Finding things to do with your children on summer break can be difficult at any age. It can especially be a challenge to find activities to occupy a little one in the family if there are older siblings. We couldn’t wait to check out the latest addition to The Nat, San Diego Natural History Museum. It’s called The Backyard and it is designed for guests 5 and under.
We were greeted by a staff member and a table full of bugs to examine with a magnify glass. Our little guy was immediately captivated. He asked lots of questions and even held a bug. We then entered the new exhibit. Parents and caregivers can watch their children from a cozy seating area or participate alongside them. And yes, you can bring your morning coffee in with you.
The Backyard is designed to engage your child’s curiosities for the natural world around them. From animals, plants to minerals, there are games, puzzles and stations to engage them. One of our favorite stations was the light table, where you could put different objects and film on the table and switch the colors to see what it made. We also liked the “flower planting” station. Where you could make a flower using wooden puzzle pieces. Everyone loved climbing on the giant ladybug.
Our little explorer enjoyed having a space to call her own. There is an area that is a protected area that is cushioned for crawlers. She loved crawling on the “garden” bumps and going in the dog house. She also enjoyed watching brother jump on the path that made noise.
After you check out The Backyard, don’t forget to get a museum guide! The Nat has a guide created for the 5 and under guests. Different exhibits are highlighted and guests need to find certain items like count dinosaurs, crawl through the log, and find a really big book. Our favorites are the dinosaurs. And on this recent trip we liked learning about hot lava.
Photography by: Kiana Huey
For more details, visit: https://www.sdnhm.org/exhibitions/the-backyard/
We were guests of The Nat, San Diego Natural History Museum. All of our thoughts and opinions are our own.
