Imagine dragons
Here's another activity we have been doing this March hols: checking out heritage dragon playgrounds.
Partly inspired by Mum in the Making's recent playground visits (and many others on my social media feeds) and partly worried that they will soon be demolished to make way for 'development', I rounded the boys and told them we were going hunting for old dragon playgrounds from Papa's childhood. I didn't grow up in Singapore but I have a special spot in my heart for nostalgia. Don't we all?
If I am not wrong, there are only two dragon playgrounds left in Singapore. This is the one at Ang Mo Kio - Blk 571, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, S(560571).
I loved the fact that it was designed by a local architect and everything from the mosaic façade, terrazzo slides and welded metal body was made from scratch and painstakingly pieced together. What's even more amazing is the relatively good shape it still is in today. A true testament of its fine workmanship and quality of materials used.
It was interesting to see the boys explore the playgrounds and playing a little differently from how they would from the usual cookie-cutter plastic playgrounds we have nowadays. They were peeking out from the dragon's eye, running through the winding metal coils of the dragon's back and sliding down (and clambering up) the mosaic slide over and over again.
It was definitely not as 'safe' as the playgrounds we have today - it was not easy for little feet to walk on the metal rods (which were corroded in some parts!) and I was a bit worried the boys may fall off the platform without any railing - but we sure had our fill of fun!
On a separate day, we also visited the other dragon playground at Blk 29 at Toa Payoh Lorong 5. We often drive past it in the neighbourhood but this was the first time we actually ventured to the playground.
The dark blue dragon and its colourful spine juxtaposed against the backdrop of a vast green field and distant HDB blocks makes for a very handsome playground. If you have to choose one heritage playground to visit, you definitely have to check out this one!
We didn't stay long as it started to drizzle shortly after we arrived but we were glad the boys had a good run in it.
Foops recalled playing in mosaic playgrounds just like these when he was a young boy and was very happy to see our boys playing in the same type of playgrounds as he did long ago. I hope the authorities will always preserve these old heritage playgrounds.
And just for fun, I got my hands on a Rediscover SG Paper Toys set (I believe they are out of circulation now) and DIY-ed my very own paper dragon playground for keeps :)
Here's a fun blog train by a group of mummy bloggers featuring heritage playgrounds around the island. We hope to visit the Dove playground with the boys next!
Partly inspired by Mum in the Making's recent playground visits (and many others on my social media feeds) and partly worried that they will soon be demolished to make way for 'development', I rounded the boys and told them we were going hunting for old dragon playgrounds from Papa's childhood. I didn't grow up in Singapore but I have a special spot in my heart for nostalgia. Don't we all?
If I am not wrong, there are only two dragon playgrounds left in Singapore. This is the one at Ang Mo Kio - Blk 571, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, S(560571).
I loved the fact that it was designed by a local architect and everything from the mosaic façade, terrazzo slides and welded metal body was made from scratch and painstakingly pieced together. What's even more amazing is the relatively good shape it still is in today. A true testament of its fine workmanship and quality of materials used.
It was interesting to see the boys explore the playgrounds and playing a little differently from how they would from the usual cookie-cutter plastic playgrounds we have nowadays. They were peeking out from the dragon's eye, running through the winding metal coils of the dragon's back and sliding down (and clambering up) the mosaic slide over and over again.
It was definitely not as 'safe' as the playgrounds we have today - it was not easy for little feet to walk on the metal rods (which were corroded in some parts!) and I was a bit worried the boys may fall off the platform without any railing - but we sure had our fill of fun!
On a separate day, we also visited the other dragon playground at Blk 29 at Toa Payoh Lorong 5. We often drive past it in the neighbourhood but this was the first time we actually ventured to the playground.
The dark blue dragon and its colourful spine juxtaposed against the backdrop of a vast green field and distant HDB blocks makes for a very handsome playground. If you have to choose one heritage playground to visit, you definitely have to check out this one!
We didn't stay long as it started to drizzle shortly after we arrived but we were glad the boys had a good run in it.
Foops recalled playing in mosaic playgrounds just like these when he was a young boy and was very happy to see our boys playing in the same type of playgrounds as he did long ago. I hope the authorities will always preserve these old heritage playgrounds.
And just for fun, I got my hands on a Rediscover SG Paper Toys set (I believe they are out of circulation now) and DIY-ed my very own paper dragon playground for keeps :)
Here's a fun blog train by a group of mummy bloggers featuring heritage playgrounds around the island. We hope to visit the Dove playground with the boys next!