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| - One of the best things about being a parent is the opportunity it affords to see the world through your childrens' eyes.
I have two kids: a (nearly) four year old and a (just-turned) two year old.
We went to the Science Centre on a family outing, to celebrate my baby's birthday.
Full disclosure: I was deeply skeptical. Back in the day, the Science Centre was part of the Ontario Childhood Holy Trinity of Things To Do During Christmas/March Break/Summer Vacation, along with the Toronto Zoo and the Royal Ontario Museum. It was also the first day trip to fall off the list as I grew older; the exhibits were dated and boring, the place was inaccessible, and cooler events were scheduled for other parts of the city.
What I didn't know is that the entire fourth floor was made over into an interactive playground meant for little kids.
From what we got to, there were three different areas: two that fostered more active play, and one devoted to space exploration.
Both kids had a blast. The first wing was devoted mostly to sensory play; they lasted about 40 minutes, longer than I would have expected. The second wing had more fun stuff, including a mock-up of a grocery store, a garden, a castle and a 'working' construction area. The third included the 'space' pavilion, tricked out with a mini plane_arium where we all took a trip to the moon.
There's also a generous concourse in the middle of the floor, with tables and chairs to accommodate kids' random eating schedules. The only downside is a giant musical work of art, where you pitch billiard balls along a Rube Goldberg device-it's too big for the little kids to handle, and my son's fun day was marred when he went tummy-first on a corrugated stepladder.
The Ontario Science Centre offers an annual pass that pays for itself in two visits. My wife and I would probably say thanks but no thanks, although there was still plenty to see that we didn't get to. But as the kids hit that sweet spot between wonder and curiosity and understanding, it might be worth the investment.
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