With kids on hand helping to cut the ceremonial ribbon, Adler Planetarium added a Community PlayLab to the Space Explorers exhibit that will cater to kids 6 and younger.
Filled with more experiments and toys than a kid could imagine, the space is designed to let even pre-walkers explore the STEM life.
Babies
The tot spot with cushy floor, cushioned blocks to build with and its own entrance door is perfect for the 2-and-under set. A toy space is filled with balls and shapes that are great for sensory learning, gears and colors that can help eye-hand coordination and color identification, stacking toys and board books for parent reading. Even the littlest of littles can start their space journey in the secure area.
Toddlers
The space has toddlers in mind. Music instruments – from egg shakers to bells to a triangle – help early learners discover sound. Sealed bottles filled with different objects let kids see how things float and settle in different environments and a scale helps kids see weight differentials. No kid space is complete without blocks to build with and the shelves are filled to the brims.
Preschool
Art supplies line the back wall with lots of tables for little virtuosos to pull up a chair. From coloring to cutting and pasting, preschoolers can learn and tell their own stories. A sand or water table – the day’s element can be swapped out – is perfect for exploring the feels of different substances (aprons provided to keep clothes dry).
Early Elementary
Little big kids weren’t forgotten. The reading nook is a space designed for early readers to pick a book and settle in for a story. A light table can help kids learn to look through objects and identify color changes with light shifts.
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