Museums fight winter doldrums with kid programs

It's January. It's long. It's cold.

And it can be the perfect time for families to head out to a local museum for programs geared specifically for kids. Here is a sampling of some local museums and with educational and fun activities for children.

DuPage Children's Museum

The DuPage Children's Museum offers a sanctuary from January's chill, said Dana Peters, the museum's assistant marketing manager.

“In the winter, parents start to look for some different activities for their kids, other than staying inside. At the museum, even though they are indoors, there is so much to do — the kids are excited, and they are learning and having fun,” Peters said.

The DuPage Children's Museum brings children in touch with various performing arts with its Tiny Great Performances series, Peters said.

“It introduces the arts in an interactive and family-friendly way,” Peters said.

The next Tiny Great Performances event is the Sea Beast Puppet Company incorporating music, puppets and audience interaction into a production of “Surf and Turf” at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29. Admission is free with paid general museum admission or with museum membership.

Family Fun Friday Nights are another highlight at the museum in January and throughout the school year, Peters said. The museum remains open until 8 p.m. on most Fridays, allowing families to take part in activities after work and school.

They can explore museum areas, called “neighborhoods,” with everything from the wonders of water in the “Water Ways” area to learning about transportation in the “Trains — Get on Board!” exhibit.

“We have an eating area in the lower level, if families want to bring some food, have dinner together and make a whole evening out of it,” Peters said.

Upcoming Family Fun Friday Nights events include Family Science Night at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, and Robofest at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27.

The DuPage Children's Museum is at 301 N. Washington St., Naperville. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. On the third Thursday of every month, the museum is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is $8.50-$9.50. Members are free. Call (630) 637-8000, or visit dupagechildrensmuseum.org.

Kohl Children's Museum

“What better new year's resolution is there for families than to have fun — and learn — together?” said Sheridan Turner, president and CEO of the Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview.

The Kohl Children's Museum, recently named one of the 10 best children's museums in the country by Parents magazine, offers kids a chance to do everything from shop in a miniature Dominick's food store to look at the X-rays of an injured “pet” in the Pet Vet area.

Other permanent exhibits include “Water Works,” “Music Makers,” “Car Care” and the “Hands On House.”

One of the newest exhibits to open is the “Baby Nursery,” where young museum guests can role play by feeding, bathing and changing baby dolls.

“With fewer chances (for kids) to get outdoors and play in January, Kohl Children's museum offers a winter place where children can exercise their minds and bodies — without the temptation of siting in front of the TV all day,” Turner said. “Nearly all of our art programs and daily discoveries are designed so they can be easily replicated by families at home. By visiting the museum, you're actually planning ahead for those snowed-in days.”

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, the museum welcomes its newest temporary “Sonic Sensation” exhibition, where youngsters can use their senses to hear, see and feel various sounds. “Sonic Sensation” will run through Thursday, May 10.

The Kohl Children's Museum is at 2100 Patriot Blvd., in Glenview. Museum hours are 9:30 a.m. to noon Mondays, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $8.50-$9.50. Children younger than 1 and members are free. Call (847) 832-6600, or visit kohlchildrensmuseum.org.

Lake County Discovery Museum

Heading to the Lake County Discovery Museum offers visitors a respite from their regular daily routine, said Katherine Hamilton-Smith, director of cultural resources at the Lake County Forest Preserves.

“Families can slow down, come inside from the cold — even for just an hour or two — to see all of the wonderful things we have in our galleries.”

The museum's Mall of History features items from Lake County and nearby counties, with everything from melted cups from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 to information on the glaciers that once blanketed Lake County.

“Every item tells a story. It's a place to step back and just say, ‘Wow,'” Hamilton-Smith said.

The gallery's large rowboat, in which youngsters can climb inside and have a “picnic” with wooden food, has been used by “thousands and thousands of children over the years,” and remains one of the most popular spots in the museum, Hamilton-Smith said.

The Children's Learning Gallery play area, with its prairie theme, features hands-on nature activities that include a leaf-blowing stump and a puppet log.

And the “Bringing the World Home” postcard exhibit has hundreds of colorful postcards from the late 1800s to the present.

The museum invites kids ages 2 to 5 to learn about the Chinese New Year in its special Small Discoveries program at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. Stories and hands-on activities help teach youngsters about the holiday's traditions. Each participant can make a Chinese New Year dragon to bring home. Program admission is included with paid general museum admission. Registration and adult supervision are required.

The Lake County Discovery Museum is at 27277 N. Forest Preserve Road in Wauconda. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $2.50-$6. Tuesdays are “Discount Tuesdays,” with $3 admission for adults; youth ages 4-17 are free (up to five children per adult); $1.25 per child for groups with 5 to 10 children per adult. Members are always free. Call (847) 968-3400, or visit lcfpd.org.