A trip to the museum is supposed to be fun, right? For families, it’s often a challenge to find the right exhibits to keep everybody happy. And when your group includes kids of different age groups, the day can be a series of hits and misses.
Where do you start? We asked our “kid” experts of the KidNews staff to visit the Chicago Children’s Museum, the Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry to see just how kid-friendly they are. We focused on different age groups — ages 8 and under, 9-13 and 14 and over — to help parents map out the best day possible.
And, who knows — some of you bigger kids may find yourself splashing in the “WaterWays” exhibit at the Children’s Museum or surfing the ‘Net at “NetWorld” at the MSI. Enjoy.
Children’s Museum
700 E. Grand Ave., Navy Pier; 312-527-1000.
It’s no fair taking most kids older than 8 to the Chicago Children’s Museum unless you’re paying them to baby-sit younger kids. But for kids 8 or younger, the place is a total blast.
The museum’s newest exhibit, “Journey to the Red Planet,” is decent. Kids are invited to pretend it’s the year 2030 and they’re heading to Mars on a spaceship. There are plenty of displays that teach viewers — excuse us while we yawn — about life on Mars. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself standing there reading aloud from some board about why it’s so cold on Mars, blah-dee-blah-blah, only to look up and find that your kids have split to find something they can bash, mash or splash. In other words, this museum is a place to PLAY! So loosen up and let the kids go. They might learn something, and they’ll certainly wear themselves out.
Ages 8 and under
Here’s what we think the little kids will love:
“WaterWays”: Sorry if you’re sick of that chlorine-pool smell, because the kids will want to hang out here. They can grab a raincoat off the rack, then check out the interactive water system. Kids can navigate little boats down the waterways and change the water flow by setting up dams. They can tug on roped buckets of water at the water wheel and build fountains with pipes and nozzles.
“Dinosaur Expedition”: Kids get to dig away till they discover a (fake) dinosaur skeleton. Don’t worry, they won’t get messy. The “dirt” is actually rubber chips.
“Playmaze”: This play area for the toddler set is absolutely tops. Here, kids can climb aboard a mini-bus, then turn a giant wheel and flick switches and dials; change a tire on a life-size play car; roll a toy bulldozer down a slide; and pick out their own faux food at a mini-grocery. How delightful for kids when the adult world is cut down to their size!
“Under Construction”: Kids can use real tools to build something — like a fort — then rip it up and start over again. Younger kids will get a bang out of this; trust us. (We saw a few parents dozing off as their little ones pounded the same piece of wood again and again and again …)
“Safe & Sound”: This exhibit on how to play safely gets a bit preachy (besides, haven’t you already told your kids not to leave their toys on the stairs or stick their fingers in outlets?). But we love the display that shows what happens when a cutout girl cuts her arm. Kids can turn the girl’s arm and see various photos of the cut, the stitches and finally the scar. It’s not gross, just cool.
“Inventing Lab”: The museum says your kids will leave this exhibit feeling empowered as inventors. Maybe. But for sure, they’ll get a kick out of the Flying Machine Challenge. It lets them build a toy plane, set it on a conveyor belt, crank it to the ceiling, let it fly and time its descent.
“Journey to the Red Planet”: At part of this exhibit, kids flock to a table loaded with Popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, paper, markers and glue. They’re encouraged to build space shields, but the kids we saw were pretty much building whatever they wanted. (Sorry, kids, if those were space shields.)
Ages 9-13
You know kids this age might enjoy climbing around and banging on tools — but they wouldn’t be caught dead doing something so juvenile. Still, they could hang at the exhibit called “Face to Face: Dealing with Prejudice and Discrimination.” There, youngsters can sit before interactive screens and listen to kids tell their stories of discrimination, then push buttons to examine the kids’ — and their own — feelings, fears and solutions. (We ate up almost an hour doing this.)
Ages 14 and over
Don’t drag teens to this kiddie museum. But don’t fret — there’s tons of stuff for them to do at Navy Pier. They can take a boat cruise, get in a game of miniature golf, whirl around on the 40-foot-high Wave Swinger ride or catch a rockin’ flick at the IMAX theater. Just call Navy Pier before you visit, at 312-595-7437, to find out what’s up.
— Devin Rose
Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive; 312-922-9410.
Step inside the Field Museum and you are immediately struck by how massive it is. After all, how many museums can fit two elephants and a Tyrannosaurus rex in their main hall and still have plenty of room to spare? You’ll find plenty here to capture a kid’s attention, but getting started can seem overwhelming. Skip the highlights tour (it’s a yawner for kids) and grab a map at the door. Also, keep in mind that special exhibits often require buying additional tickets over and above the basic admission price. Here are suggestions for where to begin exploring.
Ages 8 and under
Kids are fascinated by dinosaurs, and no dino is more famous than Sue. The world’s largest and most complete T. rex is hard to miss; it stands near the museum’s north entrance. A close look at Sue–from her bird-like feet to razor-sharp teeth–will kindle new respect for this ferocious meat-eater.
Afterward, steer younger kids into the “What Is an Animal?” exhibit on the museum’s main floor. Here, surprises such as the 26-foot-long python and her clutch of eggs are bound to inspire shrieks, even though most kids won’t spend the time to soak in the exhibit’s larger themes. “What Is an Animal?” leads to dioramas in the Mammals of Africa and other nearby halls, where kids can get close-up looks at rhinos, tigers and polar bears. The sheer number of dioramas will feel like overkill to most kids, so pick a few favorites (which probably won’t include the antelope and other less exotic creatures).
Another fun spot is “Underground Adventure,” a special exhibit on the museum’s lower level. Kids can fantasize about being shrunk to 1/100th their normal size (think smaller than a penny) and encounter larger-than-life animatronic insects.
Ages 9-13
For a fascinating trip back in time, chart your way to “Inside Ancient Egypt” and visit a 4,400-year-old tomb. Crowds can make navigating the tomb’s narrow hallways a slow, frustrating process, so detour its entrance on the main floor and enter the exhibit on the ground floor. The bronze Egyptian cat–believed to hold the remains of a dead cat–and a wall display of other mummified animals are captivating.
Kids also won’t want to miss McDonald’s Fossil Prep Lab, on the museum’s second floor. Future paleontologists can watch researchers decipher some of the museum’s latest dino discoveries. From there, check out the “Trip Through Time” exhibit nearby. Hands-on displays take kids from the bubbly sea waters that spawned the first living organisms to life on four legs and lead to the Elizabeth Morse Genius Dinosaur Hall.
Ages 14 and older
A cool thing to do with teens is to start with the special exhibit “Julie Taymor: Playing with Fire” as a jumping-off point to the museum’s deep, fascinating collection of masks. The exhibit, which runs through Nov. 4, explores the creative process of Broadway’s “Lion King” director by assembling full-scale sets, puppets, masks, costumes and props alongside sketches, models and videos of performances and rehearsals.
It’s probably no accident that “Playing With Fire” spills into the Eskimos and Northwest Coast Indians exhibit. You’ll quickly spot parallels between Taymor’s work, which draws from many cultures, and the spirit masks of the Pacific Coast Indians and Eskimos. Check out the colorful, carved transformation mask used in ceremonies by the Kwakiutl Indians; it’s unique because an outer human face flips open to reveal an inner animal face.
Looking for a quick stop? Point your feet toward the wall of shoes at the “Living Together” exhibit, where you’ll find everything from Michael Jordan’s high-tops to teensy ornate slippers worn by Chinese women with bound feet.
— Carol Monaghan
MSI
5700 S. Lake Shore Drive; 773-684-1414.
Long before “interactive” became the buzzword for attracting kids, the Museum of Science and Industry had been giving families hands-on experiences. MSI has had a lot of competition in recent years (from the Chicago Children’s Museum and a resurgent Field Museum), but the sheer variety of its exhibits helps keep it in a class by itself. Adults will find their childhood faves (like the Coal Mine and U-505 submarine) have clicked with a new generation; in exhibits like “NetWorld,” kids discover the museum offers more than nostalgia. Be aware that not all exhibits are always in working order; interactivity takes a toll and the MSI maintenance crew was busy on a recent visit. But that’s the price you willingly pay at a place without “Do Not Touch” signs.
Ages 8 and under
A tip: Get there when the museum opens and start your day with either the U-505 sub or the Coal Mine. If you hesitate, you will wait — and wait, probably from 20 to 45 minutes in line. The most surprising hit is a throwback; a new exhibit called “The Farm” trumpets the wonders of pigs and soybeans and lets kids at the controls of a big John Deere combine. A talking burro charms young ‘uns as a surprise tour guide aboard a restored Pioneer Zephyr (“All Aboard the Silver Streak”), while “The Idea Factory” is an artsy-craftsy section that aims for the Children’s Museum crowd. Of course, there’s also the classic Walk-Through Heart exhibit. Disappointments? The Model Railroad looks neglected. Lego Mindstorms operates on a skimpy schedule and space is extremely limited. Adults seem more interested in the “Fairy Tale Castle” than kids are these days. And the underachieving “Howdy Doody” exhibit features a few dummies in glass cases (pictures are not allowed) and video clips from the ’50s kids show. Not surprisingly, it was deserted.
Ages 9-13
“Science of Sport” costs extra and is only open until Sept. 9, but from virtual volleyball to timed sprints to a climbing wall, this one’s a winner. “Petroleum Planet” is kinda boring, but the NASCAR video-game simulators rescue it. Speaking of simulators, the Navy flight simulators also should appeal to this age group, as the vehicle rocks and shudders believably while the screen makes you think you’re eluding enemy fire over the ocean. “NetWorld” puts visitors inside the Internet (the extra $2 for the Net Pass is worth it), and kids can digitize themselves and follow themselves through the Net. Very cool.
Ages 14 and older
Teens are a tough audience, but the aforementioned “NetWorld” won’t disappoint them. The “Virtual Reality” exhibit, however, will. One person at a time uses a viewer to swoop through three scenes for less than a minute; it’s way below MSI’s usual fare. Henry Crown Space Center, with a first-rate Omnimax theater and Apollo and Mercury space capsules, is much better. Another destination for the 14-and-up crowd: “Imaging” doesn’t get a lot of hype, but has some neat features, like seeing an infrared image of yourself. Other than that, pickings were slim for teens. Exhibits on diseases (AIDS, sickle cell anemia) are designed for youths but attracted primarily adult visitors. “Time” (featuring timepieces formerly housed at the Clocktower Resort in Rockford) is essentially a hands-off display that seems more suited for grownups too.
— Patrick Kampert
