Berkeley children’s museum Habitot is a tiny little place: and that’s not a criticism. Though it has nice facilities, including an art room, a room set up like a supermarket for pretend shopping, a cushioned faux garden for crawlers, a dress up area, and a water-play space, it just can’t compare with bigger museums like the Exploratorium and the Bay Area Discovery Museum. And that’s just fine, because at those places you end up trailing your child like a tick, wearily standing as he zooms from spot to spot, or losing him in the chaos. Habitot is perfect for parents who want a place they can sit down and kibbitz while children amuse themselves with wholesome arty/educational activities, staying within sight no matter where they roam. You can even bring multiple children–more kids than adults? No problem!
What Habitot most resembles is not a children’s museum, but a very well-equipped preschool. You may on first glance think your kid won’t want to go again after checking out the limited offerings, but every activity at Habitot is well-thought-out, deep and mesmerizing; children spend whole afternoons just washing babies at the water table, or navigating through the wiggle wall. In addition, each week there are special activities: a winter fair, say, with cold-weather games and art activities, or a salute to trains, and the staff is so talented and engaging that kids under 7 or so will want to visit, linger, and return.
There’s no cafe on site, but there’s a peanut-free snack room if you want to bring your own food. Parking in the area can be scarce, but there’s a garage right across the street that charges $5 for all-day parking.
Habitot Children’s Discovery Museum is located at 2065 Kittredge Street (at Shattuck Avenue), Berkeley. Call 510-647-1111 or visit habitot.org.
My son LOVES Habitot. It is true there’s no cafe but they sell apple sauce and some baby/kids friendly snacks for 75 cents each. That worked well when I forogt bringing my son’s snack and/or I had no time to pack snacks.
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:50 pm