SLO LIFE Magazine Feb/Mar 2019

| FAMILY
SLO CHILDREN’S
MUSEUM
BY PADEN HUGHES
Delight. There is a lot parents will do
to coax a look of delight from our
children. I think of all the times
we’ll attempt a silly dance, cheer as
our little ones jump from the couch
into a pile of pillows, or, in my case,
watch the movie “Frozen” for the
thousandth time. But, at the end of the day, it’s always
worth it, and we keep coming back for more, because
witnessing our children engage in a world full of magic
and miracles is just as thrilling to us, the big kids, as it is
to them. Their joy is our joy.
One of the best local spots guaranteed to fill my daughter
with glee is the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum.
Originally opened in 1990, the museum reopened in 2008
after a three-year $5 million remodel, resulting in the
world-class facilities it offers today. With a combination
of permanent and temporary exhibits, the museum
continually offers fresh inspiration to learn through play.
For parents and children alike, it’s true: the minute you
step into the museum, it lights up your imagination.
Recently, my family and I spent the day exploring the
three levels of the museum. The first floor is more science
focused, the second floor emphasizes creativity, and the
third floor is designed specifically for toddlers.
Our exploration began with a hands-on exhibit called the
“Augmented Reality Sandbox,” which comes complete
with kinesthetic sand that holds its form as you shape it
into whatever your imagination can conjure. If you can
manage to morph it into a single letter, the projector
above will scan the hand-made typography and respond
by changing the color of its light. It was something that
can only be described as magic.
The next long stop for my daughter, Kennedy, came at
the backlit multicolored pegboard. As she began working
away on her creation, a man who I guessed to be in his
eighties, also got busy spelling out the word, “Hi.” It was
fascinating to see the two generations equally mesmerized
by the exhibit, each bringing their own experiences and
creativity to the empty canvas. The notion that creativity
flows no matter our age was on full display.
As we made our way upstairs, it quickly became
apparent it was going to be our favorite. Every corner
of the floor was designed as if it were on the set of
“Sesame Street,” a scene made for kids to step into
and make their own. From a diner equipped with a
kid-sized kitchen and plastic foods to sell, to a doctor’s
office, to a theatrical stage, to a rock climbing wall, to
the ever-popular fire truck, to the police motorcycle, it
was endless fun seeing what would unfold behind the
next corner.
Without a doubt, the highlight of Kennedy’s trip was
playing with the make-believe fruit and vegetables
organized in bins as if it were a roadside farm stand
in Edna Valley. I not-so-successfully attempted to
contain my pride as she named each piece of fruit and
vegetable in her cart, then passed the produce out to
the other kids playing nearby and encouraged them
to make dinner. The cycle repeated as she refilled the
shopping carts to the point they were overflowing,
restocked the bins, and then started all over again. We
spent almost an hour playing with the plastic produce,
and she was in heaven.
With just ten minutes to go until closing time, we
finally made our way up to the third floor and spent
those last moments with the toddler train. Just as I
thought the outing could not have possibly gotten
better, it did as she climbed
aboard and pretended to be
the conductor. She mostly
loved yanking on the string
that operated the whistle,
which rang out in the same
way we have come to expect
from the Amtrak that
passes by our home daily.
As the museum closed
and we made our way out
the front door, I knew the
day was a success when
my daughter proclaimed,
“So fun!” SLO LIFE
PADEN HUGHES is
co-owner of Gymnazo
and enjoys exploring
the Central Coast.
52 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | FEB/MAR 2019