The Singapore Zoo, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Science Centre Singapore, Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden and VivoCity Playground have emerged as the best places for kids in Singapore in the respective categories – Best Paid Attractions; Best Parks, Gardens or Nature Spots; Best Paid Educational, Arts, Cultural or Heritage Spots; Best Free Playgrounds and Best Free Shopping Mall Playgrounds.
Except for the Best Free Playgrounds category where the difference between the top and second spots was about 11%, the winners of the other categories each ranked between 23% and 33% well above the next best awardee.
The online poll, conducted in January and February 2013 by digital publisher Little Day Out, surveyed over 100 Singaporean parents, with the majority of them having at least 2 children. 46% of their children were below 5, 43% were aged 5 to 9 and 22% were older than 9. Respondents were 77% females and 26% males, and they named their top three choices in each category from an initial list suggested by Little Day Out.
Best Paid Attractions 2013
Our world-renowned and beloved Singapore Zoo received the biggest nod of approval as the Best Paid Attraction, garnering 79% of the votes, followed by Universal Studios Singapore at 47% and Sentosa at 41%. The Singapore Zoo was also the most highly ranked across all five categories.
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Best Free Playgrounds 2013
In the Best Free Playground Category, Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden – where adults are allowed to enter only if children accompany them – was voted as the best with 72% of the votes, followed by West Coast Park Adventure Playground and Pasir Ris Park Playground at 61% and 55% respectively.
Best Parks, Gardens or Nature Spots 2013
As for the Best Parks, Gardens or Nature Spots, old favourite Singapore Botanic Gardens stood the test of time with 77% votes. East Coast Beach, another familial favourite received 44% of votes, and newcomer Gardens by the Bay received 32% of votes.
Best Free Shopping Mall Playgrounds
The multiple play areas with play equipment and water play features within VivoCity megamall earned it the Best Free Shopping Mall Playground accolade with votes of 68%. Paragon Junior, The Children’s Playground came up next at 35% and IMM Garden Plaza with 29%.
Best Educational, Arts, Cultural or Heritage Places
Science Centre Singapore was top in the Best Educational, Arts, Cultural or Heritage Places category as well as fourth in the Best Paid Attractions category. It earned 73% of votes, ahead of National Museum of Singapore at 50% and the privately-owned Children Little Museum at 29%.
Table of Results for Parents’ Choice 2013
| Category | Best Parents’ Choice Awardee | Next Top Parents’ Choices | Other Nominees |
| Best Paid Attractions | Singapore Zoo (79%) | Universal Studios Singapore (47%), Sentosa (41%) | Science Centre Singapore, Jurong Bird Park, S.E.A. Aquarium |
| Best Free Playgrounds | Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden (72%) | West Coast Park Adventure Playground (61%), Pasir Ris Park Playground (55%) | Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Adventure Playground, Tiong Bahru Park Train Playground, Woodlands Waterfront Playground |
| Best Nature Spots | Singapore Botanic Gardens (77%)
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East Coast Beach (44%), Gardens by the Bay (32%) | Punggol Waterway Park, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, MacRitchie Reservoir Park |
| Best Free Shopping Mall Playgrounds | VivoCity Playground (68%) | Paragon Junior, The Children’s Playground (35%), IMM Garden Plaza (29%) | Changi City Point Playground, NEX Playground, Marina Square Playground |
| Best Educational, Arts, Cultural or Heritage Places | Science Centre Singapore(73%) | National Museum of Singapore (50%), Children Little Museum (29%) | Singapore Discovery Centre, The Esplanade, Asian Civilisations Museum |
Best Places for Kids in Singapore
Click here to read more about the Top Parents’ Choices 2013 and the articles for each of the top choices.
- Best Paid Attraction: Singapore Zoo
- Best Free Playground: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
- Best Park, Garden or Nature Spot: Singapore Botanic Gardens
- Best Free Shopping Mall Playground: VivoCity
- Best Educational, Arts, Cultural or Heritage Place: Science Centre Singapore
