Despite the name, it's no museum in the traditional sense. There are no display cases and 'do not touch' signs. Instead, the large room is stuffed full with hands-on activities and interactive experiences. Every six months or so the theme of the exhibition changes. When we visited the theme was "Ganz weit weg - und doch so nah" ("So far away, and yet so near") which is running until the 30th March 2014.
It is an amazing journey through the homes and lives of children across the world, experienced through all the senses. The room is organised into different areas, each crammed full of exciting and inviting activities. There are rails and rails of dressing up clothes, packed with outfits from across the world, with staff on hand to help the children dress themselves in the costumes.
There is a market stall with play food and a real yurt, full of cushions and books for storytelling.
In a pretend school, children can complete geographical and language puzzles and play with themed toys, and upstairs there are more puzzles and crafts. Next to a small area with wooden toys suitable for younger toddlers is an amazing construction area where children can put on a high visibility vest and hat before using sections of pipe, foam blocks and sheets to actually build themselves a home.
You need to take your shoes off while you are there, but I was able to borrow some special shoes from a basket so that the children could do a spot of shoe cleaning.
The Labyrinth Kindermusem was an absolute highlight of our trip to Berlin, and I am so envious that we don't have something like this near us. I'll leave you with a short video of Harry exploring some of the different play food in the yurt - we spent ages in here!
See the Labyrinth Kindermuseum website for more details. In particular it's worth checking the opening times, as during term time the attraction is not open every day for individual visitors. Admission currently costs 4.50 € and a family ticket is available.
We were kindly provided with complimentary access to the museum.
This sounds really great. I like how they change it and the best way to learn through play. Never mind taking my children I'd love to go as I find it really interesting how things are different all around the World.
ReplyDeleteI definitely enjoyed it as much as the children!
DeleteI love how museums are becoming so much more interactive. It makes sense that children will happily absorb the information rather than simply being shown it.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fabulous place to visit!
We visited another museum in the morning that was very interesting, but it was just full of display cases and things that the children couldn't touch. This one didn't have so many information boards, but it definitely captured their interest a lot more.
DeleteFab post!! Can't say I will ever be visiting Berlin anytime soon though - grrrr :( Does look a fab place though!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'd definitely recommend Berlin both for children and adults!
DeleteAwww sounds like a great Museum!! Must go to Berlin ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou must, it's a great city!
DeleteThis sounds fantastic for little ones - what do you think the upper age limit is? I've never been to Berlin but would love to go there.
ReplyDeleteThey market themselves as aiming at children from 3-11, although my daughter is 2 and there were definitely lots of younger children there that loved it. When we visited on a Friday afternoon it was mainly pre-schoolers there, but I think that older children would definitely get a lot out of it. I believe that they run group sessions for school children that are probably a bit more structured. But there were plenty of learning activities that older children could engage with, like learning words and songs in different languages.
DeleteOoo we missed this when we went to Berlin - next time !
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely worth a visit and I think it gets missed out of the usual tourist itineraries because it's not so central and a smaller attraction.
Deletewow! Looks like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteThank you, it was!
DeleteI've never been to Berlin and I SO want to go - if I do make it there this is one place I'll be sure to check out. Looks BRILLIANT!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely should check it out, I hope that by writing this post it will raise awareness of it because it really was fantastic!
DeleteI visit Berlin so many times with my family but never find these kind of place for my kids there. I never find a spare time to spend with my wife alone due to kids. But you did excellent job here to provide me useful information about that wonderful kinder museum.Next time i definitely visit that place with kids hope they like that place and learn something new.
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