We're highlighting Playscape's top ten features as we prepare for the gallery's grand opening on August 31! But what makes the new Playscape different? Check out the Introduction to Playscape blog post to learn how the re-envisioned space will be just what you’ve been waiting for. Then read on to see what makes the new Babyscape so special!
Come explore Babyscape within the redesigned Playscape and see why this is the perfect place to help a little baby’s brain, fingers, toes, arms and legs develop gross and fine motor skills. Did you know that recent brain research concludes that 80 percent of the brain is developed by the age of three, and 90 percent by the age of five? There is no time to waste in helping wee ones grow mentally and physically—and Babyscape helps babies and toddlers develop these skills in movement, language and exploration.
In the Babyscape nesting area, infants not yet moving on their own can explore Play With Me! Toy Boxes, which contain a collection of objects and toys that adults and infants can play with together. There are also plenty of protected, mirrored spaces for tummy time and games of peekaboo. (Look for more Play With Me! boxes in the Natural World and the Invented World!)
For cruisers and crawlers, the nature-inspired Treehouse area entices mobile toddlers to move, building gross motor skills as well as eye-hand coordination. Toddlers can climb around a tree, swish down a slide, match birds to their birdhouses, or stack petals to make flowers. Babyscape will provide a variety of opportunities for sensory exploration. Mirrors will encourage visual tracking while light switches and push buttons in the Flutter Fly and Push and Whoosh experiences will encourage young children to experiment with cause and effect.
For even more Playscape fun, check out the photos and videos in the Behind the Scenes Playscape Construction blog post!