DuPage Children's Museum
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Naperville, Ill. 60540
(630) 637-8000
Cost: $9.50, $8.50 seniors 60+, free kids under 1
Hours: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday-Friday (open until 8 p.m. every third Thursday of the month); 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday
The Museum is divided into eight unique neighborhoods, which are each made up of a thoughtful cluster of exhibits and experiences. Creativity Connections introduces light, shadow, rhythm and texture, allowing children to explore sensory processes, while the Art Studio and Good Show! Gallery provide kids with new ways to express themselves. Roll a ball down a ramp to explore gravity and movement in Make it Move or create a pipe structure in Built It, using real (not plastic) tools. Blow a bubble or splash at the watertables in Waterways and Bubbles, then dry off in the AirWorks wind tunnel. In the newest exhibit, AWEsome Electricity, kids discover what currents and power sources are and what they do. Head to the second floor to experience Math Connections or visit the Family Resource Center for storytime. Parents can take care of babies in any of the three Young Explorers, which are padded and specifically designed for children 2 and under. The Museum also offers a special time for families of children with visual and mobility impairments to visit the Museum on Third Thursdays. Visit the new S.M.A.R.T. Café, where food becomes an opportunity for young children to learn about Science, Math, Art, Reading and Technology. The Café features choices free of nitrates, harmful preservatives and antibiotics, plus healthy snacks, unsweetened fruit drinks and organic milk.
