Hugging the southwestern coast of Lake Michigan, Chicago is Illinois' largest city. Whenever you visit, you will find numerous activities, establishments and entertainment venues that offer interesting and educational play for children. If you're traveling with toddlers, there are several museums, an aquarium and the local zoo to provide good starting points for fun.
Centrally located along the lakefront in the middle of the downtown area, Navy Pier's Chicago's Children's Museum is a hands-on museum specifically designed to accommodate and entertain babies, toddlers and young children. Permanent exhibits include a construction zone, a grocery store and check-out area, auto service, water play and science experiments, a kids town and "Kids on the Fly." Kids and families can also enjoy playing together on the climbing schooner. A crafts art studio, inventing lab and dinosaur excavation areas are also offered. "Treehouse Trails" allows kids to run, jump and climb up multiple stories of this museum. Don't miss the exhibit "Big Backyard" where an oversize garden, including fake grass, bugs and flowers, looms over you and your kids.
Chicago's Children's Museum
700 East Grand Avenue
at Navy Pier
Chicago, IL 60611-3428
312-527-1000
chicagochildrensmuseum.org
On the Chicago's north side in Lincoln Square, the Old Town School of Folk Music is easily accessible from the downtown area by both bus and train. The school is a local favorite due to its child- and youth-oriented music classes, concerts, activities and cultural events. Wiggleworms is the class for babies ages six months to toddlers two years of age. Children enjoy singing, play finger games, dance and have rhythmic musical instruction. Classes feature musical accompaniment by an acoustic guitarist. Local kid-friendly shops, eateries and bakeries line the streets surrounding this establishment.
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
773-728-6000
oldtownschool.org
Also north of downtown, in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, My Corner Playroom is a fun, indoor play-place that encourages active and educational learning. Intended for babies and children ages six months to six years, activities include a sit-in sandbox (filled with rice), climbing structures, dress-up costumes, books and a reading area. Kids also enjoy building train tracks, play construction materials and playing in their personal-size kitchen. Daily passes, multiple visit punch-cards, and ongoing membership rates are available. Open every day except Sunday. Mom and Tot classes are also offered.
My Corner Playroom
2121 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
773-388-2121
mycornerplayroom.com
