Pretend City Children's Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 2009 |
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| Location | 29 Hubble, Irvine, California, U.S. |
| Type | Children's Museum |
Pretend City Children’s Museum is a special place in Irvine, California. It's a nonprofit museum just for kids! Imagine a whole city built just for you to explore. This museum has 17 fun areas that look like a small, busy city. Besides all the cool exhibits, Pretend City also helps families. They offer things like health checks for young children. They also give tools to parents, teachers, and other groups.
Contents
Exploring Pretend City's History
How Pretend City Began
Pretend City Children's Museum was started by Alexandra Airth and Sandra Peffer. Their journey began in 2007 with a program called “Pretend City on Wheels.” This was a mobile field trip that traveled to different places. It helped kids learn through fun play activities.
Helping Families and Kids
In July 2009, the museum started a big program. It lasted for ten years across the county. This program taught parents and caregivers about important health checks for young children. These checks are especially important for kids from birth to age five.
In November 2010, Pretend City received a special grant. It was called “The Possible Dream” grant. This money helped the museum create programs for families with autism. They hosted events like creative relaxation classes and workshops. These events happened twice a month.
Reopening After Challenges
The museum put new safety rules in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pretend City successfully reopened in 2021. It continues its important work today. The museum still provides great learning experiences for children and families.
Discovering Learning Spaces and Programs
What Can You Explore at Pretend City?
Pretend City is designed like a kid-sized city. It was created by David Rockwell. The museum has many learning spaces. These spaces are modeled after different parts of a real city. Besides the exhibits, the museum also offers educational field trips. They also have special classes for kids.
Fun Places to Play and Learn
The museum has many exciting learning spaces. These include:
- An Amphitheater for shows and events.
- An Art Studio where you can get creative.
- A Mind + Body Center for healthy activities.
- A Sandy Beach for imaginative play.
- A Restaurant Café where you can pretend to cook.
- City Hall and Lobby, just like a real city building.
- A Construction Site to build and create.
- Emergency Services with a Dispatch Station.
- A Police Station and a Fire Station.
- A Farm where you can learn about food.
- A Gas Station for fueling up your imagination.
- A Trader Joe's Grocery Store for shopping fun.
- A Health Center with a Doctor’s and Dental Office.
- A Marina for boat adventures.
- Orange Plaza, a central meeting spot.
- Our Home, a cozy place to play.
- A UPS Store for sending packages.
- An Imagination Playground for building big things.
