Human Biology - Natural History Museum

We have two children (D 3 years and B 2 years) we are expecting a third referred to as "Project X" this leads to inevitable questions from D; enter Natural History Museum.

The Human Biology exhibition is in the blue zone close to their famous Dinosaurs. The exhibition opens with cells with microscopes set up to view examples (D looked and told me he saw something, I've no idea what!). We move quickly on to reproduction, which was a bit of a time jump for me as it is exactly the same exhibition as when I was growing up in the early 80s with some improvements to the graphics on the video.

Both D & B enjoyed videos of a sperm entering an egg (now a subject of D's drawings at nursery) and a baby growing inside a womb.

A feature of the reproduction part is a model of a giant baby with sound recorded from inside a pregnant woman's womb (see photo). This terrified D to the point that to continue he need to run through as fast as possible; B, however, loved it.

Further on demonstrations of muscles and nerves and joints and things proved interesting to both. The exhibition continued, however, sadly we ran out of time.

What: Human Biology
Where: Natural History Museum; map
Cost: Free - with a suggested donation
When: Permanent
Going again: Yes
Similar: London's Museums of Health & Medicine

The Power Within - Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum's Red Zone deals with all things geographical with many exhibitions on the subject. Enter the museum from the side entrance on Exhibition road rather than the main entrance. An escalator will then take you up through a model of the planet to the top floor of the building.

Volcanoes and earthquakes are capable of inspiring most little boys and D (3 years old) is certainly no exception. While most of the exhibits were too advanced he found plenty that did interest him; including videos of volcanic eruptions and volcanic rocks that locked like hard mud.

Else where we looked at, but didn't go on the earthquake simulator; B (2 years old) "Why is the floor moving?" and talked about pictures of houses that earthquakes had pulled down.

Although they enjoyed the beginning, the exhibition was too large for children as young as mine and by the end the staircase down to the Dinosaurs was a welcome relief.

What: The Power Within
Where: Natural History Museum; map
Cost: Free - with a suggested donation
When: Permanent
Going again: Yes, but when they are older
Similar: Nothing comes to mind

Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Since moving to London the Natural History Museum has been a regular fixture in days out. It is the ultimate temple of D's (3) major obsession (Dinosaurs) and the venue of one of my favourite proud parent stories:

D, standing in the prehistoric swimming reptiles section spots a curator holding a dolphin skull. She crouches down and shows the skull to him, "do you know what this is?" she enquires; "um... I think its an Opthalmosaurus skull" he retorts.

This trip was to see the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. This was aimed directly at adults, the only real attempt to engage children was a scratch-off-the-answers question sheet asking questions about both nature and photography; also all photos were presented at an adult's height requiring any child to be lifted to get a good view. Fortunately I was in a group of four adults to two children so this was not a real problem.

However, with effort to engage D (the love of my life looked after B) he got a lot out of it; even if he did think that a magnificent shot of a crocodile hiding in the water was a dinosucus.

What: Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Where: Natural History Museum; map
Cost: Adult £7, Concessions £3.50, under 3 free, family ticket £18
When: Until 27th April
Going next year: probably
Similar:

• Animals
• London Zoo
• London Aquarium
• Horniman Museum
• Photography
• to be added...