Spring Break Fun: Wonder Works Museum Oak Park Chicago #Giveaway

I know that I have been inundating you all with sponsored posts lately, but I have to make a living somehow, and well, that’s the way that this blogging thing works.The good thing is, this is not a sponsored post.  If you’ve stuck around, I appreciate you and have more photos from the Wonder Works Museum that we went to during the cellist’s spring break last week.

I found a Groupon that was being offered by Wonder Works Museum in Oak Park Illinois. I knew the area, but had not really paid much attention to the area that it was in, because, well, just because. I love that it’s literally a 20 minute drive from our Houseful and that if I wanted to, I could take the children there in the morning, go and have lunch and then come back in the afternoon thanks to a hand stamp!

Once you come in, no shoes are allowed (so make sure your socks are ones that  you love!) so come on through and have a blast. There are several stations, and the space is in a circle, so you really can’t get lost. I happened to have my nephew with me, and he’s five, and he enjoyed himself immensely. The cellist also tagged along (after deciding not to go to the library) and he said that he didn’t think it was THAT bad (the museum is geared to children from birth to eight years of age.) and wouldn’t mind going back again. The joys of being a tween.

We spent about two hours there and the kids LOVED it. The day that we went, we were whisked into Space Week and each station had a space themed activity for the children to take part in. This week is Young Architect’s week, and I’m sure that the tons of Lego’s that they will have on hand will make many little ones squeal in excitement.

I did enjoy the fact that even the twizzlers could circumvent the space without feeling overwhelmed, or be pushed around by other children. As with any area, you should always keep track of your kids, but with the set up of the museum, you weren’t worried that you would really lose them.

The areas that got the most play from my brood was the magnetic board towards the front of the museum, the tire swing, the pretend television studio, and the tree house. My favorite area was the cardboard box area where an entire maze was built using the shipping boxes from several toys. Amazing I tell you, and something that I would love to put in our house, but yeah – we need to walk through there.  I’m sure that we will be back once Spring finally springs, but for now, I rest well knowing that we’ve discovered a brand new place in our neck of the woods, and I didn’t cry trying to find parking, or spend an arm and a leg to get in.

Speaking of admittance fees, there’s a flat $6 fee per person, no matter how old or young. It’s a great price to play to allow your child to have creative freedom for a couple of hours and you don’t have to worry about cleaning up or providing the materials.

Did I mention the full art studio up front as well? Yes, there is one, AND they provide full coverage smocks for your child to wear to help protect their clothing!

I also did something that I have never done before, I found a manager, and asked if he would be willing to provide a family four pack for one of my readers to come and enjoy the space themselves, and he agreed. So, be sure to scroll ALL THE WAY DOWN past all of the photos of the collective playing and enter the giveaway. It’s easy peasy!

Trying to figure out what those apples are doing. This was a neat area, since it showed how many apples were needed for different apple products.  So many cardboard boxes, so little time. 

Thinking OUTSIDE of the box by making the fire truck fit into the boat puzzle area.  Playing with Magneatos (thanks Sophistishe for the correct name!). These great magnetic toys provided a good forty five minutes worth of fun for the twizzlers. The ladybug kept coming back to them, but since she was a little more flexible with what she could do, she was able to leave the twizzlers to have at it. 
A swing on the tire is in order.  Magneato microphones! The singing that came from these creations! Full force ballad.  Waiting for someone to come down the slide.  Making sure the camera settings are JUUUUUUUUUUUST right.  And we’re rolling in 3…2…1… The ladybug and her cousin get down and dirty in the art room. Thank goodness for smocks!

I believe he said he was making the Earth.  She was showing off her letter writing skills. If you look closely, you’ll see an A, and a C.  And the dancing is about to start. One more swing on the tire before we have to go.