When you first
walk in there is this really huge, interactive, ball structure,
the Color Coaster.
Waterscapes is this really cool water table room, with
smocks to put on so you stay dry but we still got really wet.
I would definitely bring a dry shirt.
In the Rainforest
Adventure, there is a pulley system on the wall, very cool,
so you can sit in a seat and pull yourself up the wall, like a
scientist climbing a tree. And you can learn about the rainforest
environment.
My sister, climbing the virtual rainforest !
I Spy Connecticut
is a transportation area. There you can control model trains,
make Lego racecars and race them, sit in and pretend to fly the
helicopter or play in the submarine space.
In the
Works is a gadget area and was my favorite. There was a suction
tube that went from one end of the room, across the ceiling to
the other side of the room and you could send messages back and
forth. You can put together ball tracks to see how far you can
get the ball before it falls off the wall. You can make an electric
bulb work by completing the circuit. Lots of cool things to do.
Oh yeah, my
little brother's favorite part is the little kids room, Toddler
Terrain, where only the little kids can play and do crafts.
This place is really a lot of fun but I think I may be getting
a little too big for some of the stuff. My sister and brothers
could have stayed all day!
What
Mom Says:This is a great day out for the
family. As you enter you get the feeling that this is all about
kids having fun; big open spaces, clean, bright and colorful.
First thing
you see is the Color Coaster, a 27-foot kinetic sculpture
designed by artist George Rhoads, it is fascinating and interactive.
Depending on the weather, you could save the Waterscapes
for last or go ahead and dive right in. The kids do tend to get
very wet. I would definitely bring a dry shirt for older kids
and full change for the little guys.
Spying HUGE bugs
through the glass floor.
Toddler
Terrain is specifically for kids 3 and under. It is a soft
play space where crawling and floor play is safe for little ones.
The other three sections, Rainforest, I Spy Connecticut,
and In the Works are all about independent investigation
and hands on manipulation. The outdoor Courtyard is open seasonally.
If you are
doing lunch, they have a full service lunch counter and cafeteria
style seating, or you could eat out in the courtyard (weather
permitting).
James is right,
he is growing out of some of the activities. He did still have
a great time, although with no where near the enthusiasm of the
three younger kids. He began to get bored after a few hours. The
younger ones could have spent the entire day.
Stepping Stones
Museum for Children is located at Mathews Park, 303 West Avenue,
Norwalk, CT 06850, Phone: 203 899 0606.
The museum
hours (Memorial Day - Labor Day ) are 10:00 AM - 5:00
PM daily, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm on holidays. They open at 9:00 a.m
on Wednesday and Thursday mornings for museum
members. Admission is $8 per person (children under 1 free)
and $6 for seniors.
They offer free admission on the last Thursday of every month
from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. School and group tours are available at
a discounted rate. Admission is free with membership card from
Stepping Stones or from one of over 100 children's museum in the
reciprocal
program.
About the
authors: James is the oldest of 4 kids. Mom is their Mother,
a children's writer, educator & photographer. They live in
New York with their Dad and pet dogs, cats, geckos, and turtles.