One of the highlights of Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland, the Florida Children's Museum, located an hour from Orlando, on the way to Tampa, is one of those tours that cannot be left out of the itinerary for families with children, since it has the perfect combination of fun and education in one place. It has two floors of galleries with various interactive experiences: it's non-stop fun and is guaranteed for children up to 12 years old.
Among the attractions on the first floor is the Design Park, a creative space aimed at children from 6 to 12 years old, but even the little ones will enjoy playing in this area. One of the best features is the long air hockey type table. There are also smaller play stations where children can, for example, design a house, play with magnetic blocks and much more.
While the beautiful area of Watermelon Seeds, designed for children up to 6 years old, transports them to the world of colorful fruits. The highlight is a climbing structure where the little ones start from the roots of a watermelon plant, which gives the area its name, and finally arrive at a slide in the shape of a slice of this sweet and delicious fruit. It is a good teaching area about the origin of food. The space also has a safe place for babies to play, called a "seed pod," with a padded floor and sensory circles on the wall, for example.
On the second floor is City Play, a recreated city district where kids rule. There is a market, a hospital, a store, a fire station and many other "scenes" to play and learn at the same time. A space that has a design that allows parents or guardians to see all the points where children may be playing.
So that all children can play and learn, the museum offers ADA compliant access and has been working in closer partnerships to be "autism friendly." The distribution, colors and acoustics were chosen and designed to provide a fun and enriching experience. Shades to control sunlight, predictive floor patterns to show pathways, sound deadening wall treatments, and wheelchair access are just a few of the actions that make visiting comfortable. There's a quiet room and sensory kits that include noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, and a hand-moving toy. The museum has also prepared a nice social story that can be downloaded before the visit and helps to understand what to expect.