Toddlers in a Museum

on March 3, 2009 at 10:50 AM

DH and I took our 4 year old and 5 year old to the local natural history museum this past weekend, and the experience taught me a few things that I wanted to pass along, in case you are considering a trip in the near future.

1. Despite all the money you cough up to see the amazing dinosaur bones and ancient tools, the biggest attraction of the day will be The Cafe, with it's fascinating display of cakes, candy and sodas.

2. Consider a toddler harness, even if it's against your philosophy. You will be happy you did. Large open spaces containing lots of invaluable, ancient artifacts and toddlers do not mix.

3. Travel light, bring a backpack, and if you can, leave your own coats in the car -- because you will inevitably end up carrying everyone elses' for the entire day.

4. Be prepared to explain that those touch screens in front of each display are not video games -- that they only give information, you can't play anything on them. Sorry.

5. Don't, I repeat, DON'T go anywhere near the Museum Store. Plan your route accordingly. If you inadvertantly pass by, tell the kids it's closed. Or that they only sell clothes.

6. Even though your kids are only walking, as opposed to the running, jumping and acrobatics they do everywhere else, they will say they're hungry and demand snacks every 15 minutes.

7. Bring the stroller. After 20 minutes (right after the snack), your toddler will declare that her legs hurt, she cannot possibly walk any more, and will you please carry her around.

8. Get the museum map and make sure you mark the exact location of every potty on every single floor BEFORE setting off on your route.

9. No matter how cool an exhibit is (like, say space ships and moon rocks you've been dying to see), don't visit a display area that does NOT have a potty close by. Just not worth it.

10. Toddlers cannot resist the urge to climb under a roped off lion display and pet the kitties no matter how firmly you ask them not to.

++Have you taken your tots to a museum? Are you brave enough to do it again?

About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: activities, discipline, summer vacations, travel

Comments (16)

nuclear_sugar

on Mar 3, 2009 at 11:08 AM

Sounds about right. That's why we've skipped the history museum thusfar (after a PAINful single trip to an art gallery), and kept up his culture lessons by taking him to (hands on) children's museums only. You'd be surprised how many foam-floored, toddler-friendly science museums are out there.

Report this comment

paganmama999

on Mar 3, 2009 at 11:29 AM

I just posted a journal about our own museum trip. We had a great time sans stroller and harness and only ate at the Cafe twice (we were there 4 hours). My girls are 4 and 2, and they were impressed with the whole experience and are still talking about it! I think it's great to get our kids out and take a little educational field trip now and then, don't you? It's a lot of work, but it's worth it! And thank god the Carnegie has lockers because we had to bring our coats in with us! It's freezing in Pittsburgh right now!

AprilD32

on Mar 3, 2009 at 11:39 AM

The Denver Museum of Nature and science has a "Discovery Zone" designed for young children, an area where they can run around and touch and get into and play with the things in the zone. There are bathrooms on every floor, in the same location on every floor. the Space area has a little room where youngsters can dress up in astronaught costumes and play with foam moon rocks. There are areas that are more like a typical museum that apeal more to the adults and are not so toddler friendly but you can take them to the Discovery Zone and Astronaut dress up area first to get it out of thier system. I love the Denver Museum! (I volunteer there with my daughter 2 fridays each month.)

Jmum

We've been contemplating a trip down the the free St. Louis art museum with our 2 year old. Perhaps we should reconsider...

Lindalu2

on Mar 3, 2009 at 11:44 AM

So true and so cute. It sounds so familiar! ;-)

lady-J-Rock

on Mar 3, 2009 at 11:53 AM

I took my dd to museums when she was a toddler, she had so much fun looking at the dinoaurs, the pictures,she still loves going to our local museum of glass. She always has. We have been to many aquariuims, zoos,useums with out issues.

Homeschoolmom99

on Mar 3, 2009 at 12:17 PM

Heck sounds like a day with my ASD kid and he is nine!

sunmoonstars

on Mar 3, 2009 at 1:24 PM

I took Abby to the science museum all the time as a toddler!!! Ours must be designed better, because there are only a few things she could actually get to and cause damage to. I take her (now a preschooler) and baby sarah still as often as I can. I really lilke it because -

I am a science nerd (no, really, I am, LOL)

We get there when they open and have very few people to share the place with until about noon.

We have wide open spaces for moving around (yes, a little running), so we get good exercise and get tired out!!

We don't feel we have to see everything everytime because we know we will be back soon. So we can just enjoy the place.

Always check out the kids section TWICE. Look around, then go to the kids sectio, then eat then look around some more, then go back to the kids section until it is time to leave.

We do look around the gift shop, they have a kid friendly section without expensive stuff! We love to take home cool things to do :)

emmasmama2007

on Mar 3, 2009 at 2:04 PM

last weekend i took dd(17mo.) to a Children's Museum, she had such a great time. She made crafts, got to play w/other toddlers. After 3 floors of fun and exploring, she was so worn out.I picked her up and hadn't carried her for more than a minute, before she was fast asleep.

However, knowing her, i would not yet take her to a Museum that's not specifically for children.