For parents and caregivers, finding engaging and educational activities for children can be a rewarding yet challenging endeavor. When it comes to sparking curiosity, hands-on museums stand out as exceptional destinations. These interactive wonderlands allow children to immerse themselves in a world of discovery, where learning becomes an exciting adventure. In this blog post, we’ll explore the joys of visiting hands-on museums with children and highlight the invaluable benefits they offer.
1. Learning through Play:
Hands-on museums are designed to encourage learning through play. Children can touch, explore, and manipulate exhibits, which ignites their curiosity and creativity. By combining fun with education, these museums provide a dynamic and immersive experience that fosters a love for learning in young minds.
2. Engaging all Senses:
Unlike traditional museums where touch is restricted, hands-on museums actively encourage children to use all their senses. From touching textures to hearing sounds and seeing colorful displays, these multi-sensory experiences enhance understanding and retention of information.
3. Sparking Imagination:
One of the magical aspects of hands-on museums is how they transport children into diverse worlds, from ancient civilizations to outer space. Interactive exhibits and role-playing scenarios allow children to step into the shoes of explorers, scientists, and artists, sparking their imagination and nurturing their dreams.
4. Fostering Critical Skills:
Hands-on museums facilitate the development of critical skills in children. They learn problem-solving by engaging in interactive challenges, improve communication through group activities, and enhance their motor skills as they manipulate objects and build structures.
5. Family Bonding:
Visiting hands-on museums creates wonderful opportunities for family bonding. As parents and caregivers actively participate with their children, they become part of the learning process, making memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.
6. Nurturing a Lifelong Love for Learning:
By making education enjoyable, hands-on museums instill a lifelong love for learning in children. These positive experiences lay a strong foundation for their academic journey and encourage a curious and open-minded approach to the world.
Visiting hands-on museums with children is an enriching experience that goes beyond traditional learning methods. These interactive wonderlands ignite a sense of wonder, imagination, and curiosity in young minds. By encouraging play, engagement, and exploration, hands-on museums create a fertile ground for the growth of essential skills and a lifelong passion for learning. So, next time you’re planning a family outing, consider a trip to a hands-on museum, and watch as your children embark on an exciting journey of discovery and delight.
SNAP benefit participants from any state are eligible to receive $3/pp or less admission to select museums nationwide through Museums for All. Present your EBT card (any state) at the time of your visit for the Museum for All rate! Here is a list of participating museums in DC, Virginia, and Maryland with kid-oriented exhibits.
District of Columbia Museums
National Building Museum – Free up to 3 guests, 3 and under always free
Museum of the Bible – $3/pp up to 4 guests, 4 and under always free
International Spy Museum – $3/pp up to 4 guests, 6 and under always free
National Children’s Museum – $3/pp up to 4 guests, 11 Months and under always free (Must be reserved online or by phone at least one week prior to visit date)
Virginia Museums
George Washington’s Mount Vernon – $2/pp up to 4 guests, 5 and under always free
George Mason’s Gunston Hall – Free for unknown number of guests, 5 and under always free
Children’s Science Center Lab – $2/pp up to 6 guests, 1 and under always free (Call ahead to get promo code for purchasing advance time slot tickets)
Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum -$2/pp up to 4 guests, 1 and under always free
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden – $1/Adults (18+), Free 17 & under
Science Museum of Virginia – Exhibitions Only: $2/Adults (13-59), $1/Children (3-12) & Seniors (60+), 2 and under always free
Exhibitions & Dome – $3/Adults (13-59), $2/Children (3-12) & Seniors (60+), 2 and under always free
Children’s Museum of Richmond – $2/pp up to 6 guests, Under 1 always free (Can purchase tickets online with code MFA, don’t forget to bring your EBT card still!)
Explore More Discovery Museum – $2.50/pp, Under 1 always free
Colonial Williamsburg – $3/pp, 5 and under always free
Jamestown Settlement – Free up to 4 guests
American Revolution Museum – Free up to 4 guests
Frontier Culture Museum – $3/pp, 5 and under always free (Nearby local libraries have a reservable free pass for up to 6 guests)
The Mariners’ Museum and Park – $1/pp, 2 and under always free
Virginia Air & Space Science Center – $2/pp up to 4 guests, 2 and under always free
Norfolk Botanical Garden – $3/pp up to 4 guests , 2 and under always free
Nauticus – $3/pp up to 4 guests, 2 and under always free
Children’s Museum of Virginia – $3/pp up to 4 guests, 1 and under always free (Available online for purchase, bring EBT card at time of visit)
Amazement Square – Coming Soon
Science Museum of Western Virginia – Free for unknown number of guests, 2 and under always free
Danville Science Center – Exhibits Only: $2/pp Adults (13-59), $1/pp Children (4-12), 3 and under always free
Dome Only: $1/pp Adults (13-59), $1/pp Children (4-12), 3 and under always free
Exhibits & Dome: $3/pp Adults (13-59), $2/pp Children (4-12), 3 and under always free
Blue Ridge Institute & Museum – Coming Soon, 5 and under always free
Virginia Museum of Natural History – Free for unknown number of guests
Wonder Universe – $3/pp up to 4 guests (Adults 18+), Children 17 and under free
Maryland Museums
Discovery Station – $2/pp up to 4 guests, 1 and under always free
KID Museum – Free for unknown number of guests, Under 1 always free
Calvert Marine Museum – Free for up to 4 guests, 4 and under always free
AnnMarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center – $2/pp up to 4 guests
Historic St. Mary’s City – $3/pp Adults (18+), $1/pp Children (6-17), 5 and under always free
Historic London Town & Gardens – Free for up to 4 guests
B&O Railroad Museum – $3/total for up to 4 guests
Maryland Center for History and Culture – Free for unknown number of guests, 1 and under always free
Chesapeake Children’s Museum – $1/pp, Under 1 always free (Available for purchase on their website with code SNAPEBT, don’t forget to bring EBT card when visiting!)
American Visionary Art Museum – Coming Soon, 6 and under always free
Baltimore Museum of Industry – Free, 6 and under always free
Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture – Coming Soon, 6 and under always free
William Paca House and Garden – Free up to 4 guests, 2 and under always free
A full list of all participating museums nationwide can be found on their website http://museums4all.org.