Museums these days aim to cater for children's interests by providing learning experiences that keep the younger ones engaged and amused during their visits. The Peranakan Museum in Singapore is no exception. With its interactive displays, 'treasure hunt' type activities, multi-media stations, and sound and light shows, children learn about the culture in an effortless, fun way.
Who Were the Peranakans?
In times past, the trading posts of South-east Asia attracted merchants from as far afield as China and India. Exotic spices, beautiful textiles and porcelain were traded in Singapore and Malacca. When their business was done, most of the foreign traders returned to their homelands. The ones who decided to stay married local women. Their mixed-race descendants became known as Peranakans. They developed a colourful and vibrant culture which is displayed in depth at the Peranakan Museum.
The Peranakan Museum
Situated at 39 Armenian Street, Singapore, the Peranakan Museum is housed in a beautiful historic building. Ten galleries spread over three levels showcase the origins of the culture, the 12 day wedding ceremonies, the life of the Nonyas (women), religion, public life, food and feasts, and the Peranakan community today.
There are regularly scheduled guided tours in English, Mandarin and Japanese. Special exhibitions are held from time to time. Children aged six years and younger are admitted free, as are foreigners aged 60 and above. There is a concession rate for families, for a maximum of five people.
The museum is open on Monday afternoons between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.. Every other day the hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Activities for Children at the Peranakan Museum
Children are warmly welcomed to the museum and on arrival are given a 'FamilyTreasures' card.
Family Treasures Search: This is a treasure hunt type of activity. On the card are many special features that the children will try to find as they go around the museum. At each point of interest, there is an embossing station. Here the children can put their cards into the embossing tool, pull down on the cast iron lever, and a pictorial representation of the item they searched for is pressed on to the card. The aim is to complete the quest by finding everything on the Family Treasures card.
Sound and light shows: Each hour, on the hour, in various rooms around the museum, sound and light shows are held. Holograms are projected onto screens and the sounds of background noises and conversations bring the settings to life.
Interactive activities: Using computers and other technologies, children learn about the Peranakan culture in a fun way. For example,they can choose how people dress for a special occasion by picking from several options displayed on screen. Or they may eavesdrop on conversations when they listen in on telephones representative of several time periods.
Dressing up: In a corner of one of the galleries is a wardrobe hung with various Peranakan costumes. Children can use these to play dress ups. Large shallow drawers hold textiles and costume ornaments hidden under various shapes that the children can lift up to discover the displays.
When the heat and humidity of Singapore are becoming wearying, or it's raining; when you have exhausted the outdoor activities on offer; when you don't feel like facing the crowds in the shopping malls; when you have limited time on a stopover; a family visit to the Peranakan Museum can be an entertaining, educational and enlightening option in air-conditioned comfort.
Wendy Craig - Wendy is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, anthologies and travel books in New Zealand and U.K.
