Children’s Museums are a relatively new venue for families. A children’s museum is not a museum as such, as I explained to fellow education committee members on our history museum. A children’s museum is an interactive playland, similar to an indoor playground or extensive hands-on preschool. A children’s museum should not be confused with a museum proper, where touching is not allowed. An art, science or history museum can not allow people to touch as these venues house artifacts. These artifacts and works of art would be irreparably damaged if touching was allowed. If you are looking for a hands-on, interactive playland, a children’s museum in the vernacular, here are five of Michigan’s finest.
Flint Children’s Museum Flint, MI (eastern Michigan) has a special play area for babies and toddlers ages 0-3. That would have been helpful when our kids were young. The museum proper has six sections: How Things Work explores physical science with art connections. Performing Arts has dance and theater activities. Transportation Alley has vehicles to explore. Health and Fitness has interactive anatomy and exercise activities. Our Town has a grocery store and Fractions Pizza Parlor to play and learn in.
Curious Kids Museum: (Southwestern Michigan) Located in lovely downtown St. Joseph, Michigan, Curious Kids is not the largest building for a children’s museum, but it houses over 100 interactive activities for children. There are several floors of activities each geared toward different ages of children. Along with the usual building activities, there is an interactive health floor, face painting, dress-up, themed rooms, play restaurant, children around the world, a play boat and apple orchard and lots more. This is the best children’s museum for kids of all ages.
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum: (Western Michigan) Grand Rapids is home to many large old buildings which formerly housed factories and warehouses. These old buildings have been restored to house some awesome venues, not the least of which is the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. GRCM specializes in rotating exhibits, art and building activities and creative venues.
Impression 5: (mid Michigan) Lansing, MI. Downtown Lansing, a few blocks from the state capitol building, is Michigan’s oldest children’s museum. Housed in an inconspicuous old warehouse, Impression 5 is a hands-on, interactive children’s museum with a heavy emphasis on science. There are dozens of activities for children of all ages, rather than the 3-8 age category that most children’s museums cater to. Impression 5 has exhibits on technology, forces, motion, smple machines, light, sound, anatomy and physical science.
Mid Michigan Children’s Museum: (mid-eastern Michigan) Located on Genessee Avenue in Saginaw, MMCM has building, art and water activities. It also has play farm and outdoor activities. There are climbing structures and lots more.
Remember: ‘I hear, I forget. I see I remember. I do and I learn.’
