As the mom of teenage boys, it's been a minute since we've visited the Canadian Children's Museum. When my younger brother, my sister in law and my three year old nephew came to town and wanted to visit the Children's Museum, my 13 year old and I decided to tag along, and we were so glad we did.
The Canadian Children’s Museum is located inside the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau. After receiving a passport, you are ready for your adventure.
The Museum lets the kids travel the world, while enriching their lives and broadening their experience by exploring other cultures through exhibitions, costumes, hands-on props, and artifacts, including an extraordinary assortment of toys and games.
You can climb aboard a lavishly decorated Pakistani bus and a three-wheeled auto rickshaw from Thailand. Or step inside a Bedouin tent and homes from India, Indonesia and Mexico. There is a kitchen to cook in, a tent to play games in, a stage to perform on, complete with a full backstage, and a pyramid with a hidden passageway. Plus there is a barge with a crane that needs someone to operate it.
The Museum’s diversity and richness engage children of all ages, allowing them to explore and learn through play at their own pace.
My nephew declared the Museum "big fun" and loved being able to touch, play, explore, stamp his passport, try on costumes and play with props. There was a room full of foam blocks that was perfect for jumping, running, building and demolishing, and the art studio was a calmer place to get creative and paint.
The Globe Hunt was a bit of a challenge and perfect for my teenager. Small globes are hidden throughout the Museum and it took time and persistence to locate them all. In the process, he was able to see all the exhibits but with a scavenger hunt experience, perfect for someone a bit older who have visited lots of time, making the experience feel new again.
The Canadian Children's Museum is a fun, memorable first step in a child’s understanding of the arts, culture and history.
Admission fees to the Canadian Museum of History include access to the Children’s Museum, special exhibitions and to all the Museum’s galleries.
Adult - $20
Senior - $18
Student - $16
Child (3-12) - $12
Family $50
Hours
Monday to Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday to Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
