Tech activities to keep your kids entertained

The June holidays have come to an end and if you’re a parent, those words are absolutely music to your ears.

But now that the coding boot camps are over and the holiday activities have all but run their course, how do you keep your kids entertained and engaged apart from school work?

Well, we’re here to help with a list of fun tech activities that will keep the young ones entertained – and give you a much-needed breather. Who knows, the children may even develop some useful lifelong tech skills along the way. You can thank us later.

1. Learn coding

Coding skills are all the rage now in the job market, but it’s not just all work and no play. There are quite a few learning centres offering coding lessons for children of different age groups. But better still, there are also tons of free learning materials online.

Case in point, check out our very own GovTech YouTube channel, which has instructional videos aimed at teaching children how to code.

And if you think Python or Java are too intimidating for your child, fret not as lessons primarily use programming languages aimed at children such as Scratch.

2. Be a drone pilot

Sorry Maverick, drones are truly the future. And you and your little ones can experience that future together at the Singapore Science Centre, where you can steer not just drones but rovers too.

At the Drone-Rover area, a specially designed arena mixing indoor and outdoor elements will challenge your children’s piloting skills in manoeuvring over several obstacles.

This could be the moment to spark their interest in joining a competition such as the Drone Odyssey Challenge in August, where participants work together in teams to programme their Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to perform various tasks under given scenarios.

3. Learn about 3D printing

If you’re already at the Science Centre, you can also check out its section on 3D printing and how this technology has several medical applications.

For a more hands-on session, there are many 3D printing workshops to choose from, though be sure to check with the organiser if there is a minimum age for participation as 3D printing involves machinery that must be handled with care.

The National Library, for instance, organises periodic 3D printing workshops but participants must be at least 15 years old.

4. Watch robots in action

Robots are cool. It’s why Transformers toys have fascinated children across generations.

The Smart Nation Playscape at the Science Centre features robots galore, including robots that you can programme to dance and Rubik’s cube-solving robotic arms.

The playscape also goes beyond just robots. Get a complete tech immersion with exhibits on sensors, geospatial tech, biometrics, blockchain, AI, user experience, and Augmented/Virtual Reality/Mixed Reality (AR/VR/MR).

5. Check out how the Smart Nation is built

Speaking of Smart Nation, head on down to the URA Centre to explore the Smart Nation Cityscape.

After being wowed by the model buildings forming a miniature rendering of Singapore’s landscape, they’ll learn about how technology is increasingly powering our daily city lives, including supporting the planning of towns and amenities and being embedded in our infrastructure.

6. Follow Smart Nation Builder – a moving roadshow

Talk about fun on wheels. Head down to the Sports Hub on the final weekend of this year’s June holidays to catch the Smart Nation Builder, a 12m-long truck fitted with interactive game stations for members of the public to learn more about Singapore’s tech initiatives and digital Government services.

You’ll also get to test prototypes and give feedback about upcoming digital government services.

If you already have plans for this weekend and want to catch the Smart Nation Builder at its next location, the smart nation site has regular updates on where the truck is headed next.

Today’s play sets up long-term interest

The best part of the tech activities listed above is that they set your kids up for a long-term interest in technology.

Before you know it, they may be the ones bugging you to sign them up for more courses and programmes that will keep them occupied for many a weekend and school holiday to come.

They’ll be getting good entertainment and education at the same time. And, of course, there’s the added perk of you getting some me time.