That's what makes the brand new exhibit, "Outside the Box" at the Children's Museum of Atlanta so unique. It doesn't feature rows of hands-on, interactive displays that light up, make noise, test skill, or ask a series of questions. (Although there is an area called Maker's Space that older children will find particularly interesting as they can build robots and more on computers).
Rather it's a simplistic approach to fun and exploration. It's what many of us remember as children ourselves - good, old-fashioned play.
Using boxes, tubes and cylinders of all shapes and sizes, "Outside the Box" naturally inspires children to build their own indoor playground. How many times do kids today get to sit inside a gigantic empty box and invite friends or acquaintances to join them?
Children under the age of 10 can be quite hard to please since they're used to games and toys with batteries. But apparently cardboard is now the new handheld device for kids! Children throughout the exhibit area were stacking them, knocking them down, crawling under and through them, laughing and most importantly using their imaginations to build everything from towers and tunnels to cars and houses. And instead of their tiny fingers on a keyboard to make various structures, they were using their bodies to do it!
Unbeknown to most kids who will go through this exhibit, they will be dabbling in math, science and technology. But perhaps most importantly this type of play will also help children develop important skills like reasoning, teamwork and getting along with others.
"Outside the Box" will certainly make parents rethink what they do with all of those empty boxes and cartons that are thrown away every day.
The Children's Museum of Atlanta, located across from Centennial Olympic Park, has new summer hours, so there's even more time and opportunities to visit before school starts. Summer hours now include Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12.75 (plus tax) for all guests over the age of one.
"Outside the Box" will certainly make parents rethink what they do with all of those empty boxes and cartons that are thrown away every day.
The Children's Museum of Atlanta, located across from Centennial Olympic Park, has new summer hours, so there's even more time and opportunities to visit before school starts. Summer hours now include Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12.75 (plus tax) for all guests over the age of one.
