Sponsored by: Building for Kids
A water area, giant ball maze, huge art area, construction equipment, rope-bridge tree house, science area, and so much more await you at the Building for Kids!
It was Christmas morning.
Well, actually it was late June, but my kids’ reaction upon stepping into the Building for Kids was just as good as Christmas morning. With our masks on and our hands clean, we were off!
I’m guessing one of the first things most kids see is the cool two-level “Discovery Tree”. There are these awesome rope tunnel-bridges that connect many of the sections. My kids enjoyed climbing up and scampering around.
Next, we headed upstairs. The kids enjoyed exploring the top section of the treehouse and then were in search of the next cool thing to do.
In no time at all, they found the the colorful and engaging “Move It” ball maze! My kids ran around scooping up balls and feeding them into different tubes and contraptions around the exhibit. As a parent, I appreciated the educational signs about “incline planes” and “levers”, but I think my kids were too busy chasing the balls to notice!
Next up, was “Construction Junction”! My kids were very eager to use the claw on the crane. With a little help from mom, they were able to use the controls to pick up a heavy brick (foam block), lift it up, bring it over, and drop it onto a conveyer belt.
Little artists and musicians are sure to enjoy the expansive “da Vinci Studio”. When we visited, the featured art project was an oil pastel scratch art project. My kids really enjoyed the wall of musical instruments!
Kids who like BIG vehicles will not be disappointed at the Building for Kids! There is a real fire truck for kids to drive, a real jet complete with seats and a control tower, and a reproduction of a Schneider truck with an engine that kids can learn to fix!
Also on the second floor are a heart slide that you can climb inside, and a sports area with ball ramps, mini-golf, and a basketball court.
The “Innovation Lab” is not to be missed! Kids can learn about circuits (not pictured, but fun for adults and kids), catch floating scarves, look at things under a microscope, and construct their own ball maze, just to name a few of the activities.
Last, but not least by any means, is the water gallery. My kids LOVE water areas in children’s museums, but I always try to save this activity for last. (They did a good job this time, and the rain jackets actually worked quite well, but in the past they always needed a change of clothes after playing in the water.) The Building for Kids has levers to push, boats build and float, squirters to spray, and even cool water drums! (Who knew!)
My kids were too old for the dedicated baby and toddler area, but it looks super fun (and safe)! Parents will also be thankful for the multiple bathrooms, many of which are family restrooms.
By now, I’m guessing you’re thinking, “My kids would love this!”. Well, guess what? The Building for Kids is only a 1 hour 40 minute drive from the Wausau area! The Building for Kids is currently open by registration only, so make sure to reserve a time slot before you go!
If you decide to make a day of it, there are many other fun things to do in the Appleton area! On our trip we also enjoyed the following establishments:
- Copper Rock Coffee Co.: This is a nearby, delicious, and kid-friendly lunch spot.
- Crazy Sweet: Ice cream and every candy imaginable… need I say more?
- History Museum at The Castle: They have an impressive Houdini exhibit and a Fox Cities ABC exhibit – make sure to color your own free postcard!
If you have any questions, or are looking for other recommendations, leave a comment below. 🙂