Science Fun for Tots (And Their Grown-ups!)

Did you know that one of the top ten science centers, according to Parents Magazine, is across the river from Manhattan in Jersey City?  That’s right – it’s the Liberty Science Center and it’s easily accessible from New York via car, ferry or subway.  LSC is a full-service science center with activities for all ages.

My son had the day off for a teacher’s conference and so off we went to the science center.  We have a membership, so it’s our favorite cool- or rainy-weather destination.  My kids are two and four and although there are many exhibits in the museum that appeal to them, their favorite spot is the IExplore exhibit, specially designed for children ages two to five.

My son spent most of his time with the ball contraption.  Children feed the balls into a funnel and turn a wheel and the balls are picked up and carried along until they spill down a variety of passageways.  He also spent a lot of time with the race cars - sticking wheels on car bodies and sending the cars down a ramp.  Children learn terrific lessons about how to get the cars to roll properly – for example, it works best when opposing wheels are the same size.

My daughter enjoyed the rice table – pouring rice from one container into another and sifting it with her fingers.  Having a shorter attention span than my son, she roamed around to many of the exhibits including water painting, drawing with crayons and a stone xylophone.

We were fortunate to run into some friends while at the IExplore exhibit and we went to lunch together at the cafe.  I wish that my daughter was more flexible with her nap and we would’ve stayed much longer today, but both children were content through lunchtime, so we decided to quit while we were ahead!

Liberty Science Center also has a variety of educational programs including classes designed for school groups on outings as well as classes offered to the public for a variety of ages.  My son did one of their early childhood classes last year – the Young Scientist Workshop – and absolutely loved it.  Each class included such things as reading, doing a craft or construction project, or taking a nature walk.  We can’t take it this year because he’s in school in the mornings and my daughter is too young.  Maybe next year!

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