The March school holidays are coming soon, which are a great time for bringing the kids out. Any parent would agree that kids are unpredictable—even the most well-behaved of kids can get into unexpected situations, which is why it’s important for parents to be prepared for anything. Whether you’re bringing your children on Singapore Sports Hub’s Sports, Arts and Heritage Trail or bringing them to the Singapore Sports Museum, it’s a good idea to pack these important items:

1. Wet tissue or sanitiser

These will come in handy when you need to sanitise a tabletop or seat, or when your kid plays outdoors. In these situations, you want to be extra careful in terms of hygiene.

2. A bottle of water or isotonics

Keeping your children hydrated is very important. If your family will be engaging in strenuous activity like a hike or sports, isotonic drinks might be a good idea. Keep your bottle even after finishing the drink, because you might need to fill it when you come across a water fountain.

3. An umbrella or raincoat, and a spare change of clothes

Don’t take your chances when heading outdoors. Bad weather can arrive at any time, so bring a brolly or raincoat to shelter your child. Packing water-resistant outerwear can prove useful during indoor excursions too—no one likes being stuck in a mall or bus shelter, when it’s raining and the car is as close as 50 metres away. As mentioned, kids do the darndest things, so pack an extra set of clothes in their little backpacks.

Pack for sunny and rainy weather. Water bottles are a must! PHOTO: SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB

4. Their favourite snacks

Another cop-out: Give your kid his or her favourite treats. It’s a simple way of placating kids when they are in a bad mood. If your child is having a bad day, it’s a great way of cheering them up and making them feel loved too. Try to stick to portable snacks that aren’t moist or messy though. You don’t want food getting on to all the other items on this checklist!

5. Sunscreen, and mosquito patches or mosquito repellent

If you’ll be in the sun, we strongly recommend sunscreen. If you might be wandering into grassland, forested areas or anywhere that has lots of mosquitos, mosquito patches or mosquito repellent will save you all that agony of itching, scratching, swelling and scarring.