Old Macdonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O! And on the farm he had a pig… Sounds familiar, parents? If your little ones love animals, (as ours at ONE do, evidenced by Adventurers Ahoy: Early Intervention Beyond The Classroom!) we at ONE Intervention have just the thing for you. Today, we’re bringing you an article listing 5 Secret Kid-Friendly Places For Animal Lovers In Singapore!
These hidden gems are sure to fascinate and delight your children in equal parts. From farms to petting zoos, we’ve got something for even the shyest of your kids.
Sounds good? Great! Let’s get right into it!
Have A Hay-mazing time at Hay Dairies!
Ever heard of a goat farm in Singapore? No? Well, Hay Dairies here is, and has been, the only goat farm in Singapore since 1988.
This unique farm is a kid-friendly place for animal lovers who want to get up close and personal with goats. Your children will get the special opportunity to feed these gentle animals handfuls of alfalfa hay – they’ll be literally eating out of your hand!
For your especially curious little ones, Hay Dairies has a multitude of educational tours ready for them to choose. Why not try the Sustainability Education Package, where your kids can learn about waste management in Singapore? The Package comes with a complimentary solar powered light so that your children will never forget the importance of sustainability.
After you’re done with the tours, be sure to catch the goats being milked! You’ll be treated to a tall glass of fresh, smooth goat’s milk – straight from the farm. Drop by their souvenir shop as well for a bar of soap made from goat’s milk, or a practical cotton tote bag!
Details:
📍 250 Neo Tiew Crescent, Singapore 719866
💰 Check their website for the prices of each tour available!
Moo-verllous Fun At Viknesh Dairy Farm!
If your little ones just can’t get enough of farms, we’ve got good news for you. Viknesh Dairy Farm is another one of Singapore’s few local farms, priding themselves on pure, organic, fresh cow’s milk.
Their dairy farm milk has no preservatives added and comes from cows that are 100% grass-fed. It’s sweet, rich and creamy, best enjoyed chilled for a refreshing treat in Singapore’s sweltering weather.
The amazing part – beyond the fact that this is already one of the most unique kid friendly places for animal lovers?
A visit to this farm is completely FREE!
The farm is open from 10am to 4pm daily. Let your little ones experience the joy of being able to visit these gentle beasts in their cattle sheds. For a low price, you can even buy some hay to feed the cows – we’re sure they’ll appreciate it!
Go Crazy At KidzWorld!
Okay, this one is a bit more well-known, but we can’t help but feel that it earns a spot on this list.
KidzWorld is a classic kid-friendly place for animal lovers, and with good reason. A long time favourite of the Singapore Zoo, KidzWorld is sure to spark a sense of awe in your little one. They’ll get to learn more about the animal world through personal interactions with their furry little friends.
Try visiting their Animal Land Zone for the chance to interact with some animals in a free-ranging area! Your kids might get to meet goats, chickens and even falabellas!
Yep, that adorable little guy. It’s one of the smallest breeds of horses in the world!
Besides Animal Land, be sure to drop by Kidzworld’s Little Paws Zone. Your kids will get the chance to play with little critters such as cats, dogs and rabbits. They’ll learn how to respect and care for other creatures – a great lesson on empathy packaged in a world of fun!
Details:
📍 80 Mandai Lake Rd, Singapore 729826
💰 Check their website for the ticket prices to the different Parks in the zoo!
Have A Re-Meow-kable Time At The Cat Cafe!
Who doesn’t like our furry little feline friends? Your little ones are sure to be delighted by the cats at The Cat Cafe, where they can hang out and chill for an afternoon.
The Cat Cafe at Bugis is home to 15 rescue cats, with their ages ranging from 8 months to 17+ years old. So, your kids can enjoy the company of both playful and energetic kitties as well as quieter, more mature cats.
The Cat Cafe also offers light refreshments and beverages for you to enjoy as you play with the cats. Just imagine – an afternoon with your family, a steaming mug of tea, and a roomful of cats? Count us in!
Plus, for a really special day out, you can reserve The Cat Cafe at the Rail Mall for an art jamming session with cats. They provide both semi-guided and unguided art jamming sessions upon request.
Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?
Details:
📍 241B Victoria St, Singapore 188030 (Bugis)
📍 392 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678046 (The Rail Mall)
💰$22.00 per pax / 2h ; + $5.50 for every additional 30 min
Chill Out At What The Pug Cafe!
Aww, look at its squishy wrinkly face! What The Pug is a whole cafe dedicated to just these cuddly little puppers, where you and your kids can visit for a simple afternoon of relaxing fun.
The pugs there come in a range of ages, from just over a year old to more than ten years old. Your little ones can play with the more energetic pups if they’re feeling adventurous, or simply sit back and enjoy the company of the older dogs.
The sessions are fairly short, so you don’t need to worry about having to set aside too much time on the weekend to visit this cafe.
Also, each session comes with a complimentary polaroid photograph that will be taken and printed for you on the spot. You and your family can keep it to remember your afternoon of doggy fun!
Details:
📍 80 Haji lane Singapore 189271
🔗 what the pug (@whatthepugcafe) • Instagram photos and videos
💰 Check Ticketing for the ticket prices, which are different for weekdays and weekends!
But Why Should I Check Out These Kid-Friendly Places For Animal Lovers?
See, you don’t need to get a pet for your kid to be able to experience the benefits of hanging out with animals. All you need to do is spend an afternoon at any of the above places for a quick, easy boost in physical and mental health.
There are several reasons why you should visit these kid-friendly places for animal lovers, besides the fact that it’s just fun to spend some time with these furry companions. Here are just a few:
Animals Boost Happy Hormones
We’re serious. This is backed by research – spending time with animals prompts your body to release some feel-good hormones. These are called serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin, which helps the body to alleviate stress.
That’s why even just half an hour with a pet can make some people feel happier and more at ease. The best part about this, though, is that scientists have shown that even interacting with a pet you don’t own can have the same stress-relief effect.
In other words? By all means, a visit to any of the above places is guaranteed to make you and your kid feel happier!
It’s Grounding And Provides Sensory Stimulation
Experts have proven that spending time with animals can be grounding for children with autism, ADHD and anxiety. This is because connecting with an animal can help relieve anxiety in kids. They feel less alone knowing that there’s a furry companion right there by their side.
This is why so many animals, such as dogs and even horses, are used as therapy animals. (We briefly touched on that in our article about epilepsy!) Interacting with the animals trains the individuals’ fine motor skills and memory, because they have to remember the correct procedures to care for their service animal.
Besides that, the feeling of fur and a warm body curled up next to your little one can be incredibly comforting. It can provide children with special needs a form of sensory input so they stay grounded.
It Teaches Children About Care And Responsibility
Your child will learn respect and care for other living things as they interact with animals. This is because they will have to understand how to control their strength when feeding or petting the animals.
Moreover, they will have to observe the animals’ body language to see if their actions cause it pain or discomfort. This teaches your kids empathy and also trains them to focus their attention on active listening (albeit with a companion who can’t talk back to them!)
And if you think about it, all of the above hold true even if your family chooses to not have a pet. The simple act of interacting with an animal means that your child will have to learn how to watch, wait and listen to another living thing’s body language. That’s a pretty useful skill, don’t you think!
Well, there you have it: 5 Secret Kid-Friendly Places For Animal Lovers! If you’ve got any other hidden gems that you think deserve a place on the list, just drop us a comment below 💬 We’re always delighted to hear from you!