pull down to refresh

Actually we have many outdoor playgrounds in Singapore, where children can play for free. Take this fire engine-themed playground for instance:
However, given the assault of global warming, no child and parent in their right minds would play outside under the sweltering sun for an hour. This explains why indoor playgrounds are in vogue and have become part of the parenting manual.
I am gonna let you see photos of three indoor playgrounds, but I bet you won’t be able to tell one from the other. It’s a cookie-cutter model - provide inflatable ball pits, trampolines, gigantic Lego-like plastic blocks, slides, and mock supermarkets. And wait for parents to flock there with their children. Do we Singaporeans just have low standards for an indoor playground, or are these merchants too lazy to come up with unique features that will make their product stand out from the crowd?
It’s such a pity because so many parents around me are buried in their phones and letting their children run amok. (Obviously, I am one of them.) Could we do things differently?
Could we have pods in which a child can bond with his/her parent over cooperative games? Maybe a simulation game in which I need to stomp on mole rats with my son? Or a Supermarket Sweep-like game, in which I race against the clock to gather several ingredients with my son? We can even incorporate some educational elements, like getting the child to sort out animal toys into the correct categories.
Something, anything that encourages parent-child bonding rather than function as a child deposit centre.
I should work on this idea. Maybe this will make me rich.
Could we have pods in which a child can bond with his/her parent over cooperative games? Maybe a simulation game in which I need to stomp on mole rats with my son?
I no longer believe that parents FORCING themselves to play little kid games at length, together with their kids, is a good thing. I don't think it's evolutionarily something that we would have done.
Games that are actually fun for the parents - like card games, board games - sure. And being close to your kids while they play and imagine - sure.
And also having your kids do chores and make things with you, things that they will enjoy and learn from if framed in the right way - absolutely. I'm thinking things like making food together, cleaning the house together, berry-picking, going fishing, doing whatever chores need doing. Etc.
But just playing little kid games with your little children - if you like it, fine. But for some people, if you do it at length it's torture.
Better is playtime with peers.
reply
I agree with everything you said! I think I’m just irked by the sameness of all these indoor playgrounds and wish that someone has provided something different for us parents.
reply
That is great knowing that Singapore has outdoors and indoors playground for children. I wish Indonesia gonna have it too. Thanks for sharing mate
reply
Welcome to SN!
N terima kasih. Which part of Indonesia are you from?
reply
I’m from Bali, West Java.
reply
i prefer indoor playground for my kids because it create a safer environment to play and i dont have to worry
reply
I think that hiding children from the Sun is not beneficial either... playing outdoors can never be replaced by parks inside a shopping center... we just have to cover our heads and use sunscreen if necessary... play or do Outdoor activities activate our mind. Pure air activates our lungs. Here in Lima, Peru, where I have lived for 7 years, we are in winter and the outdoor parks are wet because of the humidity and the cold is quite strong! However, I shelter my little ones well and let them free on the slide...
reply
True, but Lima is around 20 celsius. Singapore is 30 celsius and incredibly humid. Taipei is 37 degrees.
It's near impossible to be outdoors for too long in many cities of Asia right now :(
reply
If we see it from that point of view, you are right!! The important thing is that, whether indoors or outdoors, our little ones have a happy childhood... and as a father I am thinking all the time how to improve👍
reply
in areas that are hot during the summer these types of facilities are life savers for kids. also we enroll in gymnastics during the summer for structured exercise and skill building
reply
The main thing is that children like to play in these playgrounds (cages). Adults may not like such structures, but they and don't play there.
reply
Very true! You've beautifully narrated how smartphone is a disaster ib subtle relationships.
reply
Do Singapore have so much extra and cheap land that can allow someone to start something like a big indoor playground?
reply
There are times you just want to dump your kids off and relax. They are young, they can play by themselves or find new friends.
reply