Hands-On House Children’s Museum

May 29, 2019

When you have on-the-go teens and tweens, a day at home sounds wonderful and relaxing…when you have toddlers and preschoolers, a day at home sounds exhausting and messy! That’s where Hands-On House Children’s Museum comes in. Your little ones can jump right into what they love most…imaginative play, and you are free to spend time catching up with a friend or observing your child enjoy themselves, all without worrying what they are doing to your house.

Perfect for kids aged 6 and younger, this Lancaster-based attraction allows children to touch and handle the exhibits while providing valuable learning experiences related to role play, STEM concepts, and the creative arts, without being too large and overwhelming. On a fair weather day, visitors can take advantage of the outdoor portion of the museum which showcases a beautiful garden, playground, and walking path uniquely blended together.

Upon arrival, you can purchase tickets or a membership at the welcome desk surrounded by a small gift shop, with restrooms and coat hooks to the right (which I found wonderfully helpful for hanging an extra bag and umbrella up). Once you’re set, head left to the museum entrance. Six themed rooms await for your child to explore. Inspired by nature, the first room encourages children to discover the great outdoors, with a particular emphasis on bees and insects. My daughter’s favorite spot is situated here, do-it-yourself face painting! Lilah got right to work painting a giant “ladybug” on the side of her face. I thought it looked more like a scary black caterpillar, but she was happy with it. Little boys will love the construction zone, pushing “heavy duty” equipment around a path and digging. Next the cow needs milking and the pig needs brushed down on the farm. Climb up the ladder and pick some apples in the orchard or take a seat up on a real tractor.

Does your child love to get the mail? In the post office, they can deliver mail to the other rooms’ mailboxes. By now you’re feeling hungry, so grab a basket and head into the grocery store. Kids love to throw things in the cart, so let them do their own shopping. I personally loved this room, with the emphasis on learning the food groups with plenty of healthy foods to explore. A deli lets little ones make their own sandwiches. At the end, they can scan their items using a special card which activates the “beep.” Of course, everything is plastic, so you’ll have to wait on lunch.

The next room delights little imaginations setting the stage for a little costuming and acting. Everything from princesses to pirates, your child can make believe to their hearts content. Finally, get ready to punch in on the time clock and get to work on an assembly line. Visitors can work their way through each step of constructing a widget making sure it passes quality control. My daughter spent the most time in this area which surprised me a little. Lilah loved wearing the work apron and safety glasses and operating the “tickly” buffer. Along the wall there are also a few STEM challenges such as creating ramps to move a ball through without dropping it which I really ended up getting into.

Around noon the Clubhouse opened, which is a bright and airy room on the other side of the lobby. Rotating STEM-based exhibits give kids more challenging hands-on activities to explore. Self-guided play is included with your general admission ticket. Check the website for dates and times of special presentations which usually include a story and a themed activity. During our visit, Lilah built and “painted” a wall with some construction tools.

Expect to spend 1 to 2 hours here depending on how long your child’s attention span is. The museum is fairly small so it is not an all day destination. A membership would be a worthwhile investment if you live in the area and you love getting out of the house. Childhood is fleeting, so take the time to get on their level and watch their creative little minds at work. All too soon, their days will be filled with real life jobs and responsibilities.