Besides the big boys such as National Museum of Singapore and the Asian Civilisations Museum, take the opportunity of International Museum Day (IMD’09) to visit the lesser known museums in Singapore.

This Saturday, 23 May, from 1.30-6pm, Malay Heritage Centre will be organizing a Family Day for all! Where better to spend some quality time as a family? You will also be able to experience Kampong Gelam as it was in the 60s. Do remember to check out the original musical score of our national anthem, Majulah Singapura, and walk through the sundries store, fondly called the Mamak shop, which your children probably have never experienced before. Also, do not hesitate to participate in the Heritage Family Games and learn more about Malay traditional games such as the Gasing, Teng-Teng (Hopscotch), Congkak that all children will be sure to enjoy!

Also, the Baba House, where one usually has to make an appointment before being given access to, will be guiding their visitors (8 pairs of parent and child) along the neighbourhood around Neil Road before opening their doors to their visitors on 30 May, 9am – 11am for just $35. The Baba House, one of the few remaining residential townhouses of a Chinese Peranakan family that retains its original living areas and decorative features, allows visitors to experience how a Peranakan family lived in the 1920s.

During IMD’09 – 31 May – itself, there are many more museums – some of which you may not even know about, that will be offering free admission or special activities to all their visitors. For instance, visitors are welcome to visit the red dot design museum from 11am – 8pm to step into the world of contemporary designs that have won the prestigious red dot design awards, a quality seal for design excellence. These fascinating designs could be of items or equipment we use frequently, but never thought of as a possible piece of artwork – equipment and items such as vacuum cleaners, chairs etc. Here’s your chance to explore the impossible and the unique! To see art in the things we use daily and without thought.

Every child has once dreamt of being a pilot and flying in the air. And if you have watched Night at the Museum 2, you would have seen the Air & Space Museum in the movie, as well as Amelia Earhart, the first female to ever fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Do we even need any other reason to visit the Republic of Singapore Air Force Museum on 31 May, 8.30 am – 5 pm? Catch real fighter aircraft displays, learn the art of making paper gliders and witness an aeromodelling demonstration this Open House Day. The RSAF Museum is considered one of the best military aviation museums in Asia with more than two thousand Air Force and aviation-related artefacts on display. Come indulge in the dream of being an aviation pilot that you had in your childhood days!

NUS Alumni members, have you ever visited the NUS Museum in your school? If not, here is a good opportunity to introduce your children to your alma mater! The NUS Museum will be holding activities to promote bonding between parent and child as well uncovering the creativity your children have in them. These activities include a 2-hour long parent and child cartooning workshop Click for 12 parent-child groups on 31 May, 10.30am and 2pm for just $15; a book binding workshop for 15 young children at La Libreria from 10.30am – 12.30pm that encourages children to further develop their love for books by creating their own handmade book or notebook. Also, after taking a look at the Past-Present: Craft Communities in Contemporary India exhibition in the NUS Museum, parents and teens may want to further explore the Indian culture by learning one of India’s traditional folk art – Rangoli – at the Rangoli Workshop meant for 15 participants from 10.30am – 12.30pm. Due to limited availability, do email museum@nus.edu.sg by 25 May for bookings.

But if you are like me, and have a deep love for comics and comic caricatures such as Baby Blues, Garfield, Peanuts or even those of X-Men, Batman, Superman, you should definitely take a trip down to the Singapore Philatelic Museum where you can check out the Comics and Superheroes exhibition, as well as allow your children to take part in a caricature session and bring home a caricature of themselves in their favourite superhero outfit on 31 May, 11am – 5pm for just $5! Concurrently, there will also be a comics bazaar held where you can find all your favourite comics and comics collectibles amongst the huge selection! There are activities for all ages at the Singapore Philatelic Museum on that day. While mothers can watch The Milky Way cooking demonstration from 3 – 4.30pm and learn how to make a range of sweet and savoury dishes that feature milk as an ingredient since calcium is of utmost importance for the growth of bones and teeth in children’s bodies, children can make their own postcards and pretty envelopes and mail them to friends and family at the museum from 11am – 12.30pm by just paying $3 for materials and stamps!

And just across the street from Singapore Philatelic Museum, the Peranakan Museum will also be having their own Open House from 9.30am – 7pm on the same day, with lots of fun-filled activities from 12noon – 5pm. After watching The Little Nyonya on Channel 8 just months ago, aren’t Singaporeans all fascinated by the Peranakan culture? Well, don’t miss this chance to hear a Peranakan Choir and learn the ways of the babas by entering their world of beaded slippers and intricately embroidered kebayas that you have seen Jeanette Aw wearing! Also, there are storytelling sessions, puppet shows and workshops to better explain the Peranakan culture!

Of course, if you are looking for a huge crowd where you can immerse yourself in people, food, shopping, music, fun and everything else, there’s always the carnivals held at Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore Art Museum and 8Qsam to explore!

This event is part of the International Museum Day 2009 (IMD’09) which happens from 23 to 31 May 2009. For more information and updates on IMD’09, please visit www.museums.com.sg/imd09 or call 6346 6438. (Daily: 9am – 7pm)