Haze Day at Home: 10 Indoor Activities for Kids in Singapore
Haze outside, restless kids inside? When the PSI climbs, NEA advises children, the elderly and pregnant women to cut down on prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity. That usually means a long day indoors with energy to burn. Here are 10 easy indoor activities for kids in Singapore, from a DIY popiah party at the dining table to a home "weather station". Most need nothing more than what's already in the house.
Tip: check the latest readings at haze.gov.sg or the myENV app before planning anything outdoors. Use the 1-hour PM2.5 for right-now plans and the 24-hour PSI for planning ahead.
1. Host a DIY popiah rolling party
Popiah is the perfect hands-on food for kids: soft skins, colourful fillings, and every roll comes out a little different. Lay everything out on the table and let each child build their own.
- A grown-up warms the turnip and carrot filling.
- Kids lay a skin flat and spread a little sweet sauce down the middle.
- Add cucumber, filling, egg, peanuts and crispy bits.
- Fold in the sides, then roll it up tight.
Our DIY Popiah Set comes with handmade skins, slow-cooked turnip filling, sweet sauce, sambal chilli, garlic, egg, cucumber, coriander, grated peanuts and crispy bits. The Mini set (about 9 rolls) is a good size for a family of four. Regular sets and up come with our step-by-step popiah placemat (pictured above), so kids can follow the numbered steps on their own. New to rolling? Our step-by-step guide How to Roll Popiah Like a Pro makes it easy.
Make it a game: who can roll the neatest popiah? Who can make the longest one?
2. Fill the "top hats" with kueh pie tee
Kueh pie tee shells look like tiny top hats, and filling them is great practice for little fingers. Kids spoon the filling into each crispy cup and finish with their favourite toppings. Our Kueh Pie Tee Set starts at 30 pieces. Curious where the name comes from? Read The Story of Kueh Pie Tee together.
3. Pull, cut and coat muah chee
Soft, stretchy glutinous rice dough is basically edible play-doh. Let kids snip small pieces with clean kitchen scissors (with help), then toss them in peanut-and-sugar coating. Our Muah Chee Set comes with the dough, the peanut-sugar mix and fried shallots.
4. Have a rojak toss-off
A grown-up cuts the fruit and youtiao, and the kids do the fun part: tossing everything in the sauce and topping with peanuts. Our Rojak Set includes the fruit, vegetables, youtiao, cuttlefish, peanuts, lime and our sauce, plus a rojak placemat to work on.
5. Play "hawker centre"
Turn the living room into a hawker stall. Kids write a menu, set prices, make paper money and take turns being the uncle or auntie behind the counter. It's sneaky maths practice, and it's even more fun if the "stall" serves the popiah you just rolled.
6. Ingredient detectives
Before eating, see who can name every ingredient on the table: turnip, carrot, cucumber, coriander, peanuts. Older kids can sort them into vegetables, protein and toppings, or find out which part of the plant each one comes from.
7. Design your own placemat
Give everyone a sheet of A3 paper and crayons. Draw a placemat that shows how to make your family's favourite dish, step by step, with arrows and labels. Laminate the best one with clear tape and use it at dinner.
8. Story time with grandparents
Haze days are a good excuse for a video call with grandparents, or better still, a popiah afternoon together if they live nearby. Ask them: what did you eat at parties when you were young? Did your family make popiah at home? Kids are often surprised by how much the food has stayed the same, and grandparents usually have opinions on the right way to roll.
9. Build a home "haze weather station"
Check the PSI together each morning, write it on a chart and colour each day by band. It's a simple way to explain why everyone is staying in, and older kids can predict tomorrow's reading from the wind direction in the NEA forecast.
10. Living-room picnic
End the day with a picnic on the floor: spread a mat, put out everything you made, and dim the lights. It feels like an outing without stepping out.
Keep it safe
- Grown-ups handle anything hot, and all cutting.
- Several of these sets contain peanuts. Check for allergies before you start.
- Everyone washes their hands before touching the food.
- For vegetarian popiah, leave out the egg, sambal chilli and garlic.
Frequently asked questions
What should children do when the haze is bad in Singapore?
Follow NEA's health advisory for the day. When the PSI is in the Unhealthy range, children, the elderly and pregnant women are advised to minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity. Indoor play, crafts and cooking together are good alternatives. Check haze.gov.sg for current readings.
Is making popiah a good activity for young kids?
Yes. There's no cooking involved for the kids: a grown-up warms the filling, and the children assemble and roll. Children from about four years old can usually manage with a little help.
Can I get the ingredients delivered so we don't have to go out?
Yes. Our DIY sets are delivered islandwide in 2-hour slots. Order by 5pm for next-day delivery, or by 8pm for next-day self collection at our Bedok Central Kitchen.
Stuck indoors this week? Browse our DIY Party Sets and turn a haze day into a family food day.
