When it comes to museums, the Israeli Children’s Museum in Holon is a delightful exception. Unlike traditional museums where you’re told to “look but don’t touch,” this cultural institution invites children to do just the opposite. Here, hands-on experiences, interactive displays, and immersive adventures take center stage, making it a one-of-a-kind destination in Israel.
A Playground of Learning
Established in 2001, the Israeli Children’s Museum has welcomed over a million visitors of all ages, but it’s the younger generation that truly steals the show. Kids are not passive observers here; they are the heroes of the story. This museum is where their imagination comes to life, and they become active participants in the exhibits.
Imagine stepping into a world where each trail is a captivating story, and you are the lead character. The Museum Trails for Children offers just that. Tailored for kids aged 2½ to 11, these immersive journeys explore a range of themes, from emotions and thoughts to the life cycle. It’s like stepping into a “Disneyland for the thinking person,” where cognitive growth and emotional understanding are as important as fun.
At the end of their visit, children leave not only with cognitive insights but also with beaming smiles and a burning question: “When can we come back?”
Children’s Museum in Holon – Permanent Exhibits
Dialogue in the Dark
“Dialogue in the Dark” is a truly enlightening experience that offers visitors a glimpse into the world of the blind. Led by guides who are visually impaired or completely blind, visitors embark on a journey through complete darkness, armed only with a cane. It’s a journey that transforms perceptions, showing that being blind doesn’t equate to being “handicapped.”
After their journey through the dark, visitors gather for a conversation, still enveloped in darkness, with their blind guide. The dialogue touches on issues like disability, coping, senses, and the essence of life itself. Remarkably, this museum serves as the largest employer of blind people in Israel, with around 30 blind guides who have shared their world with over 400,000 visitors since 2004. The exhibition is open to groups and families (minimum age is 9).
Invitation to Silence
“Invitation to Silence” offers a unique communication journey guided by the deaf. In this intriguing exhibition, silence reigns supreme, but conversation doesn’t stop. Visitors learn that communication can happen through sight, with hand movements and body language as the tools. Deaf guides, whose primary communication channel is sign language, help visitors discover the power of non-verbal communication, bridging gaps and breaking down stereotypes. It’s an opportunity for dialogue between the hearing and the deaf, showcasing that sign language is indeed a language like any other.
Since its opening in July 2007, “Invitation to Silence” has welcomed over 100,000 visitors and employs 30 deaf and hard-of-hearing guides. This exhibition, too, is open to groups and families (minimum age is 9).
At Eye Level – “Begova Haeynaim”
For the youngest members of the family, aged three to seven, the At Eye Level Center offers a unique introduction to theater, music, and art. Here, children become the stars of their own play, experiment with musical instruments, and explore the world of visual arts through colors, shapes, and materials. They even get the chance to create their own artwork to take home as a cherished souvenir.
Though At Eye Level is a branch of the Israeli Children’s Museum, it’s located separately. Activities are diverse, ranging from kindergarten groups to family experiences, and they change every few months to keep things fresh and exciting.
If you’re looking for a museum experience that will spark your child’s imagination, encourage hands-on learning, and foster understanding, the Israeli Children’s Museum in Holon is the perfect destination. It’s not just a museum; it’s an adventure waiting to be explored by the young and the young at heart.
The Israeli Children’s Museum Holon is a children’s museum located in Peres Park, in the southeast of the city of Holon.
The common denominator of the activities in the museum is the experiential engagement in the field of emotional intelligence, education for tolerance, and acceptance of the different and the other. The various activities are characterized by instruction in small groups.
Not far: Ice Skating!