Frequently Asked Questions

We know that sometimes you have questions that maybe you couldn't find answers for elsewhere on our website.  Below are a list of commonly asked questions that hear from our members and visitors.  If you don't find your answer here, feel free to e-mail us at [email protected] and we'll get back to you.  

Why do adults need to pay admission?

The mission of the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn is to positively impact a child's potential in life through play-based education. Our exhibit spaces and play experiences are designed for both you and your child to play, learn, and use your imagination together. We encourage you to let your child lead the play!

Does the museum offer discounted admission?

The museum offers discounted admission for teachers, seniors, active military personnel and children under the age of one. We also offer discounted admission for EBT and WIC cardholders. You can also save money by purchasing a membership to have unlimited visits for the whole year.

Where is the best place to park?

The Village of Oak Lawn allows museum visitors to park on the 5th floor of the parking garage at no charge. If you wish to park on a lower level, you can pay at the parking meter on the west side of the train station (remember your parking spot number.)

Can I drop my child off without staying myself?

No. A child must be accompanied by an adult at the museum at all times.

I don't have children, will I be allowed in if I pay my admission?

No. However, if you are an adult and would like a tour of the museum, one of our staff would be happy to give you one. Please know that this may not be possible on busy days. The museum may require that you leave your driver's license at the front desk while you tour the museum with one of our employees. Your license will be returned to you upon completion of the tour.

Can we leave the museum for lunch and return later in the day?

Yes, just make sure you get your hand stamped upon leaving!.

Can we bring a lunch or a snack?

Yes. The museum has a multipurpose room for you to enjoy your lunch or snack. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND that this room is not always available, particularly on the weekends. If the weather is nice, you can always go outside and have a little picnic around the train station. Don't forget to get your hand stamped for reentry.

Is the Museum a part of the Village of Oak Lawn or is it separate from the Village?

The museum is an independent 501c(3) nonprofit organization.

What is the best age to bring my child to the museum?

We get this question a lot. The museum is designed for children up to age 8. However, older siblings often have fun with their younger ones. It really depends upon the child.

Can I bring my stroller into the museum?

Yes, but remember that the museum is a place for children to get out and play! Fold them up if you can and if you can't, we just ask that they not block exhibit areas or emergency exits.

I'd like to hold a birthday party at the museum. Can we just come in?

No. The museum is unable to accommodate birthday parties that are not booked ahead of time. Please contact (708) 423-6709 ext 206 for more details.

I noticed you have adults with disabilities volunteering and employed with you. How would I get my adult son or daughter involved in that program?

The museum partners with organizations like Park Lawn and the Garden Center who provide extra supports for adults with disabilities who would like to volunteer or work at the museum. These organizations provide a wonderful variety of volunteer and social opportunities for adults with disabilities, including volunteering at the museum! Our goal is to ensure that volunteering is a good fit for everyone. Give Park Lawn a call at (708) 425-3344 or call the Garden Center at (773) 941-4151 and talk with them about how your son or daughter might get involved in the program.

What do I do if I think that I lost something at the museum?

Call us at (708) 423-6709 and press "0" when you get the recording. Give us a description of the item and if it was turned in by another visitor or found by one of our staff/volunteers during cleanup, we'll call you and let you know.

Do I need to make a reservation for a field trip or can we just show up?

In order to get the special field trip rate, you must register your field trip in advance of your visit date. This helps us ensure that we have plenty of staff for your visit and that we can accommodate everyone. Field trips who do not book in advance may be turned away if other field trips are visiting us and we are at capacity. Please plan ahead.

What is the best time to visit?

While we can never truly predict when we will have a lot of visitors, we do publish a weekly "Field Trip Forecast" on our website and through our social media channels. This at least gives you an idea of when field trips will be visiting us. Outside of that, we do generally see lighter crowds in the afternoons (on weekdays)... but "generally" does not mean always.

Do you donate to other nonprofit organizations?

While we are also a nonprofit organization, we do periodically donate museum passes to other causes. Please e-mail your request to [email protected] or fax to (708) 423-6723. Please include your organization's IRS 501c(3) determination letter. We cannot accommodate all requests.

I have items I'd like to donate to the museum. Will you take them?

Please e-mail a description of the item to [email protected] or call (708) 423-6709 ext 204 (or ext 201).

How often do you clean the museum?

Our Museum staff, volunteers and volunteer board members are made up of parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Keeping our museum exhibits and exhibit parts clean is something we take very seriously. Staff and volunteers are cleaning and wiping down exhibits throughout the day as well as at the close of each day, using disinfectant wipes and spray. We have an after hours service that we hire to clean common areas as well as provide containers for soiled exhibit pieces. The museum also closes down for a week in September for a deep cleaning. Being closed on Mondays also affords us another opportunity to give the museum an additional weekly deeper cleaning. Some items at the museum are very popular and get a lot of love. Periodically, items will look worn and we do our best to replace those items in a timely fashion. If you see something that you think may be past its lifespan, let one of our team members know.

What do I do if I see a broken item or something not working properly?

Please notify a museum employee immediately. We have staff and volunteers looking for items that might need to come off the floor, but sometimes a piece will accidentally get broken by one of our young visitors and they'll put it back on the shelf, unbeknownst to us. For costumes, a hamper is provided in the theater for costumes that you come across that might need repaired/replaced. We greatly appreciate your eyes, also!

Is the museum handicap accessible?

Our Executive Director has a child with a disability and we strive to provide excellent service to our special guests. If you need any assistance, please let our staff know. We are here to help you. The museum is fortunate to have partners like Park Lawn, the Garden Center, and Earlyvention, Inc. These organizations give us ideas on how we can make the Museum more accessible. If you have ideas, drop us an e-mail at [email protected] and be sure to check out some of our special programs, like our Easter Egg Hunt for Children with Disabilities.

I require my students to do an observation for a class and want them to write a paper about their experience. Can the museum be a location for this?

Because we are an educational organization focused on children, we would welcome an opportunity to work with your school. As part of our procedure, you will need to prearrange your students' visits. Please call (708) 423-6709 ext 204 to make the proper arrangements. Any high school or college student who shows up to do an observation without prearrangement will be turned away so call ahead of time!.

I paid my admission and am here with my child, May I hand out information to guests about a project I am working on or organization I belong to?

The museum does not allow solicitation of our guests by other guests. Families visit the museum to spend time with their children, please respect their family time and do your solicitation elsewhere.

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