(
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"39049","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"180","height":"177","title":"Kids at the Haunted House","alt":"Kids at the Haunted House"}}]]Not according to my 3 and 5 year old. In fact, after we made it through the Haunted House during Tuesday’s friendly hours, they were all smiles and quite proud to say they weren’t scared at all!
If you’re wondering whether your little one is ready for a friendly-hour trip through The Children’s Museum Haunted House, it may help to know what to expect, so I wanted to share my experience.
This year’s theme is Vampire Vacation and visitors work their way through rooms based on different locations like Count Rushmore, San Fangcisco, and Camp Creepy. Some of the decorations are gross and some of them are outright silly. My kids and the other kids around us didn’t seem too phased by the ghoulish gross stuff. If anything, my kids were amused at some of the really outlandish props.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"39050","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"200","height":"161","title":"Count Rushmore","alt":"Count Rushmore"}}]]In fact, the Haunted House characters were so good at greeting us and engaging the kids as soon as we entered a room, my kids didn’t even flinch when I thought they would. The Museum Guild volunteers wear kid-friendly costumes with no scary masks or face paint. Most of them are moms and dads, and a few of them did a great job of getting down to kid level and directing my kids to look at the silly things completely distracting them from anything that might be scary.
The characters also encourage the little ones to find pictures of Vic and Viv, the friendly Vampire Vacation mascots, which are hidden in each room. My kids were so intent and excited about finding the pictures; I think they looked right past all the spiders and skeletons.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"39051","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"240","height":"160","title":"Haunted House Bootique","alt":"Haunted House Bootique"}}]]The best part for my kids was that each character we met gave them a little treat for their goodie bag. There was no overabundance of sugary sweets. Mostly we got coupons for kid stuff from Haunted House sponsors, games, and little toys like vampire teeth or spider rings. Once we made it all the way through, it was like hitting the Halloween jackpot. You step out of the Haunted House and right into the Bootique where there are fun toys, popcorn, and candy to be had. My 5-year-old son was in Halloween heaven!
Considering my 3-year-old daughter is too timid to even watch the movie Monsters Inc., I admit I was expecting to have to carry her through this year’s Haunted House. After we got past the entrance, she was perfectly happy to explore on her own to find out what goodies were coming next. Both of them are ready to go back!
If you’re considering going to the Haunted House this year, I say give it a try. If it’s too much for your little one, there are emergency exits located through the House and the friendly volunteers are happy to help you find your way out. I would absolutely recommend bringing your kids in their Halloween costumes. It makes it extra special for the kids and it also gives the Haunted House characters something fun to talk about with your child.
See more behind-the-scenes images of this year's Haunted House on Flickr.
If you’re wondering whether your little one is ready for a friendly-hour trip through The Children’s Museum Haunted House, it may help to know what to expect, so I wanted to share my experience.
This year’s theme is Vampire Vacation and visitors work their way through rooms based on different locations like Count Rushmore, San Fangcisco, and Camp Creepy. Some of the decorations are gross and some of them are outright silly. My kids and the other kids around us didn’t seem too phased by the ghoulish gross stuff. If anything, my kids were amused at some of the really outlandish props.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"39050","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"200","height":"161","title":"Count Rushmore","alt":"Count Rushmore"}}]]In fact, the Haunted House characters were so good at greeting us and engaging the kids as soon as we entered a room, my kids didn’t even flinch when I thought they would. The Museum Guild volunteers wear kid-friendly costumes with no scary masks or face paint. Most of them are moms and dads, and a few of them did a great job of getting down to kid level and directing my kids to look at the silly things completely distracting them from anything that might be scary.
The characters also encourage the little ones to find pictures of Vic and Viv, the friendly Vampire Vacation mascots, which are hidden in each room. My kids were so intent and excited about finding the pictures; I think they looked right past all the spiders and skeletons.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"39051","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"240","height":"160","title":"Haunted House Bootique","alt":"Haunted House Bootique"}}]]The best part for my kids was that each character we met gave them a little treat for their goodie bag. There was no overabundance of sugary sweets. Mostly we got coupons for kid stuff from Haunted House sponsors, games, and little toys like vampire teeth or spider rings. Once we made it all the way through, it was like hitting the Halloween jackpot. You step out of the Haunted House and right into the Bootique where there are fun toys, popcorn, and candy to be had. My 5-year-old son was in Halloween heaven!
Considering my 3-year-old daughter is too timid to even watch the movie Monsters Inc., I admit I was expecting to have to carry her through this year’s Haunted House. After we got past the entrance, she was perfectly happy to explore on her own to find out what goodies were coming next. Both of them are ready to go back!
If you’re considering going to the Haunted House this year, I say give it a try. If it’s too much for your little one, there are emergency exits located through the House and the friendly volunteers are happy to help you find your way out. I would absolutely recommend bringing your kids in their Halloween costumes. It makes it extra special for the kids and it also gives the Haunted House characters something fun to talk about with your child.
See more behind-the-scenes images of this year's Haunted House on Flickr.
IPL’s Lights-On Hours
(Recommended for younger children who scare easily.)
Tuesdays–Saturdays: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Tuesdays: 3:30–9 p.m.
Sundays: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Halloween*: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
(*only the Haunted House will be open on Halloween. Museum closed.)
Defender Direct’s Frightening Hours:
(Lights out for older children who dare to be scared.)
Wednesdays, Thursdays: 3:30–9 p.m.
Fridays, Saturdays: 3:30–9:30 p.m.
