Little Fun Denver: Discovery Zone at the Museum of Nature and Science

I have been so excited to check out the Children's Discovery Zone at the MNS that opened last week and we finally made it! I must say that I LOVE it- despite it being packed with people and not being able to try everything out this first time, but I can still see that it is an amazing new place for children. As I walked around and read signs and looked at materials it was quite evident that whoever designed this space knows a thing or two about brain development and early childhood education. Similar to the Children's Museum, the space is designed for children from floor to ceiling with soft floors, tons of things to explore and manipulate, numerous play areas amidst a larger play room, and even a special "Big Backyard" area just for children two and under and their caregivers.

I took tons of pictures, but because it was so busy I didn't realize until we got home that most of them came out blurry or with an obstructed view. Sometimes when you are having so much fun playing and exploring taking pictures is more of a nuisance than a desirable activity. When we venture back in the future I'll make sure to get some good ones that are more clear and give a better view into the space!

One thing that I was reminded of at this outing is that it is now summer vacation for school-age kiddos. I do think they equally deserve to get out and about in the community, but it definitely will effect my choices of places to play and when to for us this summer. It is very challenging when you go somewhere with a little one and there are large groups of children running amuck. I do see chaperones and caregivers reminding their groups to walk and watch out for others, but I also see children who are running and jumping and making it even more challenging to have a fun time playing. As a society I would like to see adults helping children to learn what respect is: we watch out for others, we help others, and even though we may not want to we need to share spaces with others, no matter their ages. I know that there are people who are annoyed that there is a baby trying to waddle his way through an area that they want their preschooler to be able to get their energy out in, but I also know when it's time for me to pick up and carry the little guy to get out of the way, or when to move him from an activity where bigger kids are playing. Its all about being respectful to those around you and making sure that you are mindful of your actions. Children are not born knowing how to behave in social environments, peers and adults must help show and tell them things that they can do to be respectful while still exploring and having fun. If the play area says for two and under, speak up and tell you preschooler this instead of yelling at them to stop jumping. That soft padded area looks like a fun trampoline to them and they don't know why they are getting in trouble, so instead use language to convey your message : "That sign says that this area is for babies only, and you aren't a baby. Babies can't climb in the dinosaur area because they could get hurt, that's why they have a padded climbing area. Let's let them have this space to practice crawling and climbing and we'll go find an area for you to climb in where you won't hurt a baby." Language is my answer to anything- talk, talk, talk. Even when it doesn't seem like they are listening they do hear you, and not only are you supporting their vocabulary growth by offering new words in new places, you're also supporting their social development and it will show in the future.

Upon entering the Discovery Zone (go to the back of level 2): out of the picture to the left is a large dinosaur statue that kids can climb all over; the picture is overlooking Dinosaur Gulch which is two areas that look like rock formations filled with tiny rubber scraps to 'dig' through with paintbrushes. Signs encourage kids to look for fossils, and the pictures along the walls show paleontologists digging for and uncovering large fossils. Even though my little one is still very oral, I took him into this area which was fun to walk in, and he even rubbed the brush all around the ground mimicking children nearby. Luckily we moved up the stairs and out of the area before he thought about eating any of the rubber! Behind Dinosaur Gulch is the best water play area I've seen at a museum (this includes the Children's Museum, so you guys better get on that!).

HUMONGOUS water play tables, just the perfect size and length for numerous children to take part all at once. I was even interested in all of the parts to manipulate! You can move a faucet to different dumping containers, or put balls at one end of the table and watch as the current moves it around. In the lower picture above you'll see an umbrella-shaped waterfall, and when you put your hand in to interrupt the stream fog comes out (what a great science question to look into!). There were just so many things to touch and see, my little one loved this section. It was also surrounded by a wet-safe floor and it offered smocks if you choose, as well as hand driers and sanitizer for when you are done. I also noticed that some of the tables were slightly lower, and some got higher as they connected and those tended to have the more intricate, science experiment-type materials. My little guy was just right standing against the lower ones, so we stayed near these which worked well because he seemed to get splashed the least and there weren't as many big kids trying to play close.

The three pictures above this caption are of the soft padded play area in the back corner of the baby area that I mentioned briefly above (or ranted about bigger kids running amuck in!). Like the Children's Museum there are so many things at low level for babies to look at and manipulate. The half wall was covered in a green shag carpet which I thought was pretty cool. The tall thing that you see a boy climbing through was kind of neat, my little guy liked shaking the blades of grass but wasn't too impressed when he tried to go through it, although it does seem like a great whole body sensory activity for a toddler or preschooler. The large fish tank was a big hit and lots of little ones were against it watching the fish.

This picture was taken while standing in the back corner near the padded play area. You'll see the fence to the front of the picture leading to the larger discovery zone, which is magnetized so that you can keep your little one in. To the right is a table, and although I saw random puzzle pieces and some magnetic animal builders they were not being kept at the table and being used appropriately, or at least not how they were intended to be used I'm guessing. Yes, babies and toddlers are known for carrying around toys and leaving big messes, but again as a caregiver we can help to show and tell even the youngest of children how we put toys back so that others can have their turn using them. I personally would have a staff member stationed in this area to help keep the materials in places where they can be used appropriately and to guide caregivers as to how and what they can do with such materials with little ones. There is also a large wall mirror to the right with dress-up clothes, and to the left there is a ramp and stairs for little ones to go on (be careful though, the ramp in the middle looks fun but for my new walker required two-hand holding).

Construction Corner with a ball wall (like the Children's Museum), and 2-3 tables with various blocks and manipulatives for building and connecting. I like how the tables were low and for standing around without chairs in the way.

The science kitchen was super neat and clearly they have staff ready with planned activities (something that we will participate in when my little one is a bit older). There was a light table in the back corner with Magna Tiles- LOVE- and also a large screen that you 'color' on by using your fingers and hands (kind of like a giant iPad). There were some fun things happening at tables in their too, but my little one was all hands and I moved him out so that he wouldn't destroy anyones work.