The Sedgwick County Zoo (scz.org) features 400 species of animals from Australia, South America, Africa, Asia and North America. Children will have the rare opportunity to see African lions, Malayan tigers, Chinese alligators, and zebras. At the Children's Farm, kids can pet and feed livestock, including sheep, cows, chickens, goats, horses and pigs. Sedgwick County Zoo offers programs for young children such as "Ewe & Me," which is designed for kindergartners and includes a guided walk through the zoo, a craft and storytelling. The Animal Tales Preschool for kids aged 3 to 5 offers regular classes that teach core skills using an animal theme.
Take your small children to Exploration Place (exploration.org), a museum that offers several hands-on exhibits designed to stimulate learning. At the Tots Spot, kids can engage their cognitive skills and imagination by playing with water, bubbles, learning toys and windchimes. The Kids Explore exhibit features activities that teach kids about life during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Outside the museum, kids can play mini golf, climb on playgrounds or dig in the sandbox at the Exploration Park. The park, located along the Arkansas River, also has a path for bicycling or walking and a picnic area.
Featuring a sensory garden, butterfly garden and woodlands bird garden; Botanica, The Wichita Gardens (botanica.org) allows kids the chance to explore nature. Open year-round, the gardens have a new exhibit designed for kids called the Downing Children's Garden. The children's garden is an interactive environment featuring a tree house, puppet shows, storytelling and a maze. Botanica has hands-on programs to teach kids about growing gardens, insects, seeds, butterflies and plant life cycles.
Let small kids develop social skills and work off energy at Pump It Up (pumpitupparty.com), an indoor playground with bounce houses, obstacle courses and inflatable slides. Pump It Up hosts themed birthday parties, field trips, private playgroups and special events, such as the Not So Scary Halloween Bounce and the Santa Jump. Pump It Up also designates time for kids under 6 years old to play called Pop-In Playtime.
