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Published Nov/Dec 2006 Left: A guest at the Magic House in St. Louis having fun with static electricity. ©Michael C. Snell photo |
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Discover hands-on fun and educational experiences at these museums.
By Sally M. Snell |
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 n recent years, children’s museums have become community resources. As essential as libraries, they offer opportunities for exploration, discovery and learning through the power of play. Here are some of the best in the Midwest just in time for winter school holidays. Call the museums for information on admission and hours of operation.Illinois museums Located on Navy Pier–one of Chicago’s highest-rated attractions–the Chicago Children’s Museum is a must-stop for children 10 and younger. To find the most popular exhibit, look for a coat rack of pint-sized rain slickers. WaterWays is a large raised pool with pump fountains, dams and waterfalls. “It’s not just a place to play, but a place for learning to happen,” said Public Relations Manager Corinne Jung. The BIG Backyard uses a mix of animated projections and touch-screen technology to make butterflies alight on a shadow hand or rain slide off a shadow umbrella. Chicago Children’s Museum is located at 700 E. Grand Ave. Call (312) 527-1000; click on the Web site www.ChiChildrensMuseum.org. In Decatur, the hands-on exhibits in the Children’s Museum of Illinois teach responsibility, consideration, cooperation, pre-math and math skills. But if you are imagining a bunch of boring toys, you couldn’t be more wrong. This is a place to make kid-sized goopy soap bubbles, climb into the cockpit of a Piper and request permission to land from the control tower, play soccer goalie, go snowboarding in a virtual reality game, or learn amazing and gross facts. The museum, located at 55 S. Country Club Road, is in a park near a children’s zoo. Call (217) 423-5437; click on www.cmofil.com. In Glenview just north of downtown Chicago, the Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago has exhibits that are geared to the 8 and younger crowd, with ample activities for each developmental level. “We try to stay away from a whole lot of technology and instead focus on hands-on interactive exhibits,” said Dave Judy, communications manager, “because today so much of the world is screen oriented.” Here, kids wear lab coats and care for toy dogs in the Pet Vet area or ring up groceries at Dominick’s grocery store–so popular there is often a line waiting to enter. Look outside for the newest addition: a two-acre sensory garden, sculpture trail and maze. Kohl Children’s Museum is located at 2100 Patriot Blvd. Call (847) 832-6600; click on www.kohlchildrensmuseum.org. Equally fun and perhaps a bit higher-tech is the Children’s Discovery Museum located in Normal, Ill. One of the hallmarks of this three-floor facility is a two-story Luckey’s Climber, a multi-level rope maze that is both kid and adult friendly. “It gives kids a sense of ‘false danger’ and that ‘tummy tickle’ feeling,” said Shelly Hanover, visitor services and volunteer coordinator. Children 8 and younger will gravitate to the water table full of pipes, gears, pumps and waterfalls. Kids are encouraged to get wet and messy. “Older kids will have ‘ah-ha moments,’ ” learning about landfills and recycling, said Hanover. And, unlike many children’s museums, the art studio is open even when there isn’t a structured activity scheduled. “I hate going to children’s museums and finding the art studio doors locked when I can see all kinds of great stuff I’d like to get my hands on,” said Hanover. AgMazing, an extensive agriculture exhibit, is the newest offering. The Children’s Discovery Museum is at 101 E. Beaufort St. Call (309) 433-3444; click on www.childrensdiscoverymuseum.net. Indiana museums The Central Library building in Evansville, which moved to a new location in 2004, is once again ringing with the voices of children as the home of the Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville. The vibrant new museum, which opened this fall, is an outgrowth of the Hands On Discovery Children’s Museum, which operated for 10 years in donated storefronts in Eastland Mall and Washington Square Mall. The new facility is designed to educate and inspire children and pre-teens about themselves, their community and the world in which they live. Called cMoe, the museum has a variety of exhibits that inspire the imaginations of children through interactive play. For instance in the Quack Factory section, a water play area, pulleys and other simple machines help children work on their motor skills and investigate water movement, force and motion. The Work Smart section gives students an inside view into the technical and mechanical side of our world by allowing them to take apart objects to see how they work. And the Live Big section provides experiences about the human body to encourage children to make healthy choices. The building, which is a stunning example of Art Deco architecture and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, triples the museum’s former exhibit space. The city generously contributed to the refurbishment of this magnificent 1932 landmark for the museum and also provided a $1 million corporate challenge grant. The museum is located at 22 SE 5th St. Call (812) 464-cMoe (464-2663); click on www.cmoekids.org. If you haven’t visited the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in a few years, you are in for surprises. The big exhibit is the immersive Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World®. Hear the call of dinosaurs as the sun sets and the moon rises. Learn what they ate and how they lived and visit the newly named Dracorex hogwartsia, a 66 million-year-old dinosaur honoring author J.K. Rowling. It bears a striking resemblance to a dragon. But that is only the beginning of the experience. Passport to the World is an opportunity to learn about global cultures and listen to neighborhood stories from closer to home. Ride a carousel, visit the library or explore a coral reef. With theaters, a food court and a multitude of options for all ages, visitors should not underestimate the amount of time they will want to spend at the museum. The new Fireworks of Glass exhibit by artist Dale Chihuly is beautiful and impressive: 43 feet high using 3,200 pieces of blown glass. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is located at 3000 N. Meridian St. Call 1-800-208-KIDS (5437); click on www.childrens museum.org. Missouri and Kansas When wandering through the racks at a Hallmark store, have you ever imagined how fun it would be to sneak into the artists’ workrooms? That’s the feeling you get at Kaleidoscope in Kansas City, a creative center where children use bits of puzzles, ribbons and paper in an imaginative environment. Make a melted wax masterpiece under a black light or create a musical instrument out of recycled material provided by Hallmark. Kaleidoscope is located at Crown Center, a family magnet, in downtown Kansas City. Parking is available in Halls garage on the east side of Grand. Call (816) 274-8300; click on www.hallmark kaleidoscope.com. The Children’s Museum of Kansas City immerses young visitors in the world of theater with a working stage, costumes and sound effects equipment. They can work in a Price Chopper and examine an X-ray. Even the smallest child can play baby bird in A Tree and Me. The focus is on arts and role-playing activities. The museum is in the Indian Springs Marketplace in Kansas City, Kan., 4601 State Ave. Call (913) 287-8888; click on www.kid muzm.org. On the other side of the state in St. Louis, the City Museum is a construction worker’s fevered dream. Every inch of floor, wall and ceiling space is designed to be explored, touched and burrowed through. At this former shoe warehouse, children are encouraged to put their hands on their environment, from warehouse conveyer rollers to carved stone pediments. This is the kind of museum where parents wear kneepads. Visitors can enjoy tunnels, slides, an art area and aquarium (extra admission), plus an outdoor area to explore. And unlike other children’s museums, this one has plenty of fun for the 10 and older group. The City Museum is located downtown at 701 N. 15th St. Call (314) 231-2489; click on www.citymuseum.org. The Magic House-St. Louis Children’s Museum is an expansive multi-level home that has been converted into an educational fun-factory. Every room–even every closet–is filled with hands-on exhibits. What do 2,000 M & M’s look like compared to 2,000 feathers? How are electrical circuits made? How do you write a check? Kids can shop at a grocery store, unlock a bank vault, or get a hair-raising lesson in static electricity by touching a charged ball. Watch for Five Friends from Japan: Children in Japan Today slated to open Feb. 3, 2007. The Magic House is geared toward ages 1–9. The Magic House is located at 516 S. Kirkwood Road. Call (314) 822-8900; click on www.magichouse.org. Sally Snell is a contributor from Topeka, Kan. |
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