THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 17, 1995 TAG: 9501170053
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E4 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Mom, I'm Bored
SOURCE: Sherrie Boyer
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
THE HOOPLA over the grand opening is now past, but is the Children's Museum of Virginia as great as it sounds?
We suffered with even more curiosity and anticipation last Saturday when we found a waiting line that stretched for an hour.
So we returned Sunday afternoon to a full museum, no line and had a marvelous time. We thought it was just fabulous.
The lovely entrance has pink railings, and it's easy to slip past the gift shop (lots of breakables) without the children really noticing. Stash your coats and enter a maze of play.
We played in the bank first, where Allio, 5 1/2, worked very hard to follow the instructions and turn a giant combination lock to open the safe. The thrill is in the opening; the safe is merely a silver hole.
Maddie, 3 1/2, raced for the fire engine, a real cab parked across from the play grocery. From its seat, she could flick the dash lights and turn the giant wheel.
Both girls held their hands to a clear globe and watched lightning flash to their fingertips, bathing their palms in golden light.
They tested their skill climbing a rope to the top of a slide, created faces with huge discs that turned, traced a star, tested their flexibility, eyed the stars in the planetarium and considered the bubbles.
Perhaps the nicest thing about the new Children's Museum are these exhibits and that children of all ages can enjoy htem.
To really appreciate the challenge, the child will have to read or let you read to him. Watch for the ones in yellow that look like little traffic signs. Sometimes these are hard to find, but the language is fast and precise. It will say how to touch the magic lightning, for instance.
While your child is playing you'll have time to read the brief text on the bigger sign at the exhibit. Then both of you will understand how the lightning works.
There is also a lot for the very young, those 2 and under. There is a family quiet room full of blocks, a Duplo room, a bigger building blocks area and a tunnel. But watching a toddler is a challenge. The rooms flow together and while the older child pauses, the baby wanders, dazzled by lights but unable to reach anything. In a year, the toddler will be ready.
Both girls loved the Recollections room, where they could dance before a screen that mirrored their movements in rainbow colors.
The museum is two blocks from the old location. Use the parking garage directly behind the museum (look for white and yellow directional signs). When you walk out of the garage (opposite side), you'll be in the museum's courtyard.
Admission is $3/person age 2 and older. Children under 2 admitted free. Ask the cashier about free planetarium tickets; the planetarium fills quickly and you need a pass to get a seat. There is no sign to remind you. Planetarium tickets are also offered by a roving employee, but we missed her. Shows are 10 or 30 minutes; the latter was too dark, dull and long for Maddie, but Allio enjoyed it greatly.
The museum is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and until 9 p.m. Fridays. So far, the only lines are on Saturday. Strollers must be parked in the coat room. For more information, call 393-8393. by CNB