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Children's Museum has a 'Moving' experience

Exhibit lets kids build their own play space
By Celeste Busk, Staff Reporter, Chicago Sun Times, February 13, 2010

A hands-on exhibit encouraging children to build playscapes is under way at the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier.

The 1,500-square-foot "Move" exhibit features 70 large-scale pieces of lightweight plastic that kids can twist, turn and connect together to create a space to play in. Kids can build tunnels, make a " spaceship" or create abstract shapes.

Once their creations are complete, children can run, jump, leap, skip and hop within the playscape.
"The purpose of the exhibit is to have kids come in and get them moving in a big way," said Natalie Bortoli, vice president of education for the museum.

"Move," which runs through May 16, also is a warm place for kids to play during winter. "We're providing a terrific opportunity for kids to run, skip and play the same as they would in a big field during the summer," Bortoli said.

The exhibit is free with general admission: $10 for adults and kids; $9 for seniors; free for those 1 and under. Admission is free from 5-8 p.m. Thursdays.

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily (until 8 p.m. Thursdays). The museum is at Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand. For more information, call (312) 527-1000 or visit www.chichildrensmuseum.org.

MORE PIER PLEASURE: Families can have fun celebrating Chinese New Year from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Navy Pier. The "Year of the Tiger" event will present the Chicago Chinese Cultural Center's Lion Dance Troupe performing the traditional lion dance and martial arts demonstrations.

There also will be song and dance performances, costumed Chinese cultural characters, a fashion show, calligraphy arts and crafts and educational demonstrations.

Admission is free. Navy Pier is at 600 E. Grand. Call (312) 595-7437 or visit www.navypier.com.

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Take a snow day, and come play inside

By Nancy Maes, Special to the Tribune, February 4, 2010

At a time when a campaign called Leave No Child Inside encourages children to play outdoors, it may seem like a paradox to keep them inside at the exhibit called "Snow Much Fun" at Chicago Children's Museum.

But not necessarily, says the exhibit's developer, Katie Slivovsky. "Our primary goal was to create a fun, unique indoor experience using winter play as the inspiration, but we hope adults will remember how much fun it was to build a snow fort or skate on an ice rink, so they will bundle up the kids and take them outside."

Kids don't have any trouble playing let's pretend, so it's easy for them to imagine that the exhibit is a winter wonderland minus, of course, the cold toes and noses. They can make believe that big boxes shaped like snowflakes are the real white stuff and stack them up to make forts.

When kids play outside they can make snowballs only when the snow is good for packing, but at the exhibit they will find ready-made lightweight white balls stashed in coolers just waiting to be launched for simulated snowball fights.

"We're seeing snowball fights between members of families and between people who don't even know each other," says Slivovsky. "It's a multigenerational activity that creates a sense of community."

Youngsters can also get an idea of what it's like to go ice skating on an indoor rink made out of highly waxed linoleum. No sharp blades required; kids in stocking feet can slide and slip around and fall down — maybe accidentally or maybe just for the fun of it.

At another area in the exhibit called Snowman Fashionista, children can imagine they are designers on TV's "Project Runway," but instead of creating clothes for sleek models to showcase on the catwalk, they'll adorn three rotund white mannequins that have sticks for arms. The stereotypical scarf and top hat that are the traditional garb of snowmen are nowhere to be found. Instead, kids can use their creative instincts to dress up the snow people with hats like the ones worn by witches or that adventurous archaeologist Indiana Jones. They can also put together outfits from pieces of fabrics such as ones designed with leopard prints or ones used for saris.

"We want kids to think outside the box and create the unexpected," says Slivovsky.

Babies and toddlers, unencumbered by bulky snowsuits, will find their own place in the exhibit to discover the pleasures of winter without the discomforts. The Snow Babies area includes a space that resembles a snow cave made with shimmering wintery silver and blue fabrics.

"I'm sure a lot of children have already done these activities outside," says Slivovsky, "but the exhibit gives them a new twist on some old favorites."

Snow Much Fun
When: Through March 1
Where: Chicago Children's Museum
700 E. Grand Ave., Navy Pier
How much: $10, free 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays
For more information: 312-527-1000

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