When the heat gets to be too much this summer, escape to the Staten Island Children’s Museum — where families can have hands-on play time on four fun-filled floors. I recently visited the museum, located on the grounds of historic Snug Harbor, in a search of things new and different that my sons would enjoy.
Upon entering, Henry, my 5-year-old, was immediately attracted to Ladder 11, an old-fashioned fire truck equipped with lights and a bells named in memory of September 11. Children donned the firefighter uniforms available in cubbies nearby and excitedly climbed aboard the truck. Some radioed-in emergencies and pulled on the hose, while others adjusted the valves and gauges on the side of the vehicle. Ready for action, kids in fire hats and coats wearing oxygen tanks slid down the brass pole. Youngsters clambered into a pair of authentic boots, admiring themselves in a mirror next to a fully-dressed model of a firefighter. Some older children watched a video showing real firefighters talk about safety on the job.
In the Big Games room, a sun-drenched hall next to the garden terrace, families can play with giant-sized tic-tac-toe, cards, over-sized dominoes, a jumbo Connect Four and a checker and chess board so big, they can actually travel with their pieces. They can also build mazes, practice their aim in a ball toss and bowl in the mini bowling alley.
“Every time we came to visit, we never got to the exhibits,” explained Michael, a father we met who became a member of the Museum because his son loved it so much. “Some days we just come here to hang out and play games.”
Kids can travel the globe in the Great Explorations exhibit by using a computer to pinpoint any place on Earth, via satellite, and then experience the location interactively. Henry was drawn to the “rainforest,” where he explored dark caves and pulled himself across a river on a bamboo raft — just like Indiana Jones. Others dressed in scuba suits and dug for buried treasure “under the sea,” while in the “Arctic” kids tried on real snow shoes, rode the virtual dog sled, built an igloo and climbed an icy mountain. Glass cases are also positioned throughout the exhibit, each containing books, biographies of famous exlporers, photographs and authentic travel gear — perfect for older kids interested in taking their learning one step further.
Even Charlie, my infant, marveled at the huge sculptures hanging from the ceiling and stared at paintings hanging in the stairwell. He also enjoyed eating outdoors in the Sea of Boats, a play space that encapsulates Staten Island’s maritime history. Henry enjoyed spending time hoisting sails, rowing with oars, fishing, digging for oysters, and playing at the large water table.
My family lit up the stage in Portia’s Playhouse — a cozy theatre space that included different scenery, a light and sound board, a ticket booth, costumes and props. Henry and I sat at the light and sound board creating dramatic effects for my husband to react to on stage. First he chose a farm scene and Henry pressed the rooster button as I brought up the lights on a bright sunny morning. Next, we we changed to a city scape and I darkened the lights. Henry hit the thunderstorm button and my husband ran for cover. We experimented with many combinations of lights, sounds, and backdrops and ended with a round of applause for my husband, the ham.
The third floor features “Bugs and Other Insects,” an exhibit filled with creep crawly creatures with which kids can interact. After studying how ants work together in a colony, kids can pretend they are ants crawling through an ant hill. While older children try on the outer “shells” of different insects, babies explore the enclosed padded Toddler Garden. Henry, a big fan of Spiderman, liked reading about how real spiders catch and devour their prey. He also enjoyed inventing his own bug he named Bat-bug (yeah, he’s also a big Batman fan). Fascinating to children and adults alike are the displays of live insects, including the hissing cockroaches from Madagascar and the thousands of honey bees bustling in their hive.
In addition to the regular exhibits, the Museum offers weekly cooking, yoga, arts and crafts, dance and educational workshops and special programs designed for toddlers. During the summer, it hosts a camp with art, cooking, photography, animals, theatre, dance, sports and games. It is also available for parties, festivals and outdoor programs, like bug hunts or haunted tours.
The Staten Island Children’s Museum [1000 Richmond Terrace in Snug Harbor, (718) 273-2060] Open Tuesday through Sunday and closed Monday, except most school holidays 12 pm–5 pm when public schools are open and 10 am–5 pm when schools are closed. For info, visit www.statenislandkids.org.
