If you are a parent, you are probably trying your best to fill up your child's calendar for the month without burning a hole in your pocket.
This is especially crucial amid rising food prices and fuel costs, among other things.
Take Madam Low Peng Ni, 39, for example. The housewife used to spend anything from $200 to $400 on holiday courses for her 10-year-old daughter Serene.
But this time round, she has cut her budget to just $100.
"I will pick and choose carefully to ensure I get my money's worth," she says.
She could start by browsing through the 35-plus PA Kiddies courses and workshops organised by the People?s Association. The classes start from $8 and the bulk of its activities cost less than $50.
No wonder it attracted more than 8,000 children last year.
"Essentially, PA Kiddies courses are brand-new creative courses for children at value-for-money course fees," notes Ms Jacinta Lim, PA's director of its lifeskills and lifestyle division.
To help you make a smarter choice, LifeStyle has picked 25 activities and courses to suit various budgets.
Below $50
1. High School Musical: The Ice Tour Party
What: Join in the song and dance sessions with hits from the popular High School Musical. Where: United Square shopping mall When: June 3 - 8, 4pm & 7pm on weekdays, 1pm, 4pm & 7pm on weekends Details: Free, tel: 6251-5885 or log on to www.unitedsquare.com.sg
2. ACM Weekend Viet Fest
What: Immerse yourself in Vietnamese culture with performances such as a lion dance on stilts, a bazaar and Vietnamese story-telling sessions for a whole weekend of family fun. Where: Asian Civilisations Museum When: Saturday - June 1, 11am to 6pm Details: Free, tel: 6332-3284/6332-7798 or log on to www.acm.org.sg
3. Giant Games
What: Back by popular demand - both children and adults can have some good fun in games such as Snakes and Ladders, Jigsaw and Flip Chart. Where: National Museum When: Today till Tuesday, 11am - 5pm Details: Free, log on to www.nationalmuseum.sg
4. Summer Bazaar
What: Be entertained by magic shows and stage contests. Enjoy balloon and ice-cream giveaways for children. Where: Safra Mount Faber When: June 6 and 7, 11am - 8pm Details: Free, tel: 6278-6011 or e-mail cshuling@safra.sg
5. Fruits! Glorious Fruits!
What: Take a guided tour through the park and learn more about the varieties of fruits available. Where: Singapore Botanic Gardens When: June 17 and June 21, 10am - 11am Details: $6 per child and $6 per accompanying adult, tel: 6471-9961 or log on to www.nparks.gov.sg
6. Science Explorer - Water Rocket
What: Go beyond the classroom to learn more about the science behind flight. This fun-filled workshop will introduce students to basic aircraft parts and components, various science concepts and how you can apply them by building a water rocket with a plastic bottle. Where: Five community clubs - Toa Payoh East, Changi Simei, Ci Yuan, Dover and Kim Seng When: June 3 - 19 Details: $10 - $27, log on to http://one.pa.gov.sg
7. Japanese Sushi Making Little Chef
What: Throw your own sushi party with your child as the ultimate sushi chef. He will learn the basics of making great sushi and proper food hygiene while handling the ingredients. Where: Eight community clubs - Hwi Yoh, Gek Poh Ville, Admiral Garden, Yew Tee, Kolam Ayer, Anchorvale, Katong and Chua Chu Kang. When: Tomorrow till June 19 Details: $15 - $30, log on to http://one.pa.gov.sg
8. Park Hopper
What: Buy a special three-in-one Park Hopper ticket and you will be entitled to one visit per park for one month. Kids can participate in a string of activities including face painting, cavemen dance performance and Flintstones meet-and-greet session. The Dino Trail contest, which will run across the three parks, involves participants answering questions related to various exhibits. Where: Jurong BirdPark, Night Safari and Singapore Zoo When: Till June 22 Details: $40 (adult) and $20 (child), tel: 6265-0022/6269-3411
9. Miniature 4WD Racing Car Construction
What: Enhance your child's creativity and imagination by letting him learn how to build a miniature 4WD racing car that can be raced on tracks which range from a third of a badminton court to two full-sized badminton courts. Where: Six community clubs - Boon Lay, Geylang West, Kim Seng, Nee Soon East, Braddell Heights and Clementi When: June 6 - 20 Details: $15 - $35, log on to http://one.pa.gov.sg
10. Sports Climbing Clinic for Kids
What: As your child scales different gradients of the wall, he will understand the safety issues related to sports climbing. Where: Safra Toa Payoh When: June 3 and June 10 (10am - 2pm) June 17 (2pm - 6pm) Details: $16.05, tel: 6355-4511 or e-mail Crainus@safra.sg
11. Science Explorer - Crime Solving with Chromatography What: Chromatography has been used in police cases to solve crimes such as fraud. This course introduces your child to chromatography and its applications in police investigations. Participants will go hands-on as they try to crack a case using chromatography techniques. Where: Ulu Pandan Community Club and Bishan North Community Club When: June 10 and 19 Details: $16 - $22, log on to http://one.pa.gov.sg
12. IT Savvy Kids - Computer Cartooning What: Unleash your child's creativity with digital drawing. Using easy-to-use software tools, your child can now transfer hand-drawn artworks to the computer and redraw them in digital format. Where: Four community clubs - Tampines East, Canberra, Bishan North and Chong Pang When: Thursday - June 11 Details: $45 - $60, log on to http://one.pa.gov.sg
$50 - $100
13. Get-Kids-Afloat Programme What: Sailing is a thinking sport that instills confidence, hones decision-making skills and trains a child's agility. This four-day introductory course is suitable for those aged seven to 17. Where: SAF Yacht Club When: Tuesday - June 20, 9.30am - 5.30pm for four days Details: $74.90 - $107, tel: 6758-3359, e-mail scangel@safyc.org.sg or log on to www.satyc.org.sg
14. Pulau Ubin Mysteries Day Tour
What: Visit spots on Pulau Ubin such as Chek Jawa, German Gin Temple and Guan Yin Rock. Organiser: Safra Toa Payoh When: June 14, 8am - 3pm Details: $36.35, tel: 6355-4506 or e-mail Ljean@safra.sg
15. All-Season Cookie Cottage
What:Design your own yummy 3D cookie cottage using cookies, ice-cream cones and biscuit fingers. Where: YMCA Orchard When: June 3 (10am - 1pm), June 13 and June 17 (1 - 4pm) Details: $89, tel: 9815-2711 or log on to www.kookyart.com.sg
16. 3-in-1 Saturday Getaway
What: Escape the urban noise and head to Johor to visit a Desaru fruit orchard, the Kota Tinggi waterfalls and enjoy a fireflies river cruise. Where: Johor When: June 7: 6.45am - 10pm Details: $74.90 (adults) and $64.20 (children), tel: 6852-8200 or e-mail esli@safra.sg
17. Using The Arts To Teach Reading Comprehension Strategies
What: This two-hour workshop for parents and children will explore the basic strategies that participants can use to engage themselves actively in the English language using the arts. Where: TOL ArtVenture When: June 5 and 13, 10am - noon and 1.30pm - 3.30pm Details: $68 per parent-and-child pair, tel: 6464-6448/9450-9407 or e-mail info@tolartventure.com.sg
18. Mayday! Mayday!
What: Wannabe pilots can pick up some tips in this class which uses a video flight simulation programme. Where: Safra Toa Payoh When: June 13 (9am - 5pm) Details: $70.60, tel: 6355-4506 or e-mail Ljean@safra.sg
19. Brain Games Workshop
What: Sharpen your mind and prepare yourself for a marathon of mental challenges to improve your thinking skills. Where: Safra Toa Payoh When: June 12, 2.30 - 6pm Details: $57.75, tel: 6355-4506 or e-mail Ljean@safra.sg
Above $100
20. Sarong Stories
What: Learn more about Peranakan culture and folk tales at this three-day workshop. Where: Peranakan Museum When: June 5 - 6 (9.30am - 4pm) and June 7 (10am - noon) Details: $180, tel: 6332-3284/ 6332-7591 or log on to www.acm.org.sg
21. Parent & Child Bonding Through Pottery Making
What: Make it a special time with your child and create a cup and saucer together. Price includes all clay, glazes and loan of aprons and tools. Where: Clay Cove, Funan DigitaLife Mall When: June 14 and June 21, 3.30 - 5pm Details: $140, tel: 6338-7769 or log on to www.claycove.com
22. Science Clinic Zoology
What: Take science out of the classroom and learn about the various groups of animals through interactive lessons at the zoo. Organiser: Safra Toa Payoh When: June 6: 9am - 5pm Details: $128.40, tel: 6355-4506 or e-mail Ljean@safra.sg
23. Tennis for Juniors (Levels 1 & 2)
What: Serve up an ace in this back-tobasics tennis class designed for kids aged eight to 16. Where: Safra Tampines When: Tomorrow - Thursday and June 2 - 5 (level 1) or June 16 - 19 (level 2) Details: $107 (level 1) or $133.75 (level 2), tel: 6785-8800
24. Never Never and Swop!
What: Based on the adventures of Peter Pan for the young and Mark Twain's The Prince And The Pauper for teens, these theatre workshops are designed to arouse participants' interest in drama. Activities include brainstorming, role playing and problem solving. The workshop is held over five days with a presentation for parents on the sixth day. Where: ACT 3 Drama Academy When: June 2 - 20 Details: $220 (for three- to seven-year-olds) and $270 (for eight- to 15-year-olds), tel: 6735-9986
25. Soccer Camp
Where: Turf City in Bukit Timah What: Conducted by former national and S-League players, this four-day camp organised by Sports Addict uses fun and challenging games to improve players' skills. Targeted at five- to 12-year-olds. When: June 17 - 20, 8.30 -11.30am daily Details: $180, tel: 9450-6290/ 9001-4755 or e-mail info@sportsaddict.com.sg
Additional reporting by Sariwati Latif
This article was first published in The Sunday Times on May 25, 2008
