Wild Wonders | Saturday, April 26 | 9–2
Wild Wonders | Saturday, April 26 | 9–2
A child’s brain develops very rapidly in the first few years of life. DCM has set aside special places for the youngest explorers (children ages birth – 24 months) to cozy up to an adult and exercise their minds and bodies. Whether sorting and stacking blocks or engaging in sensory exploration, every Museum moment supports early growth.
Explore three Young Explorers areas throughout the Museum: Creativity Connections Young Explorers, Make It Move Young Explorers, and Young Questioneers.
While the spaces were thoughtfully designed for children birth – 24 months, older siblings and friends are welcome.
“The Museum wanted to create beautiful spaces full of wonder and awe for our youngest visitors. Our goal was to get babies out of strollers to experience the wonder and joy their older siblings do in the rest of the Museum and to help inspire deeper connections between caregivers and their children.”
Kimberly Stull, Executive Vice President of Joyful Learning, DuPage Children’s Museum
This space is designed to spark wonder through color, light, shadow, and texture. Infants and toddlers can explore light and shadows, engage in tummy time on the Tummy Time Circle, and discover hidden surprises in the Seek & Find Drawers. With a mix of active movement and quiet sensory experiences, this area encourages curiosity while fostering meaningful interactions between caregivers and little ones. It’s a perfect place to introduce young children to the beauty of artistic expression and sensory exploration.
Get ready to wiggle, roll, and move! This area is all about motion, giving infants and toddlers a safe and engaging space to experiment with air, balls, and physical activity. Babies can explore loose parts in the cozy corner, play in the baby ball pit, and crawl over a wave mat. Older babies and toddlers can navigate the climber, peek through windows, and hoist balls up high before watching them roll back down. Along the way, children develop motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and confidence through hands-on play.
“Every detail in these spaces—from textures and graphics to exhibit pieces—was carefully chosen to support infants' and toddlers' development. The intentional design naturally fosters exploration and interaction for children from birth to 24 months.”
Inspired by The Questioneers Citizens’ Park, this space invites little learners to explore early math, engage in pretend play, and practice fine motor skills through hands-on activities. Children can count and sort buzzing bees in their hives, compare ducks by size, and organize pretend food for a playful picnic. They can take a stroll with the pull-along school bus or sell cheese from a giant cheese kiosk. Through sorting, counting, and imaginative play, young children develop critical thinking skills while having fun!
