Don’t think for a minute that an art museum is no place for kids. Heck not even a second! The Columbus Museum of Art recently renovated their space and created an entire area specifically for the younger crowd. The Wonder Room at the Columbus Museum of Art is a terrific place for children to explore, learn, and play. The modern play area is full of interesting and abstract hands-on art to create, “toys” to play with, and a huge area to make forts, play house, or as my children did, play hide-and-go seek. The colorful space is designed to intrigue the creative minds of toddlers and teenagers. A big orange couch in the middle of the room makes the Wonder Room inviting and comfortable, and just in front of it are shelves of children’s books available to read when little legs need to sit for a break. This orange couch is also perfect for dad – no remote, but a huge
TV looping a video full of snippets that give inventive activity ideas for families to do at home; such as, make a zoo out of cardboard boxes for the backyard. Truly, a great time.
We parked in the lot behind the museum – there was plenty of parking and it was free. There are meters along the street (don’t forget your change!) if you need to find additional parking. The admission desk is located in the lobby, as well as a lunch counter with a few sandwiches and chips (I would suggest bringing your lunch if you are staying through lunch), and plenty of tables for dining. During the colder months the hallway to the right of the admission desk has a coat rack. No lockers and it isn’t diligently watched, so don’t leave valuables. There are restrooms located down that hallway as well – but, I did not spy a changing table. There are a few other bathrooms, maybe they have changing tables – just ask if you go.
Once my little entourage was checked in with coats off, we headed to our destination. Along the way to the Wonder Room there was a food exhibit, which I believe is going to be up for a while. It is awesome. Lots of hands on/interactive things for the kids to do, such as play with wooden pizzas and sit at 50’s style dining table choosing the perfect song from an old jukebox, draw favorite foods with colored pencils (my friend Jim drew a cat on a platter – it looked yummy), games to play, and artwork to admire. We had to pull the kids away to check out the main reason for our visit.
The kids were literally sucked into the Wonder Room as if some magnetic force was at work, and little eyes lit up looking at all the play possibilities. Their first stop was a “create your own” sculpture that challenged children to create artwork through balancing hangers and colored objects. Several play stations were displayed, and each one had a purpose to perk a specific artistic interest: molding clay, designing a face with uncommon objects on a huge metal head that resembled a bolt, assembling animals by piecing together body parts (a monkey’s head on a giraffe’s body amused my children greatly), and turning an abstract fort area into a castle or tree house. 
Be sure to check out the Wonder Room, and all the other rooms for that matter if the kids will let you, in the near future.
Saturdays, CMA offers 1st Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – intended for children 3 – 8 and their families, the program is a great way to expose your child(ren) to art through storytelling, visiting the different exhibits and displays, and doing their own hands-on art activity. For more information, please look at CMA’s calendar of events.
480 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215
614-221-6801
Plan your trip:
- CMA is closed on Mondays. Similar to all major activities in Columbus, CMA will be its least busy on week days (as long as there isn’t a tour or school field trip!).
- Take change in case you need to park at a meter.
- Hours and admission information: click here.
- Stroller-friendly.
- Bring your own lunch and snacks.
- NO flash photography.
- Be mindful of your children’s vocal volume.
- My friend works at Columbus College of Art and Design which made admission free. Be sure to ask about discounts for being a student, senior, or member of another museum, etc.
