Children's Museum of Phoenix

It's a nice museum. My daughter is 20 months and she thought it was alright. She really couldn't participate in some of the crafting activities, but there are some really cute things going on in there. If it isn't as crowded and rowdy like it was grand opening weekend then I think your child will enjoy it.

Lisa - Mom to her spunky little Scarlette

We have not gone yet, but I noticed on the museum's website that some of the exhibits are not scheduled to be open until the fall.

It's a great play center...with educational toys. I wish that it was more of a museum.For example, I wish that there was an Ancient Egypt room, with hands on activities such as blocks where kids could build a pyrmid...a hands on water exhibit to show how canels were used...a hands on exhibit with weighing and moving grain...etc. Then, maybe a room of transportation (airplanes, cars, trains, etc.)...etc.

They could have made lots of hands on activities tied to learning history ( or science or any other discipline - or combined them) from any time or place in the world, based upon a time period, or a different modern cultures, or ancient civilizations, or...or...or! But, they didn't. Some of the rides at Epcott center are more educational.

The museum as it stands now, is full of great activities, but not one single wall card, or explaination about the hows and whys of the exhibits.

There's a fun kitchen and market for the kids to play store, and I'm sure that your 22 month old will love it. Even my 9 yr old had fun playing there. There's a race track with wooden cars...a pop up tent maze...an art room with paper activities and some painting, etc. But, it's really just a big play center. We had fun though. I'm just really surprised that this is all they came up with!

Did they even ask a teacher - or gasp - a parent, what a children's museum should have? We've got the science center, and Mesa has a small natural history museum. We could have used a great children's history museum. My kids LOVED the movie, Night At The Museum and hoped that they were going to see a variety of hand on activities tied to similar themes in history. It's too bad...but, you'll have fun, none the less.

"Only a life lived for others, is the life worthwhile" - Albert Einstein

I took my son last week - he is 2 1/2. He had a really good time. There is a room specifically for children under three plus some other places where they can pretend play - market, cafe where they can make food, ball area and a place to ride tricycles.

There were several of the exhibits that haven't opened yet but most of them seem like they would be geared towards older children anyways.

A little pricey ($9 per person for anyone over 1 yrs old)...but fun.

I agree with those above the arts might be limiting for a 20 month old. I took my boys opening weekend and although my 3 year old could do the crafts - some were painting and using glue. I didn't want him to get all messy as we had plans to go to a party afterwards so I just took a detour of the activities area. He did have fun on the 3rd floor - I think your 20month old will too - its a maze in a sense. Also on the first level with the play area.Everything else was interesting...but I just thought rather small (museum wide.) I always think it doesn't hurt to take them to the museum - you should!

LisaMommy is a 38 year old discussion leader for arizonamoms.com from the Paradise Valley/Scottsdale area. Her two boys are ages 9 months and 3 years old.

I'm glad you brought this topic up, I've been meaning to ask people's opinions that have been there. I'm a little disappointed to hear that it's mainly based around "fun" things for kids and not "fun & learning" at the same time. I too am surprised they didn't incorporate more learning experiences for children considering all of the corporate sponsorships they obtained. Usually corporate sponsors are big on sponsoring educational type of things for children and not so much just "fun" stuff!! Was there any suggestion boxes at the museum? I wonder if there's an online suggestion area?

I agree $9 per person is a bit pricey. I wonder if they have just not yet set up everything they intend to in regards to exhibits, because I've seen their "wish list" on their website and it's certainly enormous including MANY high priced items they're wanting and hoping to receive in donations.

I think I'll probably take my daughter the week before school starts as I've taken that week off to spend with her to do fun things and get ready for school!!

We took my 2 year old there last weekend and she had a really good time! It's a lot of hands on play, she was just the right age to "get" everything on the under 3 level. The arts and crafts were too advanced for her, but we did let her try to paint (swinging the paint brush around, saying "look, paint" :) It was fun, membership is probably worth it if you'll visit a few times a year! Seems like they have a lot of stuff in the works and one of the staff said they are listening to customers/ parents on what to add/ change and that it's a work in progress.

KiKaMom

After reading about several people's experiences, I am certainly a bit disappointed to hear that it sounds primarily like a play place for pre-schoolers.

We LOVE the Lied Children's Museum in Las Vegas - which is totally educationally-oriented (we learned all about hurricanes and desert animals and did lots of physics experiments) and a wonderful place for elementary school aged kids. Of course, we also like that with our AZ Science Center Membership - we can get in free there. The downside of course, is that it is in Nevada! :)

Happy2BMommy, is a stay-at-home mom who just turned 40 (argh!) with a 7 yr. old daughter and a 5 yr. old son, and is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Scottsdale.

My daughter and I went there yesterday with her two friends and their moms. They are all seven years old. They had a blast. We were a little disappointed that it closed at 4pm. That seemed a little early, and we ran out of time. It's super cool that it's in an old building. There is a lot of creative art using ordinary things like silverware hanging from the ceiling and walls. We missed out on the time slot for doing an art project, but the projects looked really neat. They loved all the interactive play in the market, etc. However, I will say that my daughter, who is an artist type herself, was disappointed that there wasn't a gallery of art.

At the Mesa youth museum, there is an interactive side and a gallery side. The gallery side still has activities for kids, but it has rotating exhibits that she's loved going to since it opened. My parents live in Mesa, and they take her there all the time.

Bottom line, she enjoyed the fun time experiencing it with her friends, and we would go back with a group. However, for a gallery experience in Phoenix, we're going to go back to the Phoenix Art Museum.

Love being a mom

My experience is 22 months is just too young. If you are going for yourself ok, but she won't get much out of it. It's probably best to wait until she is at least 3 yrs.

soccermom of a 12 yr old boy and 15 yr old young lady

We love it. We joined after it opened. Don't miss the room for three and under.

Susie is a discussion leader in the east valley for arizonamoms.com. She has two sons, ages 7 and 3.