Zimmer Children's Museum Teaches Kids About Community

CC floats in a blue ball pit at the Zimmer Children's Museum.

I'm constantly amazed by how many educational and fun places there are for children here in Los Angeles. The Zimmer Children's Museum, which we visited for the first time on Friday, is definitely one of them.

We've driven by the museum, which is tucked into the lobby level of The Goldsmith Jewish Federation Center on Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile, so many times over the years, but it's only now that I've realized what we've been missing.

Dedicated to teaching kids -- and families, really -- about global citizenship, community responsibility and cultural sensitivity, the Zimmer has created a kid-sized neighborhood of sorts that's totally interactive and engaging.

CC and I visited during a "Cupcakes for Bloggers" event, during which delicious mini cupcakes from SusieCakes were served, and my little explorer had the chance to don a firefighter's uniform, walk on a rescue boat that was used to help people during Hurricane Katrina, pretend to go grocery shopping, and make all kinds of art.

Firefighter CC!

In fact, CC asked why it was called a museum because, as she said, it doesn't look like one. I think for her it looked like a huge play area and a place where she was welcome to pretend all she wanted.

The Zimmer offers open play with admission, but the museum also provides programs during the week, such as a sing-a-long, freeze dance, a puppet show and story time.

CC pretends to buy and prepare dinner at the Zimmer.

After we had checked out nearly every inch of the museum -- and after I had chatted with a few vendors I'll talk about in future posts -- it was time to head home.

"Can we come back tomorrow?" CC asked in the parking lot. Absolutely!

Zimmer Children's Museum
6505 Wilshire Blvd., #100
Los Angeles, CA 90048
323-761-8984
Admission: $8 (adults), children 2-17 ($5), children under 2 (free)