It is normal to find bugs and insects in a garden, but the ones that can be found Tengah’s Garden Court and Garden Terrace are anything but the usual. Instead, the supersized insects here are actually fun playgrounds. And there are a total of six Tengah insect playgrounds and these include bees, a mantis, a leaf insect, rhino beetle, ladybug and a spider.
Tengah Insect Playgrounds at Garden Court & Garden Terrace
Tengah is home to quite a number of interesting playgrounds including treehouse playgrounds and a fruit truck playground around the “Plantation” neighbourhoods.
Tengah’s Garden Court’s and Garden Terrace’s playgrounds are equally well themed. In fact, since it is the “Garden” neighbourhood, the playgrounds here draw on a host of insects for inspiration.
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Or, as the signboards at the playgrounds around the neighbourhood puts it, “the different play elements are inspired by garden flora and insects native to our local environment”.
Furthermore, it is a great opportunity for children to “have a field day identifying different insects, all while having fun at the same time”.
There are a total of six insect playgrounds around Garden Court and Garden Terrace at Tengah.
The bees and mantis can be found at Garden Court, the rhino beetle and spider at Garden Terrace. The remaining two, a leaf insect and a ladybug are located along the common green space between Garden Court and Garden Terrace.
Bee Playground at Garden Court
A giant busy bee has found its way to Garden Court. The black and yellow insect can be found sitting beside a hive-like structure. Kids can climb inside the bee for some fun.
Or they can make their way through the hexagonal shaped hive structure.
The bee playground at Tengah Garden Court also has teeter totters that are designed to look like bees. Kids can hop onto either of its wings and imagine that they are buzzing away on an adventure.
Also for young children are a pair of bucket swings.
For some bouncy fun, there is a pair of trampolines, also themed with yellow and black stripes where kids can bounce about at the playground.
The Tengah bee playground which is designed for 2 to 5 year olds.
Where: The Tengah Bee Playground is located in front of Block 220A, Tengah Garden Walk.
Mantis Playground
Older children will be drawn to the Mantis Playground just a short distance away. Officially known as the Mantis Tropical Habitat, this Tengah playground is designed for older children aged 5 to 12 years old.
At one side of the playground stands a supersized praying mantis with its hands up, almost as if ready to strike. Kids can climb up the mantis and slide down its back using one of the double slides found there.
Across from the mantis play structure, there is a giant leaf shaped tower with multiple entryways.
Inside the tower, there are various opportunities to climb and explore before taking the slide from the upper levels back down.
The mantis and the leaf play structures are connected by a yellow slide rail that kids can use to zip across while hanging on tight.
Where: The Tengah Mantis Playground is located in front of Block 221A, Tengah Garden Walk.
Leaf Insect Playground
You will feel as if you have just shrunk down to a minuscule size as you approach the Leaf Insect Playground. Found at the common green space between Garden Court and Garden Terrace, this is such an imaginatively designed playground.
A gigantic leaf insect stands presiding over the playground with a basket swing slung beneath its googly eyes.
There are more swings slung out under its body with its six long legs propping it up. At the end of its long feelers, there is a netted hammock too.
And there is more at the Tengah Leaf Insect Playground.
Kids can climb up to an elevated platform with a slide using steps that have been incorporated into “stalks”.
Or they can jump onboard an arced seesaw, or hop on a trampoline.
The leaf insect playground, which is designed for children aged 5 to 12 years old, even has a fun zip line too!
Where: The Tengah Leaf Insect Playground is located in front of Block 224, Tengah Garden Avenue.
Rhino Beetle Playground at Garden Terrace
The rhino beetle or rhinoceros beetle is easily distinguished by its horn and it is pretty cool that there is a playground themed after this herbivorous insect at Tengah’s Garden Terrace.
The Rhino Beetle Playground is a low structure which has a green leaf that kids can use to climb inside. A low slide comes out from its side.
Kids can also climb under the beetle and look up through the clear domes that come up through the wooden floor of beetle’s interior.
In addition to the main rhino beetle play structure, there is also a yellow Ladybug Wheel. Kids can climb inside and get rocked about. You can find some instructions on how to properly use the Ladybug Wheel here.
Other play features at the rhino beetle playground include a merry-go-round, basket swing, play table, stepping stones, trampolines and sound pipes.
With its low elements, the playground is designed for children aged 2 to 5 years old.
Where: You can find the Tengah Rhino Beetle Playground is located in front of Block 224A, Tengah Garden Avenue.
Spider Playground
Strictly speaking, a spider is not an insect. It is an arachnid. While insects have six legs, arachnids have eight. However, we can still understand why a Spider Playground has found its way amongst garden-inspired playgrounds at Tengah.
The blue spider looks almost like an alien and perhaps that is why some people are terrified of spiders.
What we appreciated was that the spider playground was designed with eight eyes, making it anatomically correct.
We also liked how underneath the spider was a web of climbing nets and ropes. This was a nice touch. Kids can use these to make their way up and inside the spider’s body.
To escape, there is a blue slide that leads out from its side.
Other play equipment at the Tengah Spider Playground include spinners (another nice touch), seesaws and a trampoline. There are a pair of swings too.
Unsurprisingly, given the equipment found here, the spider playground is designed for those aged 5 to 12 years old.
Where: The Tengah Spider Playground can be found at Block 225A, Tengah Garden Avenue.
Ladybug Playground
Bright red in colour, the Ladybug Playground stands out amidst the greenery of the common corridor shared by Tengah Garden Terrace and Garden Court.
From the back, it looks as if the ladybug has spread out its wings.
On the inside, the ladybug playground contains different climbing opportunities. These range from a vertical ropes with foot and hand holds to an arched climbing wall and a cargo net.
Kids can even stare out of the two clear domes that make up the ladybug’s eyes.
Also around the playground are playcubes that invite little ones to explore.
They can also climb inside modpods.
Or ride the swing.
Known as Ladybug Land, this playground is designed for children aged 2 to 5 years old.
Where: The Tengah ladybug playground can be found along the Common Green in front of Block 225B, Tengah Garden Avenue.
Fun With Insect Playgrounds
With six fun, themed playgrounds all found in such close proximity, perhaps it is time to organise a playground crawl around Tengah and explore the neighbourhood.
If you liked this playground, did you know that there are other insect themed playgrounds around Singapore too? For example, there is another ladybug playground and a grasshopper playground in the north of Singapore? Or did you know about the spider playground in Queenstown?
