Thanks to the Children’s Seasons held annually in Singapore, this year, besides visiting the National Museum, we took our children to visit Singapore Philatelic Museum (SPM).
What is a Philatelic Museum?? Philatelic comes from the word Philately, which means the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. I googled up this word. It sounds so profound. Basically it is a stamp museum.
I was actually contemplating if I should even visit a stamp museum prior to checking out this place. Stamp collection is certainly not a hobby of mine. Neither the spouse’s. Isn’t it just a boring place for stamp lovers and collectors? How can it even participate in Children’s Seasons and engage the young ones?
However, each year with the Children’s Seasons going on, the overnight camp at SPM for 7-12yos has overwhelming participation! The overnight camp is said to be a night of discovery, games and craft. The camp is not even cheap, with fees about $80 per child. My kids are not that adventurous to go for an overnight camp without parents yet. Judging from the full-house response, I secretly wish that my kids will go and tell me how it goes.
Alright, now that we have been to SPM, I must say I am impressed at how a “boring” subject can be so engaging and educational to the children. Let’s take a look at what’s inside the museum.
Singapore Philatelic Museum has exhibitions on 2 levels. It is a building rich in colonial heritage. The first room of exhibition we walked into was the ORANGE ROOM.
Orange Room (Level 1)
I wonder why it was called the Orange Room except that it has orange walls. A look up at the website, this room was previously named as Purple Room with purple walls. The previous exhibition was about how stamps are birthed from their theme selection, design conceptualization, printing methods and their circulation through the mail. This exhibition ended in May this year. And now it is called the Orange Room.
The Orange Room displays the world’s first stamp, and how stamps are a window to the world to explore many topics such as science, technology, history and culture. Some of the interesting stamps include the “talking” Penny Black, and stamps made of unusual materials.
Green Room (Level 1)
This room displays Singapore’s stamps from 1965 till today. It is intriguing to the kids to see how stamps in the past were like compared to present. There is a big interactive wall that displays the world’s stamps. Also, your selfie can be a stamp too!!
Special Exhibition – DC Comics Super Heroes (Level 1)
We happened to chance on the first and only DC Comics Super Heroes exhibition in Asia to commemorate the milestone BATMAN 75th Anniversary. What you will see are history and origins of DC Comics and the “World’s Greatest Super Heroes” – SUPERMAN, BATMAN and WONDER WOMAN, and the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA. Sounds familiar to you? Fans will be thrilled. This exhibition runs from 5 June to 31 August. You are still in time to catch this after reading this post 🙂
Room of Rarities (Level 2)
As the name goes, this room displays the gems of Singapore, which include stamps and archival philatelic material from 1800s till today, and artefacts relating to Singapore’s postal history. You will see the only known cover in the world, to bear a full set of 1854 Indian stamps that were used in the Straits Settlements.
This is a display of images of Singapore in the past. You can find antique turn dial telephone, abacus, etc.
Spice is Nice (Level 2)
The kids find this exhibition interesting. You can see the spices used by various ethnic groups, spice trade, see the early colonization and migration pattern. There are some interactive displays to entertain the kids.
If you are interested in Singapore Philatelic Museum, you should aim to come on 2nd Sunday of the month, 2-3pm for a Philatelic talk. The museum organizes school groups programmes and you will be surprised, they hold birthday parties too! Check this out!
We think that the Singapore Philatelic Museum is worth a visit with the kids. As there are many, many interactive displays and exhibits, the children do not find it boring at all. At the same time, they get to learn about stamps in interesting ways.
Information on Singapore Philatelic Museum:
Address: 23-B Coleman Street, Singapore 179807
Tel:+65 6337 3888
Opening Hours:
Mon – 1:00pm – 7:00pm (last admission 6:30pm)
Tues to Sun – 9:30am – 7:00pm (last admission 6:30pm)
Admission fees: Free for Singapore citizens and PR, Foreigners: Adult $6, Child (3-12 years) $4
Website: Click Here
This is part of a blog train to introduce Singapore’s Fun Places for free! Tomorrow, check out Adora’s recommendation from Gingerbreadmum who was the awesome mum who started this blog train because she understands our headache in answering our kids’ “Where shall we go today?” question. Her blog is witty and sure to crack you up. Oh, remember to check out her amazing comic drawings!
Can’t get enough of FUN FOR FREE SG venues? Here’s the whole list – 31 days of free fun in Singapore! This list will be updated regularly; you will be able to click on the location to be brought directly to the blog post when it goes “live”:
1 Aug: Tiong Bahru Park by Gingerbreadmum
2 Aug: Queenstown Heritage Trail by Princess Dana Diaries
3 Aug: Jurong Regional Library by Finally Mama
4 Aug: Singapore Maritime Gallery by Peipei Haohao
5 Aug: Singapore Philatelic Museum by Kids R Simple
6 Aug: Sculptures of Singapore by Gingerbreadmum
7 Aug: Fire Station by The Js Arena
8 Aug: Esplanade + Merlion by Prayerfull Mum
9 Aug: Bukit Batok Nature Park by Meeningfully
10 Aug: Lower Pierce Reservoir Park by The Kam Family
11 Aug: I12 Katong – water playground by Universal Scribbles
12 Aug: IMM by Mad Psych Mum
13 Aug: Tampines 1 Water Playground by Amazingly Still
14 Aug: Sengkang Riverside Park by Itchy Finger Snap
15 Aug: East Coast Park by Toddly Mummy
16 Aug: Sembawang Shopping Centre Playground by Joey Craftworkz
17 Aug: Animal resort by Raising Faith
18 Aug: Botanic Gardens by Mum’s The Word
19 Aug: Police Heritage Centre by Mummy Ed
20 Aug: Venus Loop, MacRitchie by Scrap Mum Loft
21 Aug: Road Safety Park by Miracule
22 Aug: Marina Barrage by J Babies
23 Aug: Gardens By The Bay, Children’s Garden by Finally Mama
24 Aug: Changi Airport T3 by Mother Kao
25 Aug: Pockets of Nature by Mum in the Making
26 Aug: Changi Airport T1 by Growing with the Tans
27 Aug: Pasir Ris Park by Ingspirations
28 Aug: Gardens by the Bay Supertree Grove by My Lil Bookworm
29 Aug: Vivocity Play Area by Amazingly Still
30 Aug: Punggol Promenade + Punggol Waterway by Chubby Anecdotes
31 Aug: Westgate Wonderland by Xavvylicious
If you have more of Fun and Free places to go with kids in Singapore, feel free to share with me in the comments!
I’m impressed! Stamps made into something interesting… I’ll chew on this information and think of how I could use the two folders full of old stamps we have. They need to be good for some crafts… 😉
So you are a stamp collector! I used do that when I was young and stamped mails are the only way for letters. I look forward to your sharing of stamp crafts! 🙂
No, I don’t collect, not any more but I did as a young child and my mum surprised be my having saved them 🙂 I’ll share when I have a good idea!
Mums are the best!!
Wow!! Seriously, who knew stamps could be so much fun! And I loved the fact that you guys are now a stamp 🙂 that was a cute picture!
I love that pic too 🙂 now if only we can put that pic into real stamps!
Wooo looks fun! Think I’m going to make a trip there one of these days 🙂
You should Madeline! Never knew a stamp museum can be so fun :p
Oh I wish I was in Singapore right now! Loved the adorable photos too! 🙂
Thanks Sasha!
Yes, I am glad you choose this museum as a fun and free place to visit. Among all the museums, Little One liked this best as it is the most interactive. Especially the “Remedy for Ah boy” in the “Spice is Nice” exhibition. Do check out the red pillar box just outside the museum. It is the only operating posting box of its kind in Sg since Colonial days.
Oh so that’s the one! I saw it but didn’t register that is the only remaining old post box left! Love the museum. They really have a creative mind to do up such interactive displays and stuff. Will be back next time when they change displays which I think it’s after Chinese New Year.
Quite surprise that the Philatelic Museum looks kind of fun. Thanks for sharing!
I am surprised too! I would recommend that you take your kids there for some eye opener of old stuffs and interesting stamps.
Nice! I’d definitely check out the other free places that I’ve not been to. 🙂
Go on! I will check them out too. Good to document in this post for my own easy reference 🙂
The last time we visited there was a year ago. Hope to visit again for the DC Heroes theme!
You are still in time till end of this month! Thanks for introducing me from your great sharing of Maritime Gallery. I’ve got to check that out soon 🙂
OMG, I just blogged about this place on Monday! My kids enjoyed themselves there and we’ve visited twice during the June holiday. I guess I’d better take note of the list of places in the blog train, so as not to blog about the same place with another mommy again!
Ooh! Thanks for not only this suggestion but the rest of the list! Pinning now.
(I have to say I never would have put the Philatelic museum up on my list without this post.)