Culture
The World’s Best Museums For Kids
Opener Children's museumsNot just for grown-ups, museums can inspire kids to discover our fascinating world, from dinosaur fossils to rocket ships. These are the top museums for little learners. [Photo: © National Museums Scotland]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
American Museum of Natural HistoryAmerican Museum of Natural History, New York City – Thankfully, the best natural history institutions nowadays also showcase their presentations with modern technology. The American Museum of Natural History balances high-tech with exhibitions on earth and space, humans, mammals and, of course, impressive dinosaur fossils. Inside Track: The Discovery Room lets kids aged 5-12 delve, hands-on, into natural history. amnh.org [Photo: ©AMNH/D. Finnin]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Chocolate Museum, ParisChocolate Museum, Paris – The central exhibition of the Chocolate Museum is divided into three parts: It starts with the ancient civilisations that used cocoa 4,000 years ago, then presents more modern uses in what we know as chocolate. It ends with chocolate today – of course, with tasting. Inside Track: There are chocolate workshops, including for kids 6-9, 10-12 and 13-15. museeduchocolat.fr [Photo: © Musée du Chocolat]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
CosmoCaixaCosmoCaixa, Barcelona – Barcelona’s CosmoCaixa opened in 2005 and quickly became one of the most popular museums in Spain. Housed in an art nouveau building, it focuses on science and – as is now expected – it is very much hands-on, with children encouraged to experiment. Inside Track: Flooded Forest is a 1,000sqm Amazonian rainforest recreation. barcelonaturisme.com
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Children's Museum BrusselsChildren’s Museum, Brussels – Located in Jadot Mansion since 1986, this museum largely eschews modern technology in favour of wooden toys, imaginatively created settings and stages, and fun participatory activities. Inside Track: The Time to Wonder exhibition prompts kids to use all their senses to ‘marvel at the little things in daily life’ – it ends 2018. childrenmuseum.be
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Children's Museum IndianapolisChildren’s Museum Indianapolis – Measuring 44,000sqm, this is the largest kids’ museum in the world; iconic attractions include a 5m Transformer and a carousel. The Collecting Area has 120,000 objects, and Funky Finds has a Lego Phone and a signed Pele football. Inside Track: Playscape is where young kids explore and create with everything from water to sand, art, and music. childrensmuseum.org
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Canadian Museum of HistoryCanadian Museum of History, Children’s Museum, Québec – As well as the delights of the Canadian Museum of History, kids will make a beeline for its Children’s Museum. The central theme is ‘The Great Adventure’, with 30 permanent exhibitions plus assorted costumes, props and artefacts. Inside Track: Activities change regularly, ranging from DIY musical instruments to ‘magic bubbles’. historymuseum.ca
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
COSICOSI (Center of Science and Industry), Columbus, Ohio – Now in a modern 30,000sqm science centre, COSI’s permanent exhibitions span the oceans and space. Little Kidspace is a fun ‘development area’ that uses a tree house, a farm and water features to encourage learning, exploration and role play. Inside Track: Kids with autism can watch video tutorials beforehand to prepare them for their visit. cosi.org [Photo: Brad Feinknopf]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Deutsches MuseumDeutsches Museum, Munich – The biggest science and technology museum in the world, the 100-year-old architecture of the Deutsches Museum limits modernisation, but its sheer depth of objects makes it a joy. Inside Track: The whole museum will fascinate kids, but there is also The Kids’ Kingdom, dedicated to children aged 3-8. deutsches-museum.de [Photo: ©Deutsches Museum]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Dinosaur RidgeDinosaur Ridge, Colorado – There comes a time in most children’s development when dinosaurs become something of an obsession – at which point, you should take them to Dinosaur Ridge. On the site’s walking trails, they’ll get to see dinosaur tracks, footprints and bones in situ. Inside Track: The world’s first stegosaurus was discovered at Dinosaur Ridge’s Bone Quarry, along with many other dinosaur fossils. dinoridge.org [Photo: Nikki McLeod/Flickr]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
FRida & freD Children’s MuseumFRida & freD Children’s Museum, Graz – FRida & freD aims to help children ‘develop into confident and responsible citizens’. Through delightful exhibitions, kids can learn how inventions came about, program robots in the Laboratory and bake edible grass in workshops. Inside Track: The museum puts on plays twice a week, where children can get involved in participatory theatre. fridaundfred.at [Photo: ©FRida & freD, Hannes Loske]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Horniman Museum and GardensHorniman Museum and Gardens, London – Wonderfully located in an Arts and Crafts building more than a century old, the Horniman is a museum-garden combination featuring collections that range from anthropology and aquariums to musical instruments and natural history. Inside Track: Hands-On Base is where visitors can discover, touch and even wear thousands of objects – the Music Gallery has a host of instruments to play. horniman.ac.uk [Photo: Laura Mtungwazi]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
JunibackenJunibacken, Stockholm – Step into the world of Astrid Lindgren, the Swedish author of countless hilarious – and often eccentric – books. At Storybook Square, kids interact with a host of familiar characters from the tales. Inside Track: Major exhibitions change every few years – currently on show is Tove Jansson’s The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My, replete with fun activities (ends January 2017). junibacken.se
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Kids Museum of GlassKids Museum of Glass, Shanghai – This self-styled ‘coolest place to get smart’ opened in January 2016 as a super-modern museum that effortlessly gets children involved; ‘try and touch everything’ is a motto. Activities and shows include fun with bubbles, hand-painting, Glass Zoo and magic mirrors. Inside Track: At the DIY Creative Workshop, there’s glassbloswing and glass art. kmog.org [Photo: Coordination Asia]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Interactive Imagination MuseumInteractive Imagination Museum, Lima – The descriptive name of the Interactive Imagination Museum reveals a lot about its aims: Kids learn about natural history as well as science and astronomy, invariably by getting them to ‘think’ for themselves, aided by hands-on activities and exhibitions. Inside Track: The Human Body exhibition leads visitors through outsized models of parts of the human body. elparquedelaimaginacion.com.pe
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
International Spy MuseumInternational Spy Museum, Washington, DC – This museum entices both kids and adults with tales of derring-do, taking them behind the scenes of the art of spying. You’ll learn how to adopt a cover and legend, while learning about what it takes to become a spy in the School for Spies. Inside Track: There’s a lengthy programme of events for kids, including a spy camp. spymuseum.org [Photo: © International Spy Museum]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Labyrinth Children’s MuseumLabyrinth Children’s Museum, Berlin – Labyrinth is a haven of children’s exhibitions and activities. Kids learn by doing, so this children’s museum encourages them to be creative and explore – simply by climbing, running, listening, looking, asking, thinking and, of course, shouting! Inside Track: The museum is free for refugee children and their families. labyrinth-kindermuseum.de [Photo: © Labyrinth Kindermuseum Berlin, Ragnar Schmuck]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Museo de los Niños AbastoMuseo de los Niños Abasto, Buenos Aires – Located in an Art Deco building, Museo de los Niños Abasto focuses on interactive activities and exhibitions for kids aged 12 and under. It even includes a children’s TV station, doctor’s surgery and bank. Inside Track: After a day indoors, head over to Palermo to interact with nature at the botanical gardens. museoabasto.org.ar
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Muséum National d'Histoire NaturelleMuséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris – Though centred in Jardin des Plantes (botanical garden), this natural history museum encompasses various topics, covering zoology, palaeontology and geology. Within the museum, the Grande Galerie de I’Évolution is a favourite for children. Inside Track: La Galerie des Enfants is a science museum dedicated to kids 6-12 years old. mnhn.fr, galeriedesenfants.fr [Photo: Emmanuele Blanc]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
National Museum AustraliaNational Museum Australia, Canberra – The National Museum Australia has an extensive programme and resources to engage kids of all ages. For example, Kspace is a 30-minute touchscreen interactive adventure game for children, who travel through time with a robot. Inside Track: The museum’s location, surrounded by water and woodlands on the Acton Peninsula, is an attraction in itself. nma.gov.au
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
National Museum of ScotlandNational Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh – The National Museum of Scotland is almost like a multitude of museums covering history, culture, archaeology, science and technology, not to mention art and design. Adventure Planet covers the natural world, even with a Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex on display. Inside Track: Its sister museum, the National Museum of Flight, holds a Concorde and is only 40 minutes away. nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland, nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-flight [Photo: Ruth Armstrong Photography]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Natural History Museum LondonNatural History Museum, London – A long history and glorious Romanesque architecture provide the backdrop to this impressive museum showcasing the first Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever found, as well as a David Attenborough-narrated 3D virtual-reality exploration of a coral reef. Inside Track: Children aged 7 to 11 can spend the night at the museum at Dino Snores for Kids. nhm.ac.uk [Photo:© NHM London]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
National Museum of Emerging Science and InnovationNational Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Tokyo – Discover three permanent exhibition spaces – Explore the Frontiers, Create Your Future and Discover Your Earth – along with Curiosity Field, which helps children and guardians/adults work together to ‘experience the scientific way of thinking’. Inside Track: You can see the famous ASIMO robot demonstrate its human-like skills here. miraikan.jst.go.jp
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
National Museum of Natural ScienceNational Museum of Natural Science, Taiwan – This museum covers an extensive 9 hectares and comprises five spaces, including the Space IMAX Theater, the Botanical Garden and the Life Science Hall (with dinosaurs). Inside Track: For kids aged 3-8, the Science Center’s Children’s Discovery Room is packed with educational interactive activities. nmns.edu.tw [Photo: #K/Flickr]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
New Zealand Maritime MuseumNew Zealand Maritime Museum, Auckland – The sea has shaped the Kiwi identity, and its importance shows in the fabulous Maritime Museum. The Hawaiki exhibition showcases numerous beautiful replica of voyaging canoes, plus Maori artefacts. Inside Track: Visitors – including kids – can join a sea voyage aboard scow Ted Ashby, a typical scow which once plied the northern waters of New Zealand and was built by museum staff and volunteers. maritimemuseum.co.nz
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
PompeiiPompeii, Italy – With the story of an ancient Roman city destroyed under a storm of ash and pumice in the wake of a dramatic volcano eruption, Pompeii can certainly fascinate children. That plaster fills the ash cavities exactly where people once were makes Pompeii appear even more fantastical. Inside Track: Pompeii’s coastal location makes the region perfect for family holidays. pompeiisites.org, italia.it
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Prague Toy MuseumPrague Toy Museum, Prague – Wonderfully located in Prague Castle, the Prague Toy Museum holds one of the world’s largest collections of historical toys. Objects date from the 18th to the 20th century, ranging from Märklin model trains to Barbie dolls. Inside Track: Prague Castle claims to be the largest ‘coherent castle complex in the world’, covering 18 acres. hrad.cz, prague.eu
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Science Museum, LondonScience Museum, London – As well as the vast array of wonders, the Science Museum also has exhibitions and activities for a number of age groups. The Garden, for kids 3-6, involves lots of water and learning games. Older age groups might prefer Exploring Space, Flight or A Beautiful Planet. Inside Track: Making the Modern World has Stephenson’s 1829 Rocket. sciencemuseum.org.uk [Photo: Science Museum]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
SkansenSkansen, Stockholm – Skansen claims to be the oldest outdoor museum in the world, dating back to 1891. Similar to VASA and Junibacken (listed here), it’s based on Stockholm’s island of Djurgården and showcases five centuries of Swedish life. Inside Track: Skansen’s zoo focuses on Scandinavian animals, including brown bears, wolves, lynx and wolverines. skansen.se
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
SmithsonianSmithsonian, mainly Washington, DC – The Smithsonian is a series of 19 museums and galleries, plus a zoo, with countless attractions for children: flight simulators at the Air and Space Museum, Spark!Lab at the American History Museum or Meet-a-Small Mammal at the National Zoo. Inside Track: Download the interactive Awesome Adventures at the Smithsonian: The Official Kids Guide to the Smithsonian Institution si.edu
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Telus SparkTelus Spark, Calgary – One of Canada’s premier museums, Telus Spark encourages children to get hands-on with science. The Brainasium is a playful outdoor adventure area, Open Studios is a combination of science and art, and the Creative Kids Museum ranges from plays to climbing. Inside Track: Live Science Demos happen twice daily and range from fire to sound experiments. sparkscience.ca
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Toys MuseumToys Museum, Vilnius – Opened in 2012, this was the first museum dedicated to children in Lithuania. Inspired by some of the best interactive, hands-on museums in Europe, it also delights in showcasing traditional Lithuanian toys. Inside Track: The education workshop offers numerous programmes for families to learn and have fun together, such as sculpting wax figures. zaislumuziejus.lt
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
TropenmuseumTropenmuseum, Netherlands – A well-thought-out philosophy about how children learn underpins the ethnographic Tropenmuseum. The oldest children’s museum in the Netherlands, it has for decades been using fun methods to stimulate kids’ curiosity– about their own culture and others around the world. Inside Track: For special exhibitions, check beforehand to see if you need to join a programme. tropenmuseumjunior.nl [Photo: Ivar Pel]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
VasaVASA, Stockholm – An impressive-looking war ship buried in the sea for 333 years easily captures children’s attention. Follow its creation in a 17th-century Stockholm shipyard, learn about life on board, then hear the tale of its fateful voyage, later discovery and salvage. Inside Track: Based on a book, Vasa Piglet is a children’s film about the adventures of a pig aboard the Vasa. vasamuseet.se [Photo: Anneli Karlsson, the Swedish National Maritime Museums]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Viking Ship MuseumViking Ship Museum, Bygdøy, Norway – As well as the first excavated Viking ship (Tune) and the Oseberg (with ‘exceptional Viking woodwork’), the museum – located in the Museum of Cultural History – is home to the Gokstad, the best-preserved Viking ship in the world. Inside Track: By 2023, a new Viking Age Museum should be up and running at Bygdøy. khm.uio.no [Photo: Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, Norway]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
V&A Museum of ChildhoodV&A Museum of Childhood, London – As well as a range of family-centred activities at the V&A, its sister institution, the V&A Museum of Childhood, entices kids with its wide-ranging activities and exhibitions; it also holds a significant collection of ‘childhood-related objects’. Inside Track: A fascinating exhibition presents Learning and Development in objects such as an abacus and traditional alphabet blocks. vam.ac.uk [Photo: Wave Machine, Peter Markey, V&A Museum of Childhood]
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The World’s Best Museums For Kids.
Victoria and Albert MuseumVictoria and Albert Museum, London – Known as a world-class art and design museum, the V&A also has an extensive programme with a series of workshops and fun activities for children. There are hands-on exhibits, art trails and backpacks filled with jigsaws, stories and puzzles to borrow. Inside Track: Saturdays are ‘pop-up performance’ days, with music, dance, storytelling and plays. vam.ac.uk
Families: shop.vam.ac.uk [Photo:© Victoria and Albert Museum, London]36/37
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