Reinvigorated Museum Keeps Learning Fun
Editor’s note: Sometimes you need an alternative to sending your kids to camp. Here’s a look at one of those options in Atlanta.
By Logan C. Ritchie
On a rainy Sunday afternoon my 5-year-old twin boys and I explored the new and improved Children’s Museum of Atlanta.
Excited to see the changes, we charged into the lobby and past the gift shop.
Some of the classics remain. Fundamentally Food guides little ones through the process of purchasing food, from grower to grocer. The Publix-sponsored area features a climbable tractor, a conveyor belt for fruits and vegetables, a farmers market, and a diner.
New to the museum is Gateway to the World. Climb to the spinning globe, investigate manipulative tables of each continent, creep through the mazelike climber and design a rocket. My pre-K boys loved crawling in and under the tables of maps.
Head up to the second floor as your steps make piano music. Step Into Science features a science bar with hands-on demonstrations, a build-your-own-robotics game and an examination of the human body on iPads. This area is aimed at children 4 years old and up.
The circulatory and digestive systems were a huge hit.
Story time offered a fun and silly interaction with song, dance and movement aimed at 2- to 6-year-olds. Mother Goose came out to tell a tale about traveling around the world. This feature changes constantly; check the website for details.
The old ball system is improved by offering new entry points and less confusion about how the ball system and gravity work together.
The Children’s Museum examines, from a kid’s point of view, arts, culture, geography, health, wellness, literacy and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).
The hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and closed Wednesday. Admission is $14.95, regardless of age.
The parking situation has not changed; your best bet is the large lot on the corner of Centennial Olympic Park Drive and Simpson Street.
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