I had always wanted to check out the playground at the new Marine Cove at East Coast Park but didn't because of reports from friends on how crowded the playground was. Which was why I thought perhaps it will be less crowded on a weekday morning.
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| Left: Excited that they get to go out!; Right: Ran to the playground the moment they saw it! |
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| Marine Cove at East Coast Park |
Unfortunately the main play structure (the one with the suspension bridge and big slides) was closed for maintenance! On the eve of a public holiday?!? We were so disappointed! *sigh*
Thankfully there's still the pre-schooler playground for younger kids.
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| Loving the slides at the pre-schooler playground |
My kids love the swings too!
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| Four swings |
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| My boy is on the swing that can also be used for children with special needs (this is part of the Inclusive Playground project headed by my organisation, National Council of Social Service. Very proud of the team!) |
There was also a mini 'spider-web' play structure with a nice shelter to give us some respite from the rising noonday sun. Older kids probably find this way too boring but it was just nice for my kids.
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| My girl climbed all the way to the top |
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| Very proud of herself for making it |
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| My boy also tried climbing it and made it to the middle |
I used to love these structures when I was younger! I'm glad my kids also love them as much as I do =)
There was another dome-like play structure that was a lot more challenging to climb but with a lot of encouragement from me, my girl managed to do it! I was pretty proud of her for overcoming her fear of falling.
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| Climbing to the middle where her brother was |
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| This is too difficult for the boy so he can only watch his sister or climb up the middle section |
I believe in letting my kids do challenging climbs on their own with minimal help from me because it not only builds their muscles, it also builds their self-esteem and self-efficacy. The thrill of accomplishing something deemed difficult and overcoming your own fear is what I want them to pursue for the rest of their lives =)
We also loved this see-saw, which adults can sit on too together with the kids! I enjoyed it very much #nevergrowup
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| See-saw never gets old |
Since we were at East Coast Park, I took the opportunity to introduced the kids to their parents' favourite hangout when we were dating: the breakwater at the beach.
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| One of the many breakwaters at East Coast Park |
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| Feeling scared that they might fall into the sea but they bravely smiled for this photo anyway |
We wanted to try one of those four-wheeler-canopy bicycles where the kids can ride in front but it was too expensive (besides, the mum-in-law does not know how to ride a bicycle). We decided to spend the money on McDonald's instead!
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| Nuggets and my favourite soft-serve ice-cream! |
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| Enjoying our afternoon snack! |
This McDonald's also had a fun interactive screen for the kids to play with. The Happy Meal mascots will move their arms and body according to the movements of the kids. Very cute!
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| McDonald's interactive screen for kids and kids at heart |
I have fond memories of the old East Coast McDonald's (the one located next to a bowling alley in the good old days before it was torn down and this was built to replace it). Maybe one day my kids will have fond memories of this too =)
When we were done, we headed back to the West and spent some time at the Jurong Regional Library. Again, I have fond memories of hanging out and studying here with my secondary school friends when it was still the old Jurong library! Although the library looks very different now (it has gone through a major facelift and looks even better than before!), it is still the same awesome library that I remembered =)
The children's section, or Early Literacy Library, is located at the basement. It's super fun for the kids, who really enjoy themselves playing with toys and reading books (of course, my kids also liked jumping and running, but that was frowned upon by me).
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| Early Literacy Library |
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| Stroller parking. How cute! |
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| Left: My girl trying out the interactive screen; Right: Reading a book about Disney princesses while seated on a child bench. The toys at the back was for the younger siblings like my boy who can't read yet and so required something to occupy them while the rest of us borrowed books. |
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| I super love these lounge seats that allow you to chill when you're tired of running after the kids! =) |
A very nice nursing room is also conveniently located at the back of the library.
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| Baby changing table and two nursing rooms |
Now that we live so close to this library and can borrow 8 books per card (it's double from 19 November to 31 January 2017), we'll be making this a monthly thing for our family =)
The kids still had a lot of energy by the time we left the library so I brought them to West Coast Park.
I told my girl in the car that the 'spider-web' play structure was infinitely more fun than the one at Marine Cove because it was one of the few that had attached slides! She was so excited but unfortunately, it was also CLOSED for maintenance when we arrived!!! HOW SUAY WERE WE?!?!?! *grrr*
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| A photo of the 'spider-web' playground I took a few years ago |
To cheer her up, I brought her to my favourite flying fox playground, which has not changed since my youth! Once again I'm reminded of the fun times I have had riding the flying fox myself!
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| One of the best features of West Coast Park, the flying fox! |
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| My girl enjoying herself and asking to ride again and again |
I have to admit that I was slightly concerned that my boy might let go of the rope halfway while flying 2-3 metres above the ground. But he didn't. He clung on for dear life and had so much fun that he rode it numerous of times.
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| This daredevil loves the flying fox like his mummy (definitely not like his unadventurous daddy haha)! |
The kids could keep going at it forever had it not been for the fact that I was too tired to run after them and get them on and off (they are still too short to mount the seat or get off on their own).
Sadly, it started to drizzle before we could explore the rest of the playground =(
I hurried the kids to Minibee but my girl wasn't satisfied until she had one last climb on this smaller 'spider-web' structure.
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| Finishing her last climb before we left |
If you have time, check out the other playgrounds in the park. It's really endless of fun here at West Coast Park (I'm so proud to be living so near such an awesome park).
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| Climbing structures for climbing enthusiasts like my boy |
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| More climbing structures for the older kids (there's a toddler playground too in case you're wondering why the photos only show the playgrounds for older kids) |
There are SIX major playgrounds here so there will definitely be something for every kid!
Although it was supposed to be a day of fun for my kids, it also turned out to be a day of reminiscing the days of my youth for me! Love days like this that I can spend with my kids =)
Oh and the kids' 'battery' finally wore out and they were knocked out the moment we got home *laughs*. Can't wait for our next outing!
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This post is part of my MadPsychMum Fun in Singapore Guide to all things exciting for kids!
Check out other fun playgrounds and attractions in Singapore! =)
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