A Place for Children to Learn and Explore

The Betty Brinn Children's Museum in Milwaukee is one of the city's best loved and most visited location for those with children. The mission of the museum is to provide "... interactive exhibits and educational resources that promote the healthy development of children in their formative years - from birth through age ten.'' The museum is intended to encourage hands-on exploration in order to help children develop fundamental skills, improve their self-esteem, encourage team work, and spark creativity. Teachers, childcare providers and parents all appreciate the museum's ability to educate them about child development stages, learning styles, and effective methods of parenting.

The museum has been around since 1995, thanks in part to three Milwaukee women who envisioned an establishment where children could pay together and experience adventure, even during the bitter cold of the Milwaukee winter. Admission is $6 for adults and children over a year old. There is a senior citizen's discount.

Group visits at the museum are popular and are often the destination of childcare groups, school field trips, or children's play groups. Exhibits stimulate creativity, and the fun is even better when children can enjoy it with their friends. There are study materials teachers and parents can use once they return home for those who register with the Focused Field Trip program. This features an additional half hour educational program that helps children learn with props, materials, demonstrations, and social interaction. The cost for these Focused Field Trip is $6.50 per child. It includes an orientation to the museum, free time for enjoying the exhibits, and the chosen education program. At least 25 children are required to reserve this experience.

Regular field trips are an option if you would like to visit the museum without the program. The cost is $4 per child with a minimum of 10 in attendance. This also includes an orientation to the museum and it takes about an hour and a half.

There are numerous exhibit areas to explore. The museum includes a music and rhythm section that offers kids a chance to work with software and conduct performances of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. There is a climbing structure that allows kids to use their bodies to create music by walking, jumping, drumming, chiming, and using a PVC pipe organ.

The Dance and Movement area allows kids to see their bodies moving on a big screen TV while they choreograph their own dance. There is a video lesson provided by the Milwaukee Ballet which allows kids a chance to experiment with ballet. The Theater and Puppetry area features props, costumes, backdrops, and puppet sets, complete with a balcony, that allow children to create their own performances or performances featuring hand and marionette puppets. The Visual and Language Arts section is a great way for children to create artistic masterpieces with various media. There is an area where adults can learn about choosing toys that promote creativity and imagination, and kids are encourage to make up funny stories, solve puzzles, and work with language in fun ways.

The Betty Brinn Children's Museum is jam-packed with activities kids will love.