With the holiday season in full swing, why not experience some #Techtivities for some fun with family and friends while experiencing the wonders of technology at the same time? 😉

Let’s first hear some #TechNews!

“The idea behind metamobility is that space, time and distance will all become irrelevant. By connecting robots to the metaverse, we will be able to move freely between both the real world and virtual reality,” said Automaker Hyundai Motor Group’s President, Mr Song. 🤖

With advances in tech, the future where humans in the metaverse can control robots that can perform tasks for them in any location in the real world is becoming a reality! Find out more about this vision
here!

Image for #TechNews (December 2023 Techtivities)

Now that we’re learnt something new, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! ✨


Disney Immersive Experience

All Disney fans, gather around! Don’t miss the Disney Immersive Experience happening at the Sands Theatres this holiday. From the iconic Disney characters to songs, this will bea great place to go for some family fun! 🤩

What tech is here? 🤔
🧑‍💻 Get a magical experience as your steps are traced by cool, interactive digital animations! 👣
🧑‍💻 Immerse yourself in the iconic Disney scenes at the 360-degree cinema, complete with songs and interactive elements! 🎥

 

Details:
When: Until 31 December 2023
Where: Sands Theatres 4 Bayfront Ave, B1 Singapore 018973
Price: From $33
Learn more here.


Prime Planet Inflatable Park

Up for some active fun? Let your little ones bounce their way to where the realms of the web3 world meets the real world at Prime Planet Inflatable Park, the world’s first NFT inflatable park! 😉

What tech is here? 🤔
🧑‍💻 Immerse yourself in the NFT-verse at the 15 Mega-Inflatable Zones, whether it be playing or resting with the characters! 😄
🧑‍💻 Don’t miss out on the digital games at the Prime Carnival! 🎮

 

Details:
When: 8 December 2023 – 1 January 2024
Where: Leisure Park Kallang
Price: From $21.25
Learn more here.


Christmas Wonderland

It is that time of the year again for Christmas Wonderland in Singapore, and it is now back better than ever! From various displays to carnival games, this is the perfect place to spend your Christmas holiday with your family and friends. 🎄

What tech is here? 🤔
🧑‍💻 Stroll down the Walk of Lights, featuring programmable LED lights that you can experiment with to your hearts’ content! 💡
🧑‍💻 Experience ‘snow’ in the tropics at the Supertree Grove, complete with the stunning light and sound show that will transport you to a winter wonderland! ❄️

 

Details:
When: 1 December 2023 – 1 January 2023
Where: Gardens By The Bay
Price: From $8
Learn more here.


Year-End Holiday Coding Camps

Get ready to be transported into an exciting adventure in our upcoming Year-End Holiday Camps! 🚀⛵️ From crafting games to designing interactive mobile apps, our classes are designed to turn screen time into a chance to learn, innovate, and have tons of fun! 😉

What tech is here? 🤔

🧑‍💻 Ages 5-6: Give your child the best head start into the world of Code! Dive into hands-on fun with robots, games, and physics, tailored for little learners. 🤖👾

🧑‍💻 Ages 7-9: Our young minds explore, create, and innovate through the exciting realm of coding adventures in our classes, diving into topics such as Cognitive AI, creating their own songs and animations, or even a head start into Science! 🎬🎼🧑‍🔬

🧑‍💻 Ages 10-12: Kickstart and elevate their coding skills where our young innovators transform their ideas into reality through creating their unique mobile apps and projects, fostering creativity and tech mastery! 📱💻

🧑‍💻 Ages 13-18: Empower your child with the power of code, hone their skills and unleash their maximum potential as they dive into the world of limitless possibilities! 🌍🏆

Celebrate a season of learning and fun today with us here at Coding Lab! Give your child the gift of knowledge and creativity this upcoming holidays. 💚

Sign up here or feel free to drop us an email, call us or WhatsApp us to get in touch. 😊

Psst! You can apply the discount code ‘CODEHANGOUT’ to get *12% discount when signing up in a group of 3 or more! Slots are running out quickly so secure a timeslot of your choice for your child today! 😉
*When stacked with Early Bird Discount

Details:
When: 20 November – 29 December 2023
Where: Online, Parkway Parade, Bukit Timah (KAP Mall)
Price: From $401.52

Sign up for your Coding Lab class now!


Image for #TechFact (December 2023 Techtivities)

Ending off with a fun #TechFact, did you know that Python, the programming language, was not named after a snake? Contrary to how it sounds, the programming language got its name from the popular British comedy series “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”! (Source)


If you haven’t seen our previous techtivity recommendations, check out our November #TechtivitiesOfTheMonth, which includes more cool tech-related activities you can do with friends and family!

(Written by Thinzar)


Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.
Thank You for your support.

Hop on board the Coding Lab train! Click here to get our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox.

Ages 5-6 | Ages 7-9 | Ages 10-12 | Ages 13-18

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
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Image for Top 3 Antivirus Software blog (1)

In today’s digital era, kids are immersed in technology with the Internet as a major influence. While it offers valuable learning and entertainment, it also poses risks. We as educators and parents watch over students during lessons, but unsupervised surfing can expose them to inappropriate content.

This raises parental concerns, prompting the need for tools to monitor and regulate online activity at home and in school. Fortunately, various antivirus and parental control programs exist to safeguard children from harmful content and online threats. In this article, we’ll chosen the best 3 antivirus software for ensuring your child’s online safety.


Norton

Norton enjoys a reputable standing in the antivirus industry, renowned for its resilient security solutions. The company provides two distinct options: (1) Norton 360 Deluxe (with complimentary access to Norton Family) and (2) Norton Family.

Norton 360 Deluxe is primarily designed to provide comprehensive device security, safeguarding devices against viruses, malware and cyber threats. Some of its features include: smart firewall, secure VPN, dark web monitoring, SafeCam for PC, etc. It prioritises securing your digital world.

Additionally, Norton 360 Deluxe includes a complimentary subscription to Norton Family, a powerful parental control application, making it one of the top antivirus choices for concerned parents. The various features of Norton Family include:

  • School Time Feature: Regulate online distractions by allowing you to specify which sites are permitted and which are blocked during school hours.
  • Location Supervision: Stay informed about your child’s location (for Android and iOS devices), with access to a 30-day history of their locations. Establish approved boundaries and receive alerts when your child goes beyond them.
  • Time Supervision: Help your children establish healthy usage habits by setting limits around their device usage. You can see when your children are online, set time limits, and schedule usage times.
  • Parental Supervision: Supervise web use and stay informed about the apps your child downloads.

Image of Norton Family
(Image Credit: Norton Family Website)

Notably, the School Time scheduling feature allows you to restrict certain websites (such as YouTube and Roblox) during scheduled school hours without affecting educational access. This is ideal for home-based learning (such as our online Coding Lab classes)!

Pricing:

When considering the best option for your family’s online safety, Norton 360 Deluxe emerges as a robust choice. It not only provides comprehensive protection for your devices and data against online threats but also includes complimentary access to Norton Family for parental controls. As of September 2023, the subscription price stands at SGD 69 for the first year.

On the other hand, if you are seeking a more budget-friendly solution exclusively for monitoring your children’s online activities, Norton Family also offers a standalone subscription at SGD 30 per year. It’s a suitable choice for parents looking for reliable, standalone parental control solutions, although it does not include antivirus protection.


McAfee

McAfee is another well-known name in the cybersecurity industry, and its Total Protection package includes robust parental control features. Here’s what you can expect from McAfee Total Protection: identity protection, home network security, safe web browsing, performance optimisation, etc.

Additionally, McAfee Total Protection includes a complimentary subscription to a standalone parental control app called McAfee Safe Family, providing parents with a focused tool to monitor and manage their child’s online activities. It is important to note that this complimentary subscription only comes with the McAfee Total Protection family package, and not the individual package. The various features of the parental control application, McAfee Safe Family, include:

  • Comprehensive Activity Tracking: Allows for monitoring application and website usage.
  • Customizable Limits: McAfee Family offers pre-defined age-based rules that parents can customise according to their children’s specific needs.
  • Location Tracking: Locate their children on a live map. Receive automated notifications when their kids enter or leave familiar places, such as school.
  • Family Request Feature: To accommodate exceptions, McAfee Family allows kids to request extra app time or access to blocked apps or websites, promoting collaboration and communication within the family. [Note: Unfortunately, this feature does not work for IOS devices.]

Image for Top 3 Antivirus Blog (4)

Pricing:

McAfee Total Protection is available at a price of SGD 89.95 for the first year. This comprehensive security suite offers complimentary access to parental control solutions as well, when buying the family package. On the other hand, the standalone version, McAfee Safe Family, is more budget-friendly and priced at approximately SGD 58 per year.


Image for Top 3 Antivirus Software blog (3)

In conclusion, as we navigate the digital world with our children, their online safety should be a top priority. The leading antivirus software options for 2023 provide a range of features for safeguarding and monitoring your child’s digital activities. In the ever-changing digital landscape, these solutions offer peace of mind and a safer online environment for your children. Select the one that suits your family’s needs and priorities to ensure a secure and enriching online experience. Nevertheless, it’s vital to educate children about online safety practices to empower them to navigate the digital world independently in the future.

#CodingLabParenting: Nurturing Our Children’s Digital Habits

#CodingLabParenting: Top 5 Parental Control Software

Written by Rohini, Thinzar


Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.
Thank You for your support.

Hop on board the Coding Lab train! Click here to get our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox.

Ages 5-6 | Ages 7-9 | Ages 10-12 | Ages 13-18

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
Chat with us via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger

Image of Bubbles, the Python

To share the joy and excitement of coding on Python, Coding Lab has adopted Bubbles, a Python from the Singapore Zoo!

Python vs. Python

Here at Coding Lab, we’re also Python experts 👨‍💻👩‍💻 – Our experienced educators are here to make lessons a fun and engaging one! 😉 Experience our MIT-inspired curriculum and discover your child’s maximum potential as they have tons of fun exploring the endless possibilities it holds. 💚

All about Bubbles, the Python

While the Python may appear as an intimidating animal to approach, visit Bubbles and learn all about her fascinating traits with the reptile experts at the Zoo! 🤩

📢 We’ve got a special promo code just for you! Apply the discount code ‘ILOVEBUBBLES’ to enjoy a 10% off all our classes! Don’t miss out on this amazing deal, hurry and sign up for our holiday and weekly classes today!

*Limited redemptions available across all classes so snatch up your slot first!

Which Python is your favourite?
Do you like Python the coding language 👨‍💻👩‍💻 or Python the animal? 🐍

Also Read: Coding Lab Gives Back: Laptop Donation to Bridge the Digital Divide

(Written by Thinzar)


Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.
Thank You for your support.

Hop on board the Coding Lab train! Click here to get our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox.

Ages 5-6 | Ages 7-9 | Ages 10-12 | Ages 13-18

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
Chat with us via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger


With holidays starting soon, we have various #Techtivities to recommend so you and your family can have fun while learning about the wonders of technology at the same time! 😉


Let’s first hear some #TechNews!


Forbes reports on the transformative potential of the metaverse such as its ability to “enable next-generation classrooms, experiential virtual events, and hybrid workplaces, by bridging the gap between in-person and remote working”! 🏢💻

Every employee in the metaverse could have their own A.I powered assistance to “handle everything from scheduling meetings to taking notes to managing routine employee engagements”. 📓 Check out the other insights presented here!

Image for #TechNews (November 2023 Techtivities)

Now that we’re learnt something new, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! ✨


Chaos Lab


Are your little ones the active type? Chaos Lab is just the place for you! Coming over all the way from Australia, this interactive playground is perfect for those looking for creativity, discovery and fun.


What tech is here? 🤔

🧑‍💻 Experience how your Augmented Reality (AR) sand sculptures comes to life with the help of motion sensor projectors! ⛱️

🧑‍💻 Unleash your creativity in the Neon UV room as you make works of art with graffiti!

 

Details:

When: From 3 November 2023

Where: Changi Airport Terminal 2

Price: From $9

Learn more here.


VibranSEA


Embark on an underwater adventure this holiday at the recent addition to S.E.A. Aquarium – VibranSEA! A perfect time for you and your family to be amazed by the beauty of the sea through art, science and education.


What tech is here? 🤔

🧑‍💻 Experience the mesmserising luminescence of aquatic life with the help of shifting spectrums of light and colours!

🧑‍💻 Explore the anatomy of marine creatures through X-Ray and Ultrasound technologies!

 

Details:

When: Permanent

Where: S.E.A. Aquarium

Price: From $38 (Limited Time Offer!)

Learn more here.


Trifecta


A fan of water and winter sports but not able to travel anywhere to experience them? Trifecta is the place for you! This new sports facility at Somerset allows you to dabble in the world of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding – all in the heat of Singapore.


What tech is here? 🤔

🧑‍💻 As you snowboard, transport yourself to the snowy hills of Japan or Switzerland while in Singapore, all done with the help of Virtual Reality (VR)!

🧑‍💻 From beginners to the initiated, get your boards ready as the simulators at Trifecta are created to deal with any experience level!

 

Details:

When: From 28 October 2023

Where: 10A Exeter Rd, Singapore 239958

Price: From $40

Learn more here.


Year-End Holiday Coding Camps


Get ready to be transported into an exciting adventure in our upcoming Year-End Holiday Camps! 🚀⛵️ From crafting games to designing interactive mobile apps, our classes are designed to turn screen time into a chance to learn, innovate, and have tons of fun! 😉


What tech is here? 🤔

🧑‍💻 Ages 5-6: Give your child the best head start into the world of Code! Dive into hands-on fun with robots, games, and physics, tailored for little learners. 🤖👾

🧑‍💻 Ages 7-9: Our young minds explore, create, and innovate through the exciting realm of coding adventures in our classes, diving into topics such as Cognitive AI, creating their own songs and animations, or even a head start into Science! 🎬🎼🧑‍🔬

🧑‍💻 Ages 10-12: Kickstart and elevate their coding skills where our young innovators transform their ideas into reality through creating their unique mobile apps and projects, fostering creativity and tech mastery! 📱💻

🧑‍💻 Ages 13-18: Empower your child with the power of code, hone their skills and unleash their maximum potential as they dive into the world of limitless possibilities! 🌍🏆


Celebrate a season of learning and fun today with us here at Coding Lab! Give your child the gift of knowledge and creativity this upcoming holidays. 💚

Sign up here or feel free to drop us an email, call us or WhatsApp us to get in touch. 😊

Psst! You can apply the discount code ‘CODEHANGOUT’ to get *12% discount when signing up in a group of 3 or more! Slots are running out quickly so secure a timeslot of your choice for your child today! 😉

*When stacked with Early Bird Discount

Details:

When: 20 November – 29 December 2023

Where: Online, Parkway Parade, Bukit Timah (KAP Mall)

Price: From $401.52

Sign up for your Coding Lab class now!


Image for #TechFact (November 2023 Techtivities)

Ending off with a fun #TechFact, did you know that Duolingo was launched in 2011, allowing users to learn languages for free? Today, Duolingo is the top way to learn a language with more than 500 million learners worldwide! (Source)


If you haven’t seen our previous techtivity recommendations, check out our October #TechtivitiesOfTheMonth, which includes more cool tech-related activities you can do with friends and family!

(Written by Thinzar)


Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.
Thank You for your support.

Hop on board the Coding Lab train! Click here to get our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox.

Ages 5-6 | Ages 7-9 | Ages 10-12 | Ages 13-18

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
Chat with us via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger

Photo of girl using a desktop at our Parkway Parade campus

Today, smartwatches are becoming increasingly popular among children in Singapore, and for good reason! They give us the unparalleled ease and convenience of ensuring our children’s safety. A smartwatch becomes an even more optimal choice since some schools do not allow younger students to have phones.

As we often see such smartwatches on our students’ wrists and witness firsthand the benefits that they provide, we decided to do some research and compiled a list of 5 Best Smartwatches for Kids in Singapore!


1. Fitbit Ace 3

For Kids Aged 6+

Image of Fitbit Ace 3.
Image of Fitbit Ace 3 (Image Credit: Digital Trends)

The Fitbit Ace 3 is a stylish and kid-friendly activity tracker that helps to make fitness and exercise fun for the entire family! With virtual badges and an animated clock-face, it will help to inculcate healthy habits by encouraging your child to participate in fun-filled activities! Children can even bring their Fitbit along to the beach or even into the swimming pool, as the Ace 3 is water resistant to 50m!

At night, you can schedule bedtime reminders using your Fitbit App, and the Ace 3 can also function as a sleep tracking device to let you know if your child is getting adequate sleep. Most importantly, it is designed with children in mind and has an adjustable clasp, providing for a comfortable and secure fit. Your child will have no problems navigating its beautiful touchscreen and clock face displays!

Pros:

  • All-Day Activity Tracking
  • Swimproof
  • Up to 8 Days of Battery
  • Customisable with Bands and Accessories

Cons:

  • Touchscreen has a reduced number of features compared to adult’s fitness band
  • Only has monochrome display

Price: S$118.00

Find out more about the Fitbit Ace 3 here.

2. Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3

For Kids Aged 4+

Photo showing Norton Family's web and app interfaces.
Image of Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 (Image Credit: Garmin)

The Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 is a smart watch designed especially for your children. With its swim-friendly and durable design, the Vivofit Jr. 3 is built to withstand the rough and tumble of both daily activities and adventurous holiday trips. We also love its colourful display and themed designs, with options like Star Wars, Iron Man and Marvel Super Heroes!

Furthermore, it comes with a colourful parent-controlled app that can help inspire your child to stay active through educational discovery and travel! The wide range of features and capabilities are sure to be incredibly useful for parents, from GPS tracking, activity tracking, and chore data tracker to help you manage your little ones!

Pros:

  • Up to 1 Year Battery Life
  • Swim Friendly
  • Tracks Fitness and Sleep
  • Variety of themed designs

Cons:

  • Takes some time to learn how to use the watch
  • Smaller Screen Size due to size of the watch

Price: S$129.00

Find out more about Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 here.

3. My First Fone R1S

For Kids Aged 4-12

Image of My First Fone R1S
Image of My First Fone R1S (Image Credit: Kiddy Palace)

Created by a Singapore-based and homegrown technology brand for children, “My First Fone R1S” is a creative blend between a smart watch and a phone! Not only does it include the features of a smartwatch like advanced GPS tracking capabilities, it also incorporates features of a smartphone! For instance, it enables young children to connect seamlessly with their family and friends through voice calls and video calls, all under the safe supervision of their parents!

As parents ourselves, we especially appreciate that myFirst has taken the safety and wellbeing of children into consideration. The R1S Watch can be paired with the myFirstFone App on a parent’s phone, and allows parents to set a designated safety zone for their child through the Geo-Fencing Area Alert technology, which will alert the parent’s phone if the designated area is breached! The smart watch also comes with a one-touch SOS button for children to alert their parents in the event of an emergency. Whether your child might be off playing at the playground in your neighbourhood, or embarking on their very first field trip, the myFirst Fone R1S Smart Watch can give you peace of mind knowing that you can stay in touch with your child at all times.

Pros:

  • Heart Rate Monitoring
  • Chat with Parents and Friends using Emojis or Preset Texts
  • Interchangeable Straps in 8 Different Colours
  • Comes with pre-installed SIM Card during purchase

Cons:

  • More Expensive
  • Ringtone may not be loud enough

Price: S$269.00

Find out more about My First Fone R1S here.

4. Little Tikes Tobi Robot Smart Watch

For Kids Aged 4+

Image of Little Tikes Tobi Robot Smart Watch
Image of Little Tikes Tobi Robot Smart Watch (Image Credit: What Katy Said)

Do you have a child that loves Coding Lab’s educational robotics classes, like our Young Computer Scientists Robotics Class, or our Junior Coders Programme with Photon the robot? Then this watch might just be the perfect one for your child! Gift them a thrilling educational toy for robotics with the Little Tikes Tobi Robot Smart Watch, and watch them revel in excitement over its moving robot arms and legs, fun sound effects and over 100 different expressions!

This watch also features a kid-friendly touchscreen, augmented reality games, and 2 built-in cameras for your little techie to film videos, take selfies and edit photographs! What’s more, this watch can be used anytime, anywhere, as it can be easily attached to their clothes using its clip, or even set on a table top with its extra snazzy display stand!

Pros:

  • Comes to Life before Your Eyes
  • Educational and fun games to keep your child entertained
  • Memory storage of 512MB for photos and videos
  • Splashproof and durable

Cons:

  • Relatively low battery life
  • Difficult to strap and unstrap

Price: S$53.90

Find out more about the Little Tikes Tobi Robot Smart Watch here.

5. Apple Watch SE (With Family Set Up)

For Kids Aged 10+

Image of Apple Watch SE (With Family Set Up)
Image of Apple Watch SE (With Family Set Up) (Image Credit: EFTM)

With features like FaceTime audio calls, a calendar app for your child to customise their schedule, and Apple music that they can use to play their favourite song, the Apple Watch SE brings you and your child a personalised experience unlike any other smart watch! It even features “Schooltime” and “Downtime” modes that can be automatically set to ensure that your child is not disturbed in school!

It is the perfect wearable technology to introduce to older children that might not yet be ready for a smartphone, or are looking for an accessory to complement their smartphone! With the Family Setup, parents have the freedom to control access to personal data, and for your child to contact you as an emergency contact.

Pros:

  • Available in 3 colours — Midnight, Starlight and Silver
  • Stay active and motivated with its workout app
  • Mindfulness app to help you reduce everyday stress
  • Discover tens of thousands of apps from the App Store

Cons:

  • Does not have always-on screen
  • Only compatible with an iPhone
  • Some Singapore MOE schools may not allow Apple Watches

Price: S$379.00

Find out more about the Apple Watch SE here.


Ultimately, the decision on which smartwatch is the best for your child may depend on a variety of factors, like their age, maturity and level of responsibility. Smart watches can be very impactful educational and parenting tools to help get your child acquainted with technology in this digital age. They can be especially beneficial for families that enjoy the convenience of being able to check in with their children easily and regularly.

The Coding Lab Team has chosen these 5 smart watches as they have features that are specifically tailored for parents and children in mind. As a coding school, we care for our students and are always striving to provide them with the best – both inside and outside of our classrooms!

Read Next: Inculcating healthy digital device habits

Read Next: Top 5 Parental Control Software

(Written by Gracia)


Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.
Thank You for your support.

Hop on board the Coding Lab train! Click here to get our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox.

Ages 5-6 | Ages 7-9 | Ages 10-12 | Ages 13-18

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
Chat with us via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger


As the school holidays draw nearer, I’m sure all of us are excited and looking forward to what we can do during the break! Why not try out some #Techtivities? Have fun with your friends and family, and discover the wonders of technology at the same time!


Let’s first hear some #TechNews!


International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) has developed a ship that uses a wind/solar hybrid propulsion system and Artificial intelligence (AI) to navigate the sea and cross the Atlantic without a human captain on board! 🚢

Using AI, the ship is capable of recognizing obstacles in the water and making its own navigation decisions with the information gained from its sensors! Find out more about this ground-breaking achievement here! 🌊

Image for #TechNews (October 2023 Techtivities)

Now that we’re learnt something new, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! ✨


HyperDrive


Fans of F1 racing? Up for a fast and furious adventure? Visit HyperDrive, the recently opened indoor go-karting arena at Sentosa, uniquely mixed with virtual gaming elements! Perfect to go with both friends and family, especially for those looking for a little competition on the road (at a safe place, of course). 😉


What tech is here? 🤔

🧑‍💻 Go as fast as you can with the help of virtual turbo boosts powered by Augmented Reality (AR) that you can collect throughout the race track! 🏎️

🧑‍💻 Play Mario Kart in real life as you collect virtual bombs and missiles to get ahead of the other racers, all with the help of AR! 💣

 

Details:

When: Permanent

Where: The Palawan @ Sentosa

Price: From $30

Learn more here.


Going Viral


Learn about how things go viral at the Going Viral Exhibition! (Not viral as in social media, but viral as in the spread of viruses 😉) Going Viral is a travelling exhibition that will tell you all about pandemic management and how science has helped with interventions! It is making a stop at the Singapore Science Centre, and now’s the time to stop by with your family to learn about this topic in a unique way with 360-projection mapping and virtual reality. 😲


What tech is here? 🤔

🧑‍💻 Learn the science of viruses, vaccines and our immune system in a fun and engaging way, with interactive entrances and multimedia games! 🤩

🧑‍💻 Satiate your curiosity about the Covid-19 virus by dissecting it virtually through the interactive touch table! 🦠

🧑‍💻 Access various secret animations and become the expert at science by scanning the QR codes using QR technology! 🤳

 

Details:

When: until March 2024

Where: Singapore Science Centre

Price: From $8

Learn more here.


The World of Nickelodeon


To all fans of Paw Patrol, Spongebob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, this is the event for you! The World of Nickelodeon is back this year at Marina Square and this is the perfect place to go with your little ones for action-packed family fun! 😄


What tech is here? 🤔

🧑‍💻 Make your artistic talents come to life on the big screen at the Dora the Explorer colouring stations, with the help of Augmented Reality! 🎨

🧑‍💻 Use your energy to power the bubble machine, constructed carefully with Robotics, and create a world of bubbles to play in! 🫧

🧑‍💻 Be part of the Paw Patrol Fire Rescue as you put out the fires as fast as possible, powered with Sensing Technology! 🚒

 

Details:

When: until 14 January 2024

Where: Let’s Play @ Marina Square

Price: From $28

Learn more here.


October Post-PSLE Coding Camps


Spend a productive 3 days with us in our Post-PSLE Holiday Coding Camps! Whether you’re a beginner in coding, or looking to take your skills to the next level, we have a class for everyone! 🤩


What tech is here? 🤔

🧑‍💻 Ages 7-9: Introducing our full-day Scratch camps! Go beyond just the basics and discover what your child will be able to create in just 3 days! 💥 We’re talking about turning their original ideas into full-fledged games designed and created by themselves! 👾🕹

🧑‍💻 Ages 10-12: Thinking about having your child DSA to their dream school, but not sure where to start? 🤔 It’s never too late to start now! Get equipped with the core foundations of programming and apply that knowledge to creating amazing projects, and building an extensive portfolio for themselves today. 📑👍🏻

🧑‍💻 Ages 13-18: Set your teen apart from their peers and get a head start on today’s latest tech trends! 🧑‍💻👩‍💻 Dive into Python and explore challenges based on actual real-world scenarios and understand how coding is applicable in our day-to-day lives.


Join us for an invaluable, eye-opening learning experience this holiday! See you there! 🤗

Sign up here or feel free to drop us an email, call us or WhatsApp us to get in touch. 😊

Psst! You can apply the discount code ‘CODEHANGOUT’ to get *12% discount when signing up in a group of 3 or more! Slots are running out quickly so secure a timeslot of your choice for your child today! 😉

*When stacked with Early Bird Discount

Details:

When: 16-18 October 2023

Where: Online, Parkway Parade, Bukit Timah (KAP Mall)

Price: From $401.52

Sign up for your Coding Lab class now!


Image for #TechFact (October 2023 Techtivities)

Ending off with a fun #TechFact, Ending off with a fun #TechFact, did you know that Mark Zuckerberg is red-green colour-blind? The colour he can see best is blue – this is why blue dominates the Facebook website and mobile app that we know today! (Source)


If you haven’t seen our previous techtivity recommendations, check out our September #TechtivitiesOfTheMonth, which includes more cool tech-related activities you can do with friends and family!

(Written by Thinzar)


Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.
Thank You for your support.

Hop on board the Coding Lab train! Click here to get our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox.

Ages 5-6 | Ages 7-9 | Ages 10-12 | Ages 13-18

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
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We invited 2 passionate brothers, Lucas and Louis Tang, who first began their coding journey with us 4 years ago when they were 9 and 6 years old respectively. They have since accelerated across our S100 Python for teens, and are already pursuing our  S200 Electives course at the ages of 12 and 10. Lucas will also be commencing his studies at Hwa Chong Institution in 2023.

Let’s hear from them regarding their experience so far!

Click to watch the video version of our interview with Louis and Lucas Tang! 👆

What do you love about coding? What about it keeps you going?

Lucas: I enjoy it because it is satisfying! It is like maths. Because I love maths, that is why coding is fun! Once you solve a problem, it gives you this satisfying feeling, and I am quite enthusiastic about this. I feel like somehow, when I have questions in the first lesson, somehow the second lesson will answer it!

The teacher will help us recall what we learned the previous time so that we can remember what we have learned in the previous lesson, and she will first address any question we may have about the last lesson.

Coding is fun and challenging! Firstly, coding is fun because when I test my project after working very hard on it, I find that I feel relieved! I feel that it is fun playing with the game that I have created.

– Louis Tang

Image of Louis Tang
Meet Louis, who enjoyed learning about the intersections of Mathematics and Coding in our Python 2 class!

Louis: Coding is fun and challenging! Firstly, coding is fun because when I test my project after working very hard on it, I find that I feel relieved! I feel that it is fun playing with the game that I have created.

I also feel that it is actually challenging as sometimes I might not know the topics being taught, as I am usually one of the younger ones in the class, so I might not know much of the maths! For example, for some of the quadratic equations, I do not know them. So I can only rely on the formulas as I do not fully understand them. The teacher will help me with the tough maths challenges, as I am weaker in these areas, and I didn’t know how to create a plot in Python!

What do your friends and family say when they hear that you are a coder?

Lucas: Coding really revolves around Math. Once I solve a problem, I feel accomplished, and I am quite enthusiastic about this. For both Coding and Math, I really need to be very familiar with formulas. The best part is that once you solve a question, it feels satisfying!

Louis: I think coding is very fun and figuring out how to do the programs help me relieve stress! Sometimes the Math needed for programs can be challenging and I have not yet learned them at school as I’m only in P4. For example, quadratic equations – The teacher will help me with these tough Math challenges in class and it took me 3 days to understand and complete the project!

What is your favourite project that you have worked on in Coding Lab?

Lucas: My favourite project was mental sums, it was a task where you have to make an unlimited number of questions using the random module, where you can create simple mental sums!

I like to use it as sometimes when I feel that my mind is unproductive, I will just use the programme for a while to enhance my reaction time and awaken my brain! It was a Coursemology project, so I had to do it to earn experience points to progress to the next level.

Here is how Lucas’ Mental Math game looks like! Why don’t you give it a try? 😉

Louis: My favourite project is the phonebook. You can add someone’s name and then their contact. You also can update it, delete it, and you also can view it. So an example is that when you run it, it can act like WhatsApp, you can search for someone’s name and find their contacts easily by just typing their name! I find it interesting but challenging, as it requires many codes, but it is fun to play with!

This is Louis’ favourite Phonebook program, which he learnt in our Python 2 classes! 😀

Lucas is an independent student who displays great problem solving skills. He has a strong foundation in coding and is able to grasp new concepts quickly. It is evident when he is attempting challenges in class where he uses and applies concepts in the right way, even adding his own customisations to further improve the program.

– Educator Thinzar

What would you say to someone who is new to coding? Is there any advice you would like to share with them?

Lucas: Do not memorise all the modules! Trust me, it uses unnecessary brain power. If you memorise all the functions, you will not be putting all your energy into solving the problem! You will just be trying to memorise the modules and how to use them. You can use a cheat sheet to solve the problems instead!

Coding, like maths, requires formulas, like modules. It feels so good every time you complete one assignment. You will also get to exercise your brain!

Louis: I would tell them to join (Coding Lab), as personally, coding is not very extremely hard. They might not know some of the topics, but the teacher will go through all of the topics clearly, and help them understand more. I think coding is very fun and a way to relieve stress!

If the project is very hard, just do not give up as eventually, you can solve it. For example, for the quadratic equation, it took me 3 days to finally understand it and complete the project!

Because I love maths, that is why coding is fun! Coding really revolves around maths. For both of them, you really need formulas. For example, for coding, you need to use functions. Other than functions, you can use modules also. In maths, it is called formulas too. The best part is that once you solve a question, it feels satisfying!

– Lucas Tang

Image of Lucas Tang
Lucas loves attending his Coding Lab classes with Educator Thinzar, and has progressed wonderfully under her supportive guidance.

Just a few more questions! Is there anything you would like to say to Educator Thinzar?

Lucas: I like your class because you always joke around and you help us when we have any questions. Thank you for making coding so fun!

Is coding something you want to do in the future?

Louis: Yes. Coding is something that I want to do in the future, as my dream job is to be a programmer! I want to program robots to help me do my work!

This is as I am quite lazy and I don’t want to do my work on my own! Usually, today I have HBL as it’s PSLE, so I just woke up at 6.30 in the morning, as my brother also wakes up to go to his PSLE. I then finish all my work in the morning, so that in the afternoon I can just slouch back.

What is the feeling that you get when you have solved a code?

Louis: Well, I feel very relieved and excited! I also feel happy as I feel accomplished after I’ve finished my code.

I feel happy and excited, because I want to test out the code. I like to test out the code as it’s very fun and exciting, and usually after doing a large volume of work, some parts might not work, but I really wanna test it to make sure it works.

Louis is a bright student who always asks additional questions to understand concepts in-depth. I really appreciate his questions as it shows his keenness for learning and helps to equip him with a strong foundation. 

– Educator Thinzar


Thank you Lucas and Louis for sharing your personal stories with us, and for the invaluable advice that you have given to new coders that are just starting out! 😄

We are incredibly impressed by your enthusiasm for the intricacies of coding, and are heartened to have witnessed your growth in Coding Lab under the caring guidance of our nurturing Educators!

Many of our students have overcome various challenges, advanced far beyond their own expectations, and forged their own path in programming, and we are so proud of them. Our #CodingLabStudents series features some of our exceptional and resilient students, and aims to put a spotlight on their dreams, goals and achievements!  🌱

Find your own starting point to this journey here with us by browsing our course catalogue today!

Read Next: Coding Lab Student Feature: Coding Lab Student Feature: Tan Zheng Kai, 12, Gold Winner, HCIC 2022

(Written by Thinzar and Gracia)


Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.
Thank You for your support.

Hop on board the Coding Lab train! Click here to get our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox.

Ages 5-6 | Ages 7-9 | Ages 10-12 | Ages 13-18

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
Chat with us via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger


September holidays are here, and that means a time to have fun! Take a look at our consolidated #Techtivities for some fun powered by technology this holiday. 🥳


Firstly, for the #TechNews of the month, Covid-19 has greatly raised the importance of food security and resilience. While using methyl bromide has been a safe and common food storage practice within the industry, Singapore Storage & Warehouse is now using a safer method to store rice 🍚. Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) box is a locally developed technology that creates a low-oxygen environment that allows rice to be stored for up to a year!⏱

Find out more on how Singapore Storage & Warehouse uses MAP technology to enhance our food security here!

Image for #TechNews (September 2023 Techtivities)

Now that we’re learnt something new, keep scrolling on to discover techtivities that you and your family can indulge in this month! ✨


MeshMinds 3.0: ArtxTechForGood


Experience a unique exhibition at MeshMinds 3.0 powered by technology at the ArtScience Museum! See how we can look at cultural and environmental issues in a different way as you immerse yourself in various digital environments. 😲


What tech is here? 🤔

🧑‍💻 Try out Sky Farm Island, the first Roblox educational game that allows players to learn about sustainable farming! 🧑‍🌾

🧑‍💻 Explore Aquasia, a futuristic utopia that aims to teach us about rising sea levels, all powered with Virtual Reality! 🌊

🧑‍💻 Experience a completely new Geylang at Geylang Crunk, where the area has been reinvented into a thrilling roller coaster ride with the help with Augmented Reality! 🎢

 

Details:

When: 1 – 30 September 2023

Where: ArtScience Museum Singapore

Price: Free

Learn more here.


RSAF Open House 2023


Calling all Aviation enthusiasts! RSAF Open House is back after 7 years at the Paya Laber Air Base to commemorate the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)’s 55th Anniversary. With various carnival activities, performances, games and many more, everyone is sure to have fun and learn more about our Air Force at this event! 🥳


What tech is here? 🤔

🧑‍💻 Prepare yourself on the RSAF55OH Digital Experience Webapp, where you can create your avatar and use the Augmented Reality Aerial Display Filter to earn digital coins to get rewards at the event! 📱

🧑‍💻 Admire the abilities of our RSAF crew at their Aerial Capability Display, where they are deployed to handle a suspected bomb threat, and sending all the live footage via Video Transmission! 🤩

🧑‍💻 Try out various simulators, physical displays, and interactive elements, and even play immersive games such as Full Body Agility Tests and Air Combat powered by Sensing Technologies at their three Exhibition Halls! 🎮

 

Details:

When: 9 – 10 September 2023

Where: Paya Laber Air Base, 504 Airport Road

Price: Free

Learn more here.


Singapore River Festival


Celebrate Mid-Autumn with the Singapore River Festival! With bright lights and colours, as well as food, music, performances and experiences, experience the fusion of local heritage and culture while enjoying your time with friends and family! 🏮


What tech is here? 🤔

🧑‍💻 View the mesmerising light installations at Singapore’s three quays – Cavenagh Bridge, Read Bridge and Alkaff Bridge, and immerse yourself in the ambience as you enjoy the various food and performances! 😋

🧑‍💻 See how Augmented Reality is used to make historical landmarks come to life with interactive storytelling, and hear the tale of Singapore’s evolution from its founding to the global city it is today! 😄

 

Details:

When: 7 September – 1 October 2023

Where: Singapore River Precinct

Price: Free (with paid activities)

Learn more here.


September Holiday Coding Camps


Last call for our September Holiday Camps! 📢 Calling all young tech enthusiasts, this is your time to shine! 🌟


What tech is here? 🤔

🧑‍💻 Ages 5-6: Get a head start through an interactive and engaging hands-on curriculum and let your child explore all about Sensors, Sounds and Movement! Program their new friend, Photon the robot, and go on exciting adventures together! 🤖

🧑‍💻 Ages 7-9: Done Scratch in school? We go way beyond that! Expand your coding abilities and discover all that you can create – Add exciting game features into your games such as creating time challenges, tracking your high scores, and many more! 👾

🧑‍💻 Ages 10-12: Create your very own version of your favourite mobile apps in our App Inventor classes and learn all about App Design and User Interface! Release fully publishable and popular apps such as Whack-a-Mole, Flappysaurus, and even a mini game to identify and name objects in real life.

🧑‍💻 Ages 13-18: Get the best headstart in coding in our extensive curriculum for teens! Dive into the top 5 global programming platform, Python, and pick up key coding concepts with challenges relevant in today’s society. 🌎


Take your pick, because whatever your choice is, we’re sure your child will have loads of fun in our classes! 😎 💚 Not free this holiday? Our October and December Holiday Coding Camps are coming up, not to mention our regular weekly classes! 😉

With so many options for both beginners and the initiated, and various physical and online options, there’s definitely a class suitable for everyone! Sign up here or feel free to drop us an email, call us or WhatsApp us to get in touch. 😊

Psst! You can apply the discount code ‘CODEHANGOUT’ to get *12% discount when signing up in a group of 3 or more! Slots are running out quickly so secure a timeslot of your choice for your child today! 😉

*When stacked with Early Bird Discount

Details:

When: 4 – 8 September 2023

Where: Online, Parkway Parade, Bukit Timah (KAP Mall)

Price: From $401.52

Sign up for your Coding Lab class now!


Image for #TechFact (SEptember 2023 Techtivities)

Ending off with a fun #TechFact, did you know that there are more than 1.1 billion websites on the World Wide Web? The web reached 1 billion websites 9 years ago, showing how important websites are in today’s world! (Source)


If you haven’t seen our previous techtivity recommendations, check out our August #TechtivitiesOfTheMonth, which includes more cool tech-related activities you can do with friends and family!

(Written by Thinzar)


Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.
Thank You for your support.

Hop on board the Coding Lab train! Click here to get our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox.

Ages 5-6 | Ages 7-9 | Ages 10-12 | Ages 13-18

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
Chat with us via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger

Remember our 10 Medallists at the 26th National Olympiad in Informatics (NOI) earlier this year? 

We are dedicated to nurturing future leaders in technology, and as educators, we are always delighted to hear our students’ achievements and their kind words of appreciation for our efforts. We caught up briefly with our student, Ziv who had some words for us:

The countless days spent practicing on websites, as well as attending classes at Coding Lab, have greatly contributed to achieving this milestone. However, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my parents, teachers, and friends, who have been like stars in the sky, always standing by me, watching over me, and guiding me through the treacherous jungle of life. Thank you for being my guiding light.”

– Ziv Lim, Zhonghua Secondary School and Silver Award Winner (NOI 2023)

Once again, congratulations on your Silver Award for NOI 2023 – and on your very first try! This prestigious competition is very reputable, and it is amazing to see what you achieved after all these years. Thank you, Ziv, for your message to us, and we’re incredibly proud to have played a part in your coding journey! We’re honoured to have been your guiding light, and we eagerly anticipate your future accomplishments.

Ziv - NOI Silver Award Winner (2023)
Ziv Lim – NOI Silver Award Winner (2023) – His very first NOI Competition

Did you know Ziv has been featured on our blog before? Having started Coding with us since 2018, when he was a young 10 year old, his first claim to coding fame was when he was part of the winning team for the IMDA National Code: Xtreme Apps Competition in 2019. Ziv was in the Top 10 Finalists of the Young Coders Global Hackathon 2020. We’re proud to see him grow and glow as he blossoms into a fine young leader in the area of technology! Read his previous blog feature here!

(Written by Thinzar)


Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.
Thank You for your support.

Hop on board the Coding Lab train! Click here to get our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox.

Ages 5-6 | Ages 7-9 | Ages 10-12 | Ages 13-18

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
Chat with us via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger

We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to our exceptional students, Chen-Xuan, Emrys and Prabir, who have achieved remarkable accomplishments in this year’s Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge 2023! 🏆 Chen-Xuan, Emrys, and Prabir have each earned the prestigious Platinum award, the highest honour bestowed upon the top 1.5% of participants.

Coding Lab Students' Achievements - 3 HCIC 2023 Platinum Award Winners

Such incredible achievements have brought forth a multitude of opportunities for our students. We acknowledge the results of our numerous Coding Lab students who also achieved a medal in 2023! Many of them have received confirmed DSA offers from their preferred schools, including esteemed institutions like NUS High, Hwa Chong Institution and SJI, among others.

These sterling results for HCIC 2023 not only continue the legacy of excellence but also magnify it. Our students have perpetuated the outstanding tradition, setting a high bar since Jun Ray’s achievement of securing 1st Position in the challenge back in 2019. We’re thrilled to note that this remarkable journey persists, with our 7 Platinum and Gold winners marking our triumph in HCIC 2022. We’re elated to witness our students’ growth, celebrate their feats, and stand by them in their journey of achievements. To all our extraordinary students, we extend our wholehearted congratulations once again! 💚

Our students started coding with us from as young as 7 years of age, starting from Scratch and we are thrilled to see their efforts and coding abilities being recognised. We are also happy to see our students’ abilities being recognised after displaying their outstanding projects and winning awards in our International Coding Showcase (ICS) 2022!


Amidst the celebration of this competitive arena, we are mindful that competitive programming is but a facet of the expansive programming landscape. Our students have ventured far beyond these boundaries, embarking on projects that span from crafting a Stock Rating Algorithm, a Real-Time Carpark Tracker, to creating a prize-winning app or attaining an overseas scholarship to read Computer Science at University. Whatever it is, we’re steadfastly committed to supporting our students’ every endeavor.

Interested to find out more? Check out the Python Programming and Elective courses we offer for Secondary school and Junior College students. At Coding Lab, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of tech enthusiasts, empowering them to transform their ideas into reality!

About the HCIC

The Hwa Chong Info-communications Challenge (HCIC) is an annual competition to kindle the flames of interest among primary school students within the realm of info-communications. It serves a dual purpose of not only fostering curiosity but also spotlighting prodigious talents in the spheres of programming, coding, and robotics. The year 2023 saw the competition unfold in May, with participants hailing from Singapore’s Primary 6 segment as well as overseas centers’ equivalent of Primary 5 or 6 students.

Read: 1st Position in the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge 2019, Ang Jun Ray

Also Read: Congratulations to our 7 winners at the Hwa Chong Infocomm Challenge 2022!

(Written by Thinzar)


Best-in-class Curriculum for Coding

We are honoured to be the winner of multiple awards.
Thank You for your support.

Hop on board the Coding Lab train! Click here to get our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox.

Ages 5-6 | Ages 7-9 | Ages 10-12 | Ages 13-18

Call us at +65 6977 9641
Email us at learntocode@codinglab.com.sg
Chat with us via WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger