Melbourne mum self-funds children’s museum project Interaxcity to get kids off screens
A new ‘mini city’ interactive play space has opened in Melbourne’s inner east, where kids can play builder, pilot, chef and more. And there isn’t an iPad in sight.
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A Melbourne mum has created a new ‘mini city’ play space to help young kids ditch screens and unleash their creativity.
Mother of three Melissa Blumenthal was inspired to open Malvern’s new interactive children’s museum Interaxcity after a family holiday to the United States eight years ago.
“We’d had a great family holiday in California and there were all these children's’ museums,” Ms Blumenthal said.
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“We wanted to find more of these amazing spaces where the kids were happy, engaged and learning through play, without realising.”
“(A children's’ museum is) a space that allows kids to be creative and explore the environment, touch and feel everything,” she said.
The 200 sqm former storage space allows kids to take on a role in a makeshift city.
There’s nine exhibits including an airport, construction site, florist, house, medical centre, post office, restaurant, service station and supermarket, aimed at children up to early primary school age.
Kids can take turns with their parents or other children to perform their civic duties, with kids given a passport to stamp off the exhibits they’ve attended.
“The space encourages kids to be whoever they want to be. They can decide whether to be a pilot or an aeroplane passenger,”
“Interaxcity is about the child/adult engagement, to create those special moments.”
Ms Blumenthal and her husband have been hands on with Interaxcity, self-funding the project, building the exhibits and sourcing props from all over Australia — including an Ansett plane seat and old dentist chair.
Interaxcity opened last month, with Ms Blumenthal overwhelmed by the positive response.
“We’ve had an amazing response from the public, through word of mouth and social media,” she said.
“We even had a family drive all the way from Traralgon to visit.”
Interaxcity is located at 1aCawkwell St, Malvern.
Bookings are essential, with parents required to attend the 90 minute session with their kids. Admission fee is $18 per child.
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