharge for parents who need a breather and some caffeine. If you and the kids have energy left, don't forget about the outdoors areas, complete with an outdoor playground with a giant pirate ship structure offering challenging climbs and slides, and a water play zone with splash pads.

Buds by Shangri-La is at Shangri-La Hotel, 22 Orange Grove Road.