The newly opened Imaginarium Children’s Science Museum, the first and only of its kind in Cayman, may just be the answer parents are looking for when it comes to finding an exciting, enticing and educational activity for their children.
The Imaginarium has an unassuming appearance, but don’t be fooled. When I first arrived with my 14-month-old son Sebastian at the back left corner of the Mirco Centre in Industrial Park, I thought the museum could easily pass for a store. But I knew better based on my Facebook friends’ “likes” on the museum’s page.
As soon as we enter, I’m greeted by Yvonne Broderick. She begins to walk me through the various pint-sized exhibits, most of which are designed to meet children’s developmental stages, such as cognitive skills, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, executive functioning, and motor skills. There are also games and puzzles that help children develop their sensory skills and hand-eye coordination.
Ms. Broderick explains that the museum embraces the following core concepts: early learning is the foundation for lifelong learning; families are our children’s first teachers; all children deserve a time and place to be children; diverse perspectives enrich children’s lives; and play is learning.
“We wanted a facility that was dedicated to providing children with a fun, hands-on and stimulating environment to explore and discover,” she says. “The museum helps to instill a life-long love of learning by nurturing the real-world skills children need to become engaged citizens in the future.”
Of particular note to parents, cleanliness is taken very seriously at the Imaginarium – to the point where every toy and object is sterilized every night and children are sent home if they are ill.
Freedom to play
Ms. Broderick said the Imaginarium is child-led and adult-guided, meaning that children are free to play wherever their attention and curiosity takes them. Just then, I glance over and see that Sebastian has quickly gravitated to the building blocks exhibit, which is on a table tailor-made for his height. He is drawn to the brightly colored shapes of various sizes and begins immediately to sort, move and organize the blocks. He is already mastering his motor skills without even knowing it!
Other exhibits include a hospital with a bed containing two very quiet patients in the form of baby dolls, a stethoscope, blood pressure monitor, X-ray machine, skeleton, medical charts and diagrams – all of which have been generously donated by local doctors and medical professionals.
Another superb exhibit is the supermarket and accompanying kitchen that could give the local grocery stores a run for their money with its lifelike fruit, vegetable and dried goods aisles, mini-shopping carts and a working cash register. Sebastian figures out how to open the till by chance and then tries to replicate the magic formula over and over again to no avail, but he is happy trying and it is a great alternative to him throwing real fruit and vegetables into my shopping cart whenever I take him grocery shopping.
The supermarket’s attached kitchen includes a Breville coffee maker and other real appliances mixed in with the toy ones. (I find myself thinking it would be great if the museum taught workshops to the children on how to make coffee for their sleep-deprived parents.)
Other exhibits include a very intricate train table and train set; a large dollhouse complete with Barbie dolls and a GI Joe; a power tool table for do-it-yourself home improvement types (warning: if you have a husband who fancies himself a DIY guy but does not do a good job of it, then you may want to steer your child away from this table); sensory noodles that remind me of going through the car wash and are supposed to make children feel all warm and fuzzy, but Sebastian only winces when we try it out together.
There are also magnetic clogs and pipes exhibits; a glow-in-the-dark room replicating the night sky; a soft play area and couches for parents to chat over coffee; a dress-up/costume area; a music center; and on Mondays, a bouncy castle.
The exhibits are made on island and are colorful and interesting enough for adults to play with as well.
The average age range of museum-goers is between 2 and 6, however Ms. Broderick says babies as young as 10 months have enjoyed the facility. So far, the response has been wonderful, she says, and it’s not just parents spreading the word, but also children themselves.
“The number of children that have had to be carried out crying because they did not want to leave has been a testament to the success of Imaginarium,” she says. “Children are telling other children about Imaginarium at school. We have found that most, if not all, children are reluctant to leave, even after the two-hour allotment has passed because they become so engaged in the various exhibits. Many return to an exhibit again and again. Even though children are curious to experience all exhibits, some find certain exhibits more compelling than others.”
Plans for more exhibits
The Imaginarium, which opened in December, plans to build on the success of its recent midterm camp by offering a science camp for Easter and in the summer. There are also plans for a “date night” once a month when parents can drop off their children off from 5 to 10 p.m. for supervised play time while they enjoy a meal or an evening together, alone.
Plans are also under way to include exhibits geared toward older children. Ms. Broderick brought out a few items from an adjoining room to show me, including a Van De Graaff electrostatic generator, a science museum staple that is sure to be a hit with children. My curiosity gets the better of me and I can’t resist brushing my head up against it, which promptly sends crackling bolts of electricity to my head, making my hair stand on end in such a way that it rivals any bad hair day. Sebastian gives me a disapproving look as if to say “Grow up, mom.”
With that, it’s time to go. He is tired and has had his fun, and we will most certainly come again – and if I’m completely honest, I had a bit of fun myself.
The Imaginarium is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and costs $15 per two-hour visit and $10 for each sibling. For children a year old and younger, the cost is $5. The museum is also available for birthday parties with a designated private party room.
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