This Is Singapore’s First Preschool With 90 Minutes Of Daily Outdoor Play Every Day

Is your little one getting enough time outdoors? KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse is Singapore’s first preschool to offer up to 90 minutes of outdoor play every day. Here’s why it matters: it can support working memory, emotional regulation and mental wellbeing.

Fun fact: Research shows that one in five parents say their preschooler spends less than an hour outdoors on a typical weekend day! KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse is doing something about it: since January 2026, every child at every centre gets up to 90 minutes of outdoor play a day, three times what’s required under national regulations. Want to know why?

Why 90 minutes of outdoor time?

Did you know that the preschool years are when a child’s brain is building roughly a million new neural connections a second? It’s exactly why those early years matter so much for outdoor time, this is the window when attention, memory and self-control are still being wired. Outdoor play is also linked to improved executive function: things like inhibitory control, working memory and cognitive flexibility, which later show up as your child’s ability to manage emotions, follow instructions and work through problems. In fact, one study of over 4,000 children found that those who played outside more often as preschoolers were significantly more likely to stay mentally healthy years later, with fewer signs of anxiety, depression and behavioural issues than kids who played outside less.

KiddiWinkie’s 90 minutes comes down to one idea: the early years are when children stand to gain the most from time outdoors, so that’s why the school built it into every school day. With more outdoor hours, the goal is for kids to grow up steadier and sharper so that they’re prepared for whatever’s waiting past the school gate.

Read more: Preschools With Outdoor Spaces & Gardens

Not an add-on, it’s part of the curriculum

You’ll be glad to know your little one’s outdoor time isn’t just an add-on at KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse. Preschoolers get up to 90 minutes of outdoor play, while the little ones at infant care get 30 minutes. Depending on the centre, your child might enjoy mud play at the mud kitchen, water play, sand play, riding the tricycle track, exploring the herb garden, or lessons in the outdoor Reading Nest. This all comes from Nature-Based Learning, one of three pillars in Sustainable Education™, the pedagogical framework of Babilou Family, KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse’s parent group. It also ties into KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse’s own Natural Rhythm® pedagogy, built around sensory play, child-led exploration and genuine care for every child.

Want to see it in action? Book a visit to a KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse centre and find out how purposeful outdoor play and learning are built into the school day.

KiddiWinkie Schoolhouse, multiple locations across Singapore, including Newton, Jurong Gateway and Upper Bukit Timah, [email protected], Tel: (+65) 6817 1394,  www.kiddiwinkie.edu.sg