My two boys and I recently visited The Boynton Beach Schoolhouse Museum & Learning Center. My sons just LOVE this museum because their Train Exhibit is second to none. Any #trainobsessed youngin’ is bound to be impressed!
I’m getting ahead of myself here…
Let’s start up front. This is where you are graciously greeted by the lighthouse manager, Hannibal Pierce. Some of the little ones may be a bit intimidated. It took a few visits for my boys to warm up to him.
He is a wealth of knowledge on all things concerning Boynton Beach, including where its name originated.
We hit the Boynton Beach Schoolhouse Museum first floor exhibits to learn all about farm life. The boys were able to milk the cows and drive the tractor. This is while they are learning all about fresh farm produce and its benefits. (My hippie heart skips a beat!)
Lo and behold, we always spend a large bulk of our time at the awesome Train Exhibit.
Equipped with all the “bells and whistles” (pun intended), there is a station where you may purchase your tickets and climb aboard! Needless to say, this is where the action happens.
The kiddies are able to shovel coal, greet passengers and even ring the bell! The train table is where the fun is. All the kids scramble to take their place at the table. And, all the “helicopter” parents claim their spot to keep a watchful eye on their tots.
I say this with love, I too was once a “hovercraft” myself, but I’ve now since been reformed.
Fun fact: The term “Helicopter Parent” was actually coined by the (in)famous Dr. Haim Ginott, child psychologist. He is also the author of “Between Parent & Child,” a book that reads like a parents’ love letter to children. It encourages Mom and Dad to communicate with their kids on a platform of mutual respect and dignity. He’s sort of the “Godfather” of the “gentle”, “conscious” or “human” style of parenting that is growing in the natural community today. You can find more on that topic HERE.
The Boynton Beach Schoolhouse Museum fun isn’t over yet though. There’s more to be had upstairs!
Upstairs is filled with more enjoyment for kids and parents alike. There is a tube maze for the little ones to run and play and learn all about amphibians. There are comfy seats for parents too. There’s also plenty of sailing fun at the boat exhibit and even a puzzle/sensory area for the really tiny tots.
Across the way on the second floor is a grocery store, gas station, post office and doctor’s office ready for imaginative play.
This is usually a big hit, but on this day, the boys were ready for lunch!
Growing up in today’s “tech age”, there are plenty of kid zones and play places that have battery operated toys, TV’s and even video games. Not to take away from the fun at any of these locations, but with the current over-saturation of “device-led play” and the addiction to said devices (said the mommy blogger…), it’s refreshing to find “plug free” zones where the possibilities are endless and imagination can run wild.
My goal at #CampMom this past summer has been to find as many of these natural playscapes as possible. It can be a bit tricky as it gets unbearably hot in the South Florida sun! But, places like The Schoolhouse Museum and their affordable Family Member Package make that possible. A membership purchased at the Schoolhouse Museum will also get you into a list of “sister” museums nearby such as:
• Boca Children’s Museum, Boca Raton
• Explorations V Children’s Museum, Lakeland
• My Jewish Discovery Place Children’s Museum, Plantation
Hopefully we will see you there next time!
Essentially Yours,
