Lego lovers, get ready. The Omaha Children's Museum is holding a Winter Block Party.
Visitors can build, stack, and create cities in this new special exhibit. The museum says building and self-directed play helps children work on math skills, critical thinking and problem solving skills.
The museum's design team and education department worked to create a space with thirteen stations that introduces young children to engineering, math, and creative concepts through play. Some stations have specific building challenges and others with free play opportunities. Prompts throughout the exhibit will help adults encourage critical thinking by providing sample open-ended questions or activity ideas.
Block Party activity stations include:
-Build a LEGO car and test it on a race track
-Construct a building and evaluate its durability on a quake table
-Tables to build with wooden blocks, magnetic tiles, colorful Twig Modern blocks, Squigz suction construction toys, -Kubix geometric blocks, and Dado building blocks.
-Over-sized building blocks made of foam, cardboard, and plywood for large construction
"We created an exhibit around blocks and different building materials because they're incredible toys that build 21st century skills in a fun way," said Lindy Hoyer, Executive Director of Omaha Children's Museum. "Playing with blocks helps children develop a number of skills, including mathematical, problem solving, and spatial reasoning skills. It's a form of play that inspires adults to join in the fun, creating a wonderful bonding experience for the child."
The museum holds a special story time daily at the exhibit, pairing books with a building project. Story times are Tuesdays through Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Block Party runs through April 9, 2017.
