Preschoolers can climb aboard a pirate ship and sail the high seas, explore a rainforest, swing across monkey bars, crawl through a fallen tree or put on a spacesuit and head to the Purple Planet. These are among the adventures that are featured in the “Dora and Diego — Let’s Explore!” exhibit at Bishop Museum through Jan. 8.
The traveling exhibit was created by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in partnership with Nickelodeon. “It’s like assembling a big playground,” said Brad Evans, the museum’s director of exhibits.
“We have such a wide variety of audience that we are trying to keep happy. We alternate the subject matter to provide something for everyone. We can’t always have dinosaurs, and the ‘World of Wearable Art’ was aimed at adults,” he said. The last exhibit geared to preschoolers was a “Sesame Street” show in 2012.
“This exhibit is all about exploratory play,” Evans said. “It’s bright and sunny, very vibrant.”
>> Exhibit: “Dora and Diego — Let’s Explore!”
>> Dates: Through Jan. 8
>> Where: Bishop Museum, Castle Memorial Building
>> Admission: $22.95, $14.95 youths 4-12, $19.95 seniors. Hawaii residents and military: $14.95, $10.95 youths 4-12, and $12.95 seniors. Parking is $5.
>> What it’s about: The exhibit gives children and their families an opportunity to go into the worlds of Dora and Diego to engage in problem-solving, exploration and active play. Young children can learn how to solve problems, be a good friend, and care for animals and the environment through play.
>> Age recommendation: Preschoolers and young children
>> Kid-friendly aspects: The exhibit is designed to be kid-friendly — even the youngest of children will enjoy sliding onto the surface of the Purple Planet, smelling flowery scents in Isa’s Garden and playing dress-up aboard the Rocket Ship.
>> Hands-on features: Flowers can be picked at Isa’s Garden. Aboard the Rocket Ship, keiki can don a spacesuit, pilot the ship and test their memory with images of colorful planets. Or kids can climb onto the pirate ship, look through the telescopes and raise the flag. Children can challenge themselves on the climbing wall or help animals in the rescue center.
>> Parents will like: The benches that are placed throughout the exhibit because children will want to play for hours as they explore and solve problems.
>> Estimated time to tour: About an hour, but the kids will want to stay a lot longer.
>> Curator says: “Families and young children are going to have a blast at this exhibit. Kids will thoroughly enjoy playing along and recognizing their favorite characters and scenes from the show and parents will appreciate the interactive and educational aspects of the exhibit,” says Brad Evans, Bishop Museum’s director of exhibits.
>> User review: Michelle Dragavon was enjoying watching her 4-year-old daughter, Lauren, explore the exhibit as she carried a large bouquet of fabric flowers from the garden. “The Bishop Museum is so entertaining for both kids and adults and this exhibit makes it more of a family affair. She likes Dora,” she said.
“I’m always learning along with her. This 4-year-old is always teaching me things,” she added. “It’s refreshing.”
>> For more info: 847-3511 or visit bishopmuseum.org
