If you are feeling guilty about the amount of time you let your kids spend in front of the computer / TV or playing electronic games, while you get all your work/housework done, then why not plan a day out during the school holidays or on the weekend, when you do something educational with your kids. Museums often conjure up images of boring school excursions, but the truth is there are many fantastic museums which are not only educational, but also very interactive. Even if the kids grumble while you pry the Xbox controller from them, you will see once you arrive at the museum, their imagination will take over and they will start to explore and have lots of fun.
Australian Museum - Sydney
The Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, and specialises in the fields of natural history and anthropology. It features collections of vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, as well as mineralogy, palaeontology, and anthropology. Located in the heart of Sydney, the museum has something for everyone, including young children. Kidspace is a mini museum which features cubby houses loaded with fun activities. It also has a special closed off area for babies and toddlers. Several times a week, the museum runs a 'Carla's Deep Sea treasure Hunt' which allows 3-5 year olds to decorate their own treasure box and then to follow clues to discover the amazing deep sea creatures and collecting little treasure along the way. For older children, the museum organises kids sleepovers, dinosaur detective kids workshops, marine worlds kids workshop and many others.
Powerhouse Museum - Sydney
The Powerhouse Museum is a home to a unique and diverse collection spanning history, science, technology, design, industry, decorative arts, music, transport and space exploration. It is estimated to have well over 500,000 separate items in an ever-changing program of temporary displays and permanent exhibitions. It has a state of the art playground and café and is guaranteed to keep the children amused for hours.
Currently the museum has a Wiggles Exhibit and in early June 2012 the Sydney Brickshow will make its appearance. You can experience amazing creations built by adult fans of Lego or learn from one of Lego certified professionals how to use bricks in ways that challenge the normal concepts of Lego building. For children 3-8 Powerhouse runs powerplay - creative artists lead children in hands on arts and crafts, storytelling and performances. The exhibitions and activities change regularly so check out their website for the latest news.
Maritime Museum - Sydney
The Australian National Maritime Museum explores Australia's links with the sea and features displays which show how maritime activities and issues have shaped the lives of people in Australia. Wharf 7 Maritime Heritage Centre next door is the museum's 'backstage' area, housing the Vaughan Evans Library, museum collection storage, boatbuilding workshops, the conservation laboratory, ship model workshop and display area, a design studio, photographic studio and other facilities. At the museum wharves, you will find one of the largest fleets housing 14 vessels which include a former navy destroyer HMAS Vampire, a former navy submarine HMAS Onslow, a full-scale replica of Captain Cook's ship Endeavour and a variety of smaller vessels.
The Rocks Discovery Museum - Sydney
The Rocks Discovery Museum is a free, family friendly museum which tells the story of The Rocks area of Sydney from pre-European days to the present. Housed in a restored 1850s sandstone warehouse, The Rocks Discovery Museum is home to a unique collection of images and archaeological artefacts found in The Rocks. The exhibits are filled with interactive fun for kids of all ages and uses touch screens, audio and visual elements to bring the history of the area alive.
Hyde Park Barracks - Sydney
The Hyde Park Barracks was built in 1819 to house, clothe and feed convict men and boys. Later the building became a hub of government departments and renamed Chancery Square. Until the late 1970s, thousands of public servants, legal workers and litigants occupied dingy office spaces, courtrooms and corridors, scattered throughout the increasingly crowded complex. Today the Hyde Park Barracks is a museum about itself.
Cockatoo Island - Sydney
Cockatoo Island is the largest heritage listed island in Sydney Harbour and is located at the junction of the Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers. The Island is a former imperial prison, industrial school, reformatory and gaol. The Island offers guided tours, and include an overview of the island's interesting history, and features some of the best examples of early colonial life.
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