Outdoor Exploration at Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, Singapore

The first time we took our children to the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, it was closed. It happened to be a Monday and we didn't realize that the garden was closed on that particular day of the week (uncharacteristically, I hadn't deemed it important to check before visiting 😒). Since then, it had always been on my mind to take them there again but it never happened. 

For the uninitiated, Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden located in the Singapore Botanic Gardens is the first garden in Asia dedicated to children. Its theme of ‘Life on Earth Depends on Plants’ aims to educate and instill a love for nature in children. The garden is a complete nature-learning environment, where children can delve deeper into the ecology of plants and our environment through discovery and experiential learning. 

Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden was already huge but it was upgraded not too long ago with an extension which has made it even bigger and better. It is a hugely popular outdoor attraction for families with young children in Singapore. 

A few months ago, we were finally able to schedule a visit to the garden and the girls were looking forward to it. It was a scorching hot Saturday morning but we bravely ventured out. It has been a while since we visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens so we walked through parts of it before making our way to the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden. 

I had tried for several weeks to secure a lunch reservation at The Halia or Bee's Knees as a refreshment pitstop after a visit to the garden but all my attempts were in vain. So we settled on having a relaxed brunch at Little Spot (formerly known as Food for Tots), a family-friendly café located by the entrance of Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden. 

The 40-seater eco-conscious café features an upcycled colander light installation, themed recycling bins and a potted herb wall – all to instill a love for nature in its visitors. Diners have a selection of popular breakfast/brunch items like a full western breakfast, avocado toast, granola yoghurt bowl, pancakes, croissants, buddha bowls, fish & chips, burgers, pasta as well as hot and cold beverages.

After having a hearty brunch, we were fuelled up to explore.

Image source: littlespotsg/Instagram 

Image source: littlespotsg/Instagram

At the entrance of Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, you will immediately notice a magnificent sculpture by Zadok Ben-David. Aptly named “Mystree”, its leaves are made up of over 500 little figurines. The sculpture was donated to the Children’s Gardens by Dr Rosslyn Leong. This interesting sculpture serves to capture the imagination of the children who visit the Children’s Garden and inspire them to have fun during their visit. Looking upwards, once can see the many butterflies on the circular roof and the light shining through them casts patterns on the ground. 

Also appealing to the curious little ones, there are interactive touchscreens with activities and information about the park, plus a map that allows little visitors to plan their route.

The four-hectare garden offers children a space for exploration, adventure and play, with an opportunity to learn about different ecosystems namely, Farm, Orchard, Forest and Stream. 

For easy reference, the garden can be divided into two main sections – East and West connected by two bridges. The eight areas are: Play, Grow, Explore, Learn, Forest, Orchard, Stream and Farm. The first four are on the East side while the rest are on the West side.

We first came across the sand playground. The girls explored for a bit but didn't hang around too long as the sun was beating down on us fiercely. 

Next came the hedge maze. This was fun for the girls to navigate. It is relatively simple so parents needn't worry about their children getting lost. 

There is a balancing beam made of logs in the area as well. This is something most children cannot resist, right?

Unfortunately due to Covid-19, the water play area was closed and I understand that it has been closed for quite some time. It is supposed to be a small set-up with some water sprinklers. We hope to check back in when it is operational. 

The photosynthesis water play area will definitely appeal to toddlers. Overall, I'd say this area of the garden (sand playground, hedge maze and water play) will appeal more to younger children. 

Next we came to the most fun part of the garden. The nature playground has a trampoline, a nest swing,  balancing logs, a flying fox - a zipline connected to tall tree houses that children can glide along,  a swing rope bridge, as well as inclusive play equipment for children with special needs. This area is suitable for the adventurous little ones. 

There was a huge demand for the flying fox but the girls get enough of it from their frequent visits to Admiralty Park so they weren't too disappointed. 

After the girls finished playing here, we went for a stroll around the Forest area which was quite pleasant. Be sure to look out for the interesting sculptures, birds and insects.  

We then proceeded to check out the Farm zone. The girls were excited to spot different vegetables growing and it was a great opportunity for us to have conversations with them about fresh produce and the methods and benefits of growing them. 

The Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden offers so many opportunities for children to learn about nature. There are eye-catching information signposts in many places providing colorful graphics and fun facts for the little ones to absorb. 

Next we checked out the Treehouse playground which was a relatively more busy area filled with children of all ages enjoying themselves. The girls enjoyed exploring this area.  

This part of the garden also has a cave, pond and waterfall which is pretty cool. 

Although this entire area receives shade from the surrounding plants and trees, the giant toadstool shelters makes for an interesting addition and provides a place of rest and respite from the heat. 

A Massive Garden for Children to Learn and Play

At the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, young adventure seekers can explore the suspension bridge and nature play areas; budding naturalists can walk along the stream and climb into the tree-houses and little urban gardeners can observe how plants grow and pick up some gardening tips. Children can choose to be one or a combination of ‘Adventurer’, ‘Gardener’ or ‘Naturalist’ for a day by following their carefully curated trails. There is much fun to be had! 

We wrapped up a lovely morning at Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden and spent a little more time walking around the Botanic Gardens before heading home. 

Visitors Information:

• Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden is designed for children aged 14 and below. Children aged 12 and below must be accompanied by an adult. Adults are permitted entry only if accompanying a child.
• Bicycles, scooters and skateboards are not allowed inside the garden
• Pets are not allowed inside the garden
• It is advisable to carry sunblock, hats, umbrellas and water bottles
• Keep the surroundings clean. Visitors must refrain from causing damage to plants, turf, furniture or facilities
• Bringing tents, tables or chairs into the garden is prohibited
• Contact Visitor Services Desk in case of emergencies, lost and found and general queries

Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden

Address:

481 Bukit Timah Rd

Singapore 259769

Opening hours: 

8am to 7pm

Closed on Mondays (except when it falls on a designated public holiday)

Admission: Free

 

Getting there:

By car or taxi

From Dunearn Road - At the Dunearn-Kheam Hock Road junction, turn right to enter NUS Bukit Timah Campus. Turn right into Jacob Ballas Children's Garden after car park gantry.

From Bukit Timah Road - At the Bukit Timah-Kheam Hock Road junction, turn left to enter NUS Bukit Timah Campus. Turn right into Jacob Ballas Children's Garden after car park gantry.

Parking is available at Jacob Ballas Children's Garden and NUS Bukit Timah Campus.

By bus

SBS Bus No. 48, 66, 151, 153, 154, 156, 170, 186 and SMRT Bus No. 67, 171. Alight along Bukit Timah Road, NUS Bukit Timah Campus bus stop.

By Mass Rapid Transit (Circle Line & Downtown Line, Botanic Gardens MRT)

Alight at Eco Garden (North end of the Singapore Botanic Gardens) via the Botanic Gardens Station. The Jacob Ballas Children's Garden will be a 10 minute walk from the station.

Have you taken your children to the Jacob Ballas Children's Garden? What do you like about the garden? Leave a comment to let me know. 

 

Cheers,

Megha