Miami Children's Museum: Remember the magic of childhood
The Miami Children's Museum, built in 2003, is full of activities for your child to enjoy. And you may just enjoy them, too.
As soon as you enter, the two-story Castle of Dreams slide will have you itching to join in on the fun. Bright colors and artwork adorn most of the walls, and work by Peter Max, an iconic pop artist most known for his pieces from the '50s and '60s, will have your creative juices flowing. Inspect sand from all over the world under a powerful microscope. Bilingual (English and Spanish) exhibits allow a broad audience to visit the museum.
On the ground floor, children can shop in the Supermarket, learn about food groups and nutrition, and simulate adult life. In the Safety Zone, kids can dress up in firefighting and police uniforms and learn what types of emergencies require dialing 911. There's even a fire pole to slide down.
Teach your child the importance of saving money at the Bank and visit Pet Central to learn about different animals. The Health & Wellness Center includes an "ER" and X-ray station, a dental hygiene section, and an exercise section that measures your speed on a bike. Scale the rock wall and test your own agility, or coach your child on climbing and building strength.
Bounce up the stairs and enter the Cruise Ship! Climb into the large model to learn about navigation and soak up some naval vocabulary. The Port of Miami station allows kids to use pulleys to load and unload cargo from the boats to the docks.
For more creative minds, All About Art and the World Music Studio include many great activities to partake in. Create a mixed media design and hang it up on the wall, decorate a playhouse with colored magnets, or watch the Artist in Residence at work in the studio. In the music center you can sing karaoke and entertain your friends, discover the roots of jazz, and much more.
For children 5 and under, stroll over to The Sea and Me, where toddlers grab fishing poles and play in the water. A station on the ground allows young children to crawl and explore.
Not tired yet? Let the kids stretch their legs outside the musuem, where two separate playgrounds will have them occupied for a while. Grab a bite to eat next to the water and watch the cruise ships set sail.
Classes are also available at the museum. Spring 2009 classes such as dance, art, masquerade, and even Spanish classes will help your children reach their potential.
Looking for a memorable birthday party for your child? For $350 you can get a private party room for 2 hours (with up to 20 children and 40 adults), a museum host to assist you during the party, a guided tour of one of the museum's galleries, and more. You can add on exciting extras like a magic show, balloon art, face painting, or a sing along for an additional fee.
For information on volunteering at Miami Childrens Museum, click here.
- by Jessica Bates, Miami Reporter for HelloMetro
(Click to leave a message)
