Keeping Kids Interested at the Field Museum
There is a lot to see and do at the Field Museum, so the first rule is don't plan to do it all. Focus on two to three exhibits for one visit. Kids' attention spans will not last much longer than that. For kids ages three to five, two exhibits is plenty, and children six to ten should be able to take in three exhibits without too many complaints.
Must-See Exhibit: Sue
The one must-see exhibit is the hardest one to miss and will take up the least of your time (it won't really count as one of the exhibits). It is the famous dinosaur Sue, which stands right in the middle of the great hall behind the entrance desks. Sue is the world's largest T-Rex skeleton, which was found in South Dakota. If your kids are dinosaur lovers, don't miss the Evolving Planet exhibit (below) and The Sue Store, filled with dinosaur books, toys, games and other memorabilia.
Nature Walk
A good exhibit for smaller kids is the nature walk exhibit. Follow the boardwalk around the display cases on the first floor to see a taxidermist's dream. All kinds of animal and plant life are represented here. Each display case has at least one sign asking kids to find the objects inside, making it a big I-Spy game. For example, can your kids spot the 7 butterflies, 1 rabbit, or 2 birds? Some of the items are big and easy to spot, and some are more challenging, making it a fun game for all ages.
Evolving Planet
The Evolving Planet exhibit upstairs is another one you won't want to miss. Enter at the north end of the Upper Level and find yourself transported back in time. Follow along the exhibits as you see the different forms of life that called Earth home, and then learn about the great extinction events that whittled down lifeforms on Earth to minuscule numbers, before rebounding again with new creatures. Take some time to explore the many skeletons in the Dinosaur Hall. Compare the size of your hand, head, and bodies to early hominids, including Lucy, recreated from 3 million-year-old bones found in Ethiopia. And be sure to pause to see the digital clock counting down the great extinction going on now, with 40 species going extinct every day.
Crown Family PlayLab
Newly opened in the fall of 2007 is a play lab for children in the Ground Level. This area is best suited to children under the age of 8. The Illinois Woodland is a big hit. A forest-like area includes dress-up clothes for kids to be woodland animals. Listen to the sounds of the forest at night and in the day. Or head to the Pueblo, where kids can harvest the corn and grind it into cornmeal. At the Dino Lab the kids can dig for their own dinosaur bone and identify what part of the dinosaur they've found. Other play areas include an art studio, music area, and book nook.
Other Exhibits and More
These are just a few of the best exhibits you will find for kids at the Field Museum. If you get through all these, feel free to explore and find your own wonders. And if you get hungry, the restaurant that every kid loves, McDonald's, is located on the Ground Level.
Location
The Field Museum is located in downtown Chicago on Lake Michigan. Its address is 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive. There is a lot of parking next door at Soldier Field except during home games. The museum is open daily except for Christmas. The hours are 9 am to 5 pm, with the last admission at 4 pm. For more information call 312-922-9410.
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