A Taste of East Asia is a new, imaginative play-based exhibit at DuPage Children’s Museum. Through July 26, 2024, museum guests can learn about Asian culture and cuisine through pretend play experiences in an adorable kitchen setting.
Quick details about A Taste of East Asia at DuPage Children’s Museum
- June 15-July 26, 2024
- Address: DuPage Children’s Museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville
- Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
- Cost: $19/adults and children, $18/seniors, free for kids under 1. Financial assistance is available.
- Getting there: DuPage Children’s Museum is just across the street from the Naperville Metra train station.
- Parking: Parking is free. On busy days, the free lot may be full. Downtown Naperville offers ample free parking.
Visitors can play in a pretend kitchen and use real utensils to try out traditional cooking methods like barbequing, steaming and stir frying. Make noodles, cook dumplings and grill seafood, then serve your pretend dishes to your friends and family.
While the play food props in the exhibit are pretend representations of East Asian ingredients, scent jars with real spices will also be included to pique children’s senses. The exhibit will include both fine motor activities and opportunities for gross motor play.
DuPage Children’s Museum is piloting the new exhibit before it is reproduced for children’s museums around the country. Learn more about what kids can do at this celebration of culture, and discover more helpful tips and suggestions for exploring DuPage Children’s Museum with your family.
Things to do with kids at A Taste of East Asia
- Learn about Asian culture and cuisine through imaginative play.
- Pretend to steam dumplings, grill seafood or dish up bibimbap.
- Serve your family play food in a thoughtfully-designed play kitchen.
- Roll yourself into sushi.
- Climb into a giant noodle bowl.
Tips for visiting DuPage Children’s Museum
- Pre-registration is recommended to avoid wait times on the museum’s busy days. You can register and get your tickets here. Reserved tickets are non-refundable.
- Private lockers and coat racks are available.
- Bring your own snacks or a lunch to enjoy in the lower level café area or pick up a healthy option at Bean Sprouts Café. Bean Sprouts Café has an all-natural, award-winning menu that even your pickiest eaters can enjoy. Plus, the Imaginibbles kids meals are super adorable!
- Kids will get wet in the AWEsome Water exhibit, so consider stashing a towel and a change of clothes in your locker.
- Don’t forget to play! You’ll be surprised by what you and your child can learn when you play together.
- Trying to plan your family museum outing on a budget? Find out if you qualify for reduced admission.
More things to do with kids at DuPage Children’s Museum
After you’ve eaten your way through East Asia, check out some of these other exhibit highlights at DuPage Children’s Museum.
- “Fly” in a wind tunnel, create compressed air and pedal a bike at AWEsome Air.
- Make a splash at AWEsome Water, a bubbling landscape with a waterwheel, a water-powered racetrack, bubbles and more.
- Roll, slide, bounce and spin objects down test tracks in Make It Move, a science-focused exhibit where you and your little ones can play and experiment together.
- From little builders to budding pros, kids of all ages can safely use real wood and tools in the “Build It” workshop.
- Inspire your child’s creative side by viewing artwork from local students at the Good Show! Gallery.
- Little ones can play in the Young Explorers space, designed just for children ages 0-24 months.
- Kids with special and sensory needs can enjoy Adaptive Play Time programs. These programs have limited attendance, noise and light reduction, sensory kits and hands-on ways to play, explore and create.
- Attend a special event! DuPage Children’s Museum hosts story times, live performances and unique events like pajama parties and seasonal fests.
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