The National Museum of Natural History Is Child-Friendly! See Photos

The internet hype over the newly opened National Museum of Natural History is real and for a good reason. The large and spacious building is impeccably curated, well organized and eye candy for anyone who loves the design.

But I think the internet missed how child-friendly the museum is. As we wandered the halls, I admired the design aesthetics while my children enjoyed the open space. And we all had fun exploring each new exhibit. Here are five reasons why you should visit the new museum with your children ASAP.

1. The museum does not charge for admission.

IMAGE Amber Folkman

Yes, it is free for everyone. Need I say more? Plus, it’s open on the weekends, so working mommas can go.

2. Families get a separate entrance!

IMAGE Amber Folkman

Yes, the museum is so child-friendly there is an entrance just for families with children and people with disabilities. If you enter on Kalaw Street (technically, it is the back of the museum) the lines are shorter and more accommodating. Ramps lead to all floors so families with strollers and wheelchairs can access the museum with ease. There are even multiple bathrooms located on each floor (we all know this amenity is crucial!). Just a heads up: water bottles and bags have to be deposited upon entrance.

3. The museum is educational for kids AND parents.

IMAGE Amber Folkman

The museum exhibits and design are thrilling for the whole family. Each floor offers kids an opportunity to do something with their hands.

IMAGE Amber Folkman

Everyone will get a kick out of "The Submarine" that houses an interactive exhibit of the country's endangered reefs. Catch a pawikan weaving through a bed of corals! 

IMAGE Amber Folkman

It's hard to imagine Manila with mangroves, but the above is a recreation of the Nilad mangrove where the trees were said to be found along the banks of Pasig River. Historians say the origin of the name of Manila could have come from Nilad.

IMAGE Amber Folkman

Another child-friendly interactive exhibit where the kids get to color leaves on a light table.

4. The museum is a teachable moment on cultural connections.

IMAGE Amber Folkman

As parents, we want to expose our children to new experiences to help them learn and grow as individuals. Children can take their personal experiences with animals, travel and nature and connect them to the exhibits at the National Museum of Natural History. Perhaps they have seen a tarsier first in the museum and then later in real life on a trip to Bohol. When we learn about our homeland, we feel more connected to who we are as people.

5. There is more to come!

IMAGE Amber Folkman 
The first three floors of the museum are executed perfectly, but three remaining floors have yet to open. That means more fun in the future! But go now because going through three floors can take up half a day at least. Make the next three floors your next weekend fun moment it’s the best time to visit!