Grammy on the Go
By Karen Shadrach
Children’s museums are a wonderful venue where children can have fun while they are learning. A great time can be had by all ages and we are fortunate here in Northeast Ohio that we have two fantastic museums to visit in our area. These museums help children to develop essential foundational skills, as well as light a creative spark for discovery and lifelong learning.
The Cleveland Children’s Museum (CCM) was established in 1981. It was originally located in University Circle, but is now in the Midtown neighborhood at 3813 Euclid Ave. This museum is one of the top fun things to do in Cleveland for kids and has seven unique areas on three floors, which provide imaginative play.
The Adventure City area allows you to explore a make-believe bustling city with your 
grandchildren. It’s a multi-level environment that includes a market, roof-top garden and a large construction site. There is a net and maze area to climb. Our grandkid’s favorite is the outdoor market, complete with scales for weighing veggies and fruits and cash registers for checking out the groceries.
The Wonder Lab is an industrial science laboratory where the kids can become scientists, playing with water tables (rain jackets provided), ball tracks on a magnetic wall or making scarves fly through tubes, alternating their course by controlling vacuum vents.
Costumes, a make-up area and play instruments are provided in the Theater room, where the grandkids can perform for you on a huge stage. There is even a ticket booth and a stage control center, which allows them to create different light and sound effects. The Making Miniatures section includes dollhouses to view and a large choice of miniature furniture pieces so kids can build their own house. Also, Lego rooms are divided into different age groups.
A new space for the youngest visitors, the Meadow, is where infants and crawlers (up to 3 years) can have fun and make discoveries while learning in a bright, sensory-rich environment.
The Playlist area has a dramatically lit shadow wall. Children are encouraged to self-express with instruments and other props to make changing silhouettes along the wall.
Arts and Parts is an art studio where the kids can create a special craft to take home. All supplies are provided and help is always available to guide them with their masterpiece. We usually visit here first, so that our art can dry completely while playing in other areas.
The Akron Children’s Museum is located downtown by Lock 3 at 216 Main Street. It officially opened its doors in November 2016. It includes 7,000 square feet and is all on one floor with over 20 interactive exhibits for children 0-10 years of age, where play inspires discovery, exploration and problem-solving. A few examples of their many stations/exhibits include the Excavation Station where children can be pretend archeologists. Also, there are small trucks and excavators for them to use to make buildings and roads.
The Light up Akron exhibit promotes learning how electricity travels using circuit blocks. The Quake, Rattle ‘n’ Roll area mimics earthquakes with a table that allows children to create a structure that can withstand the shaking earthquake!
Becoming a member of either of these museums (or giving a membership as a gift) will pay for itself after two visits. Having the ability to stay and concentrate on one play area is a wonderful advantage. Also, you can come and just stay for an hour, if that’s all the time you have on a particular day.
A trip to a children’s museum makes an especially nice indoor adventure when spring weather is still too wet and cold for the kids to play outside. It is a delight, as a grandparent, to watch them interact with the exhibits and to participate with them in their imaginary play. Spend some quality and fun time with your young grandchildren to create, explore and play together!
Primary photo courtesy pexels.com; embedded photos by Karen Shadrach
