Molly Lippitt

Kohl Children's Museum

The Chicago area boasts only one institution that focuses exclusively on providing interactive exhibits and programming for young children ages birth to 8. Kohl Children's Museum of Greater Chicago has long been recognized nationally as a model for its integration of play and learning within a fun environment and one that encourages curiosity, creativity and self-discovery. After 20 years at its original home in Wilmette, the Museum opened a new, $18.1 million Silver-level LEED (Leaders in Energy and Environmental Design) facility in Glenview in October 2005. More than 330,000 children, their families, caregivers and educators visit the Museum's 17 hands-on, interactive exhibits each year to direct their own play and learning experiences in a safe, intimate environment. All exhibits and programming align to the State of Illinois Learning Standards for children up to 3rd grade, and adhere to the principles of universal design, welcoming guests with any level of physical, cognitive, and social-emotional ability. The Museum also conducts numerous outreach activities, including its flagship Early Childhood Connections program, providing professional development for teachers and childcare providers along with free field trips for classrooms in low-income neighborhoods and children who are risk of academic failure. Everyone at Play, which opens the Museum exclusively for families with children with special needs, is a program offered several times during the year. Come see for yourself why we're the Place Where Awesome Lives!