Thanks to Singapore’s National Day and Hari Raya Haji, many people get to enjoy a long weekend break this August. With four days straight break, we could either plan for a staycation, travel out of Singapore to nearby counties or stay at home and plan for family activities. My wife and I choose the later instead.
Our Friday and Saturday have been scheduled for family gatherings. So, what’s for Sunday? Well, staying at home to watch Netflix or Viu might tempt us, but my wife and I have decided to bring our children out to visit the Singapore Botanic Garden. It’s time for natural Vitamin D!
At 2 years old now, travelling with Baby N is more relaxed when it comes to food selections. Since Baby N can walk, a comfortable pair of shoes is important. He can get complain-some sometimes, asking us to carry and cuddle him.
Since Baby N is taking solid food now, packing a few small packs of snacks will be fine to keep him happy. Extra diapers and a water bottle are still a need in our packing list.
Since we will be visiting the Singapore Botanic Gardens, sun protection is a must as we will be exposed to UV rays for long hours. We got our children protected with Banana Boat’s Kids Sunscreen Lotion SPF50. I would also suggest parents apply insect repellant to prevent mosquito bites during the visit to Singapore Botanic Gardens. Probably the most popular is Tiger Balm’s Mosquito repellent patch. Stick one on their t-shirt, and you are good to go!
Breakfast at Food For Tots at Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
We took a 9 am taxi ride to Singapore Botanic Gardens from home. Although we have the option to choose the MRT down to Botanic Gardens, our preferred mode of transport in the morning is always taxi when it comes to a family outing. Daddy doesn’t want to drag both kids in the train and asking them to keep quiet when they yelled. #lifeofaparent
If you don’t own a car like me, I would suggest you sign up for GRAB’s Commute Basic Plans at $59 per month. This plan comes with 10 x $10 discount vouchers in your GRAB account, which could help you (parents) to save some money.
Smooth taxi ride. We reached the Singapore Botanic Gardens at 9:30 am. Our drop off point is at Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden where Food For Tots is located. As we will be visiting the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden after breakfast, Food For Tots is the nearest family-friendly cafe for our Sunday breakfast.
Catered for families with young children, Food For Tots is a cosy cafe which served all day Western brunch items which kids will surely love them. The cafe menu items include Ham & Cheese Croissant ($10), Granola Yoghurt Bowl ($11) and Smoked Salmon & Avocado Toast ($12). Food for Tots also served Cold Soba Bowl ($12 to $15), Lemon Dill Fish & Chips ($15) and Chicken Avocado Burger ($14).
To fill up our tummies for the first meal of the day, we have ordered Breakfast Works ($16), Blueberry Smoothie Pancakes ($14), Mango Smoothie ($8) and two cups of Flat White at $5 each.
The Breakfast Works comes with toasted multigrain bread topped with scrambled eggs, pork sausage, crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms and rosemary cherry tomatoes. I would say this is a “will-not-go-wrong” breakfast main to order.
Blueberry Smoothie Pancakes is Food For Tot’s signature. Both my kids love this and definitely worth getting it again on my next visit. As for the beverages, I love my Flat White. It is decent enough. No complaints at all.
Right in Food For Tots, there is a play corner at the back where little ones can have fun, get busy and mingle around. There are also papers and crayons for your kids to self-entertain themselves. Please keep in mind that frustration will kick in when your baby keeps dropping the crayon, look at you and asking you to pick it up. #lifeofaparent
Singapore’s first UNESCO Heritage Site, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Easily accessible on Circle Line and Downtown Line, Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG in short) is Singapore’s first UNESCO Heritage Site. Established in 1859 by the Agri-Horticultural Society, SBG plays an important role in fostering agricultural development such as growing and experimentation in the region of Southeast Asia.
Today, Singapore Botanic Gardens has been globally recognized as a leading institution of tropical horticulture and botany. With over 40,000 rare journals and 750,000 specimens in herbarium collections, no wonder SBG welcomes over 4 million visits annually. In return, such high traffic makes Singapore Botanic Gardens the most visited botanic gardens in the world.
What is Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden?
Singapore Botanic Gardens is free for everyone, making it a perfect place for all ages to gather and learn about Mother Nature. Right inside this attraction, there is a botanic garden specially designed for children known as Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden.
As a famous Greek proverb says “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” The garden aims to instil our little ones to love Mother Nature.
Children can learn about botany and horticulture through adventure play such as the Explorer Trail Map and nature play areas. From Botanic Gardens MRT Station (Circle Line or Downtown Line), you will need to walk about 10 minutes. If you are Nassim gate and wishes to head down to Jacob Ballas, it will take about 30 minutes of walk.
Our adventure in Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden after breakfast
After our yummy family breakfast at Food For Tots cafe, walking over to Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden is just a stone away. Upon entering the garden, Baby N got excited because the first tree he saw is Banana Tree. Baby N also saw Papaya Tree, which he proudly pointed with his tiny fingers and shouted “Papa, Papaya tree!” For that moment, Baby N paused because he discovered the relationship between the words, Papa and Papaya.
Kayden was busy taking photographs of the plants, fruits and trees using his iPhone. In the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, it feels like a forest adventure for all the children. There are ponds, suspension bridge, giant mushrooms (sitting area), caves and waterfall.
Although there playgrounds in Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, we avoided them because of Baby N’s age. Nevertheless, Baby N manages to discover and learn about plants in this garden. His curiosity drives him to feel, see and smell the plants and flowers.
For parents who don’t know where to bring your children to, why not consider the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Give your children a good splash of sunshine and let them run around. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is more than just a garden. There are butterflies, bees, roosters, swans and tortoise. Why not let your children explore, discover and be themselves. This is what I call growing up.
Thank you. Signed off, Soon Koon.
