Imagination Playground
A whole world of play for little learners
Designed for children ages 0-8, Imagination Playground is filled with places to pretend, explore, and discover. Kids can care for a patient, shop for groceries, visit the bank, play on the farm, splash along a little river, and much more.
In these familiar settings, young children can try on different roles and make sense of the world around them through play. They can build fine motor skills, ask questions, solve problems, and follow their curiosity wherever it leads.
Children’s Nebraska Hospital
It’s time for a check-up! Kids can step into a child-sized hospital and use a stethoscope, check blood pressure, wrap bandages, and explore other medical tools. At the interactive X-ray machine, they can examine X-rays and match them to the bones in their own bodies. Through hands-on play, children can learn more about healthcare and imagine themselves as doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals. Pretending to give a check-up also gives kids a chance to become more familiar with the tools and routines they may encounter during their own visits to the doctor.
First National Bank Branch
At this kid-friendly bank, children can take turns as the teller and the customer, make a stop at the ATM, and explore how money works. As they count, save, spend, and share, children can practice early math skills and begin to understand why saving for the future matters.
The First National Bank Branch was created in collaboration with NEST, Nebraska’s 529 College Savings Plans.
Barn
There’s plenty to explore down on the farm! Kids can water and harvest crops, tend to the chicken coop, hop on a tractor, and climb through the two-story barn and silo. As they make up their own farm adventures, children can connect their play to how farms help grow the food we eat.
Seldin Apartments
Home, school, and the neighborhood all become places to play in the Seldin Apartments. Kids can sort mail and packages, take care of things around the home, stop by the coffee shop, and board the school bus. Familiar places and everyday routines give them plenty of inspiration for creating their own stories and trying out different roles.
Hy-Vee Grocery Store
Grab a cart, it’s time to shop! Kids can select food items and sort colorful fruits and vegetables. They can head behind the register to ring up groceries, put on an apron to bake and decorate a cake, or stock the shelves just like Hy-Vee employees.
With a Rotella’s Bakery, Hy-Vee Italian, a produce rainbow, two cashier stations, an “outdoor” grilling area provided by Omaha Steaks, and hundreds of realistic products, the Hy-Vee Grocery Store turns a familiar family errand into a place for imagination. Choosing what to buy, matching and sorting groceries, and playing different roles gives kids opportunities to make decisions, think critically, and interact with others.
Platte River Water Table
Explore Nebraska’s waterways without leaving the Museum. This three-level water table follows a winding river through wetlands and wildlife habitats, with Sandhill cranes, beaver dams, rain clouds, and more. As kids splash, experiment, and see how water moves, they can discover some of the natural features found across Nebraska.
Plan to get wet! You may want to bring a change of clothes for enthusiastic explorers.
Wiggle Room
Our littlest visitors have a place made just for them. Designed for developmental ages 0–18 months, the Wiggle Room offers a padded space for crawling and early exploration. Babies can discover their reflections in mirrors, practice pulling up along rails, play with large soft blocks, watch colorful bubble tubes, and try activities created with their growing skills in mind.
Family Discovery Room
The Family Discovery Room offers families a quieter space away from the bustle of the Museum. Families can slow down and try activities featuring early math, science, and literacy concepts. They can also gather here for programming focused on STEAM and literacy skills for early childhood.
Our private Nurture Room is also available for nursing and feeding.
A whole world of play for little learners
Designed for children ages 0-8, Imagination Playground is filled with places to pretend, explore, and discover. Kids can care for a patient, shop for groceries, visit the bank, play on the farm, splash along a little river, and much more.
In these familiar settings, young children can try on different roles and make sense of the world around them through play. They can build fine motor skills, ask questions, solve problems, and follow their curiosity wherever it leads.
Children’s Nebraska Hospital
It’s time for a check-up! Kids can step into a child-sized hospital and use a stethoscope, check blood pressure, wrap bandages, and explore other medical tools. At the interactive X-ray machine, they can examine X-rays and match them to the bones in their own bodies. Through hands-on play, children can learn more about healthcare and imagine themselves as doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals. Pretending to give a check-up also gives kids a chance to become more familiar with the tools and routines they may encounter during their own visits to the doctor.
First National Bank Branch
At this kid-friendly bank, children can take turns as the teller and the customer, make a stop at the ATM, and explore how money works. As they count, save, spend, and share, children can practice early math skills and begin to understand why saving for the future matters.
The First National Bank Branch was created in collaboration with NEST, Nebraska’s 529 College Savings Plans.
Barn
There’s plenty to explore down on the farm! Kids can water and harvest crops, tend to the chicken coop, hop on a tractor, and climb through the two-story barn and silo. As they make up their own farm adventures, children can connect their play to how farms help grow the food we eat.
Seldin Apartments
Home, school, and the neighborhood all become places to play in the Seldin Apartments. Kids can sort mail and packages, take care of things around the home, stop by the coffee shop, and board the school bus. Familiar places and everyday routines give them plenty of inspiration for creating their own stories and trying out different roles.
Hy-Vee Grocery Store
Grab a cart, it’s time to shop! Kids can select food items and sort colorful fruits and vegetables. They can head behind the register to ring up groceries, put on an apron to bake and decorate a cake, or stock the shelves just like Hy-Vee employees.
With a Rotella’s Bakery, Hy-Vee Italian, a produce rainbow, two cashier stations, an “outdoor” grilling area provided by Omaha Steaks, and hundreds of realistic products, the Hy-Vee Grocery Store turns a familiar family errand into a place for imagination. Choosing what to buy, matching and sorting groceries, and playing different roles gives kids opportunities to make decisions, think critically, and interact with others.
Platte River Water Table
Explore Nebraska’s waterways without leaving the Museum. This three-level water table follows a winding river through wetlands and wildlife habitats, with Sandhill cranes, beaver dams, rain clouds, and more. As kids splash, experiment, and see how water moves, they can discover some of the natural features found across Nebraska.
Plan to get wet! You may want to bring a change of clothes for enthusiastic explorers.
Wiggle Room
Our littlest visitors have a place made just for them. Designed for developmental ages 0–18 months, the Wiggle Room offers a padded space for crawling and early exploration. Babies can discover their reflections in mirrors, practice pulling up along rails, play with large soft blocks, watch colorful bubble tubes, and try activities created with their growing skills in mind.
Family Discovery Room
The Family Discovery Room offers families a quieter space away from the bustle of the Museum. Families can slow down and try activities featuring early math, science, and literacy concepts. They can also gather here for programming focused on STEAM and literacy skills for early childhood.
Our private Nurture Room is also available for nursing and feeding.