Cat cachet
Singapore — Everyone knows that cat videos rule social media, but their feline majesty goes back long before the Internet was invented — to a time when mummies, not memes, were a part of popular culture.
Cats were held in such high regard in ancient Egypt that they were considered holy, and were associated to the Egyptian goddess Bastet. Bronze cats like the one displayed at the Treasures of the World from The British Museum exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore were often buried with mummified cats at Bubastis, site of the main temple of the goddess Bastet.
Parents who want their kids to spend more time with Sphinxes instead of Snapchat can visit the museum, which is organising family activities. Visitors aged 12 years and below enjoy free admission till July 3.
The Chasing Fantastical Creatures Family Trail highlights the close relationships people have built with creatures (real and imagined) in the past and targets children from the ages of six to 12.
Suitable for children aged four and above, parents can encourage children to design their own fantastical creatures and family heirloom at the colouring station outside the exhibition galleries.
Thematic discovery sheets that have been designed by the British Council are available for children aged seven years and above. These sheets help families embark on a self-exploratory learning journey and challenge children to track down amazing treasures and discover fascinating tales of human history from around the world.
These three activities are available daily until June 27, from 10am to 7pm.
Family guided tours are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 10.30am till June 25. The tours, which are suitable for families with children who are six to 12 years of age, tell the stories behind ancient artefacts.
Masak Masak 2016 runs daily till July 31. It includes interactive installations and activities that offer family fun (some events are ticketed), like the Bike Building workshop with Bikes 4 Fun where participants can build a bicycle with help from instructors. The Let’s Play! workshop led by local artist Tay Bee Aye lets parents and children create their own board game.
This is the fifth story in a six-part collaboration between TODAY and the National Museum of Singapore.
