Around Town Series – Omaha Children’s Museum
/As an adult I can attest to the fact that it’s easy to forget the feeling of pure unadulterated childhood joy. The upside is that we can experience that joy through our children, and, for me, I also experience it through my grandchildren. Museums have always been my favorite attractions. They are a fascinating and exciting way to learn, especially if they have some interactive components. Places like the Omaha Children’s Museum always impress me because they strive to educate children and it’s not easy to appeal to the masses when it comes to kids. They do an excellent job there so I’m featuring them this week in an effort to spread the work about this amazing place.
Special Exhibits
There are special exhibits and permanent exhibits at the museum. Special exhibits currently happening are Fairytale Land where children can experience an enchanting castle adventure, scale the castle wall, visit Bentley the unicorn or prepare a feast in the castle kitchen. It’s a place where children can dream up their own fairytale. Kids can join the dragon trainer and Thistle the Dragon inside this special exhibit. On certain days, the Princess will lead the kids around Fairytale Land and there is a dance party. Game On! Is another great exhibit where people young and old can participate in an interactive special exhibit and explore some beloved childhood game including board games and giant, life-size adventures and a few popular video game experiences. Other special exhibits are Cobweb Castle and Santa’s Magic.
Permanent Exhibits
There are twelve permanent exhibits at the museum. The Charlie Campbell Science & Technology Center is one of my personal favorites. Hands-on activities and exhibits are designed to introduce children to basic science concepts and the scientific method. Curiosity, experimentation, and tinkering are encouraged and presented in a way the complements traditional science education. For your more artistic youngsters there is the Art Smart Center where kids can paint, dance, and create. There’s Building with Light, face painting, Paint Window, Sketch Town, Tinker Studio, center Stage and Moving with Light. And they even give you some take home learning like the homemade Playdough recipe. You can also buy old exhibits and rent exhibit spaces for different events. How exciting!
Events & Programs
The museum also holds special events like a Fairytale Ball and a celebration for National Hispanic Heritage Month as well as Family Fun Weekends and many more. There is daily programming like Summer’s Sizzling Science Show. The museum hosts fun outreach programs offered off-campus in classrooms, camps, and other locations including virtual live outreach and pre-recording. They also host summer camps, and you can have your child’s birthday part there. For the many things they have to offer, their memberships are reasonably priced. I could see entertaining your child here for the entire summer at least and it’s a great indoor opportunity for wintertime. Check out the calendar for yourself here.
