Mrs. Pocketbook: Activities for Father and Son Bonding: For 3 to 5 Year Olds

At the Singapore Botanic Gardens
PS: Our first time witnessing ducks in a row - live! It really happens! Not only in storybooks.

It's the final month of the year again. A good time to review the year. They say you'll regret it if you do not spent enough time with your children while they're still young. Simply because they'll grow up and you cannot turn them back into little cubs ever again. And you'll miss those moments forever...

So, have the daddy and son been out together frequently this year? Perhaps this is a good time for some catch-up time especially if daddy is taking a long break. Here are the activities that my hubby and son did together. Hope you'll find these ideas inspiring. Enjoy your parenting moments!

Do homework together. Try out how it feels to actually teach the kids how to read, write and do real homework. Daddy, if you think that tutoring a preschool kid is easy-peasy, think again.

Play X-box: Play golf, shoot darts, kick balls or ride on the waves. All in the total comfort of your home. Super fun!

An elaborated, leisure meal in the mall - with no nagging from the mom required since there's no clean up to do. [That's why I enjoy this very much]

Cycling, scooting or head to the playground in the neighbourhood park. [I found some amazing neighborhood playground here. There's even one with a trampoline!]

Visit fish/animal/vegetable farms and share the most sinful ice-cream. [We like the mostly-sheltered Qian Hu Fish Farm]

Go overseas, take a cruise, have a staycation or experience a local farm stay.

Visit libraries, kid's museum, science centre, zoos, kids' exhibitions, or just watch a kid's movie together in the cinema or at home.

Water play: Beach, swimming pool, water play zone at shopping malls or parks. Yes, daddies should get as wet as their little ones.

Visit nature reserves like forests and rivers for a picnic, walk about, catch insects, watch wildlife and take photos.

This is a classic: Read a book, at bedtime, in bed, right before dozing off to slumber land - together. As with many happily-ever-after stories, the day ends perfectly this way. If the boys are not bookish, they can play a round or two of any relaxing game (e.g. Candy Crush) just before bed. Either way, it's a great way to bond before bed.

Below are some captured daddy-son moments.

Fire Station Open House. Opened every Saturday morning.

Splashing good time!

At the River Safari (river-themed wildlife park).
Jovie just reached the min. height of 1.06m for this Amazon boat ride! So lucky :)

Amazon Flooded Forest

My painting of Hubby and Son (paint by numbers) where they spend their afternoons at the river in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve [SBWR].

Note: SBWR is not only a smoke-free park, it's also wheelchair-accessible. I love! Meaning, not only the wheelchair bound folks can enjoy the greenery, it's also pram-accessible - no trouble at all even if the kids get too tired/lazy to walk or fall peacefully asleep in the wilderness. Remember to wear mosquito patches.

At the President's Homeground with extended family. The Istana's Open House.

See that red flag? It means Mr President is in the House.

Festive exhibitions, musical performances and market stalls selling food, beverages, popcorns and balloons awaits us! There are even bouncing castles!

Hiking to the Singapore Quarry. Accessible via Dairy Farm Nature Park.

Singapore Quarry is actually just next to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve where you can hike to the summit of Bukit Timah Hill. But I find it unsuitable for kids below 5 as some parts are too steep to climb. Recently, it's undergoing restoration works though. So check them out before heading there to avoid disappointment.

If not, you can try the nearby Bukit Batok Nature Park just across the road to the southwest. There's a quarry there too with a few sand-filled playgrounds. Nearby toilets are available also.