**Kid Lab Raleigh has gone mobile! They no longer have a physical space, but you can book their 12 foot trailer for events!*”
There’s a new spot downtown where “kids play to learn and adults learn to play!” Kid Lab Raleigh is a non-profit makerspace + art studio where kids can tinker, create, and learn during the process. Located within Read With Me Bookstore, they host a variety of guided play programs (known as labs) to get your kids exploring and learning.
Lab Programs
The offered labs include a Play lab for kids under 5, STEAM lab for K-5th, Story lab for ages 2-6, and Art labs for homeschoolers. They also periodically host camps and free community events.
Play Lab Experience
We recently attended a Play Lab that was all about the human body. We started off our time by reading a book that taught all of the body parts, and then we were released to play and explore on our own. There were lots of different learning stations setup throughout the space. My girls gravitated towards the arts and crafts in the back. They played with play-doh, painted pretend nails, viewed x-rays, painted their own person cut-out, and transferred pop-pom “germs”. There were also organ stamps that could be used to create your own digestive system!
At the front of the space there were more manipulatives, like matching games, magnatiles, and human body puzzles and diagrams. They had the cutest apron that you could wear and it had all of the organs on it! We didn’t spend as much time in this area since my kids loved the arts and crafts a lot more, but it was very educational.
To end our time together we gathered again for another book in the loft reading area. The teacher was very engaging with the kids, and might I add very patient when they went crazy with the art supplies!
Pay-what-you-can model
Kid Lab has adopted a pay-what-you-can business model, although each lab has a suggested donation amount. If you are unable to pay the suggested amount for ANY reason, you can send an email to be given a scholarship to attend. Otherwise, you will have to pay the suggested amount if you book online. Check their calendar for upcoming labs!
Perfect for younger toddlers!
When we attended there were a lot of younger kids aged 2 and under. I think it’s a great activity for the younger crowd because it’s open-ended free play in a contained environment. However, my 5 year old also loved all the arts and crafts, so this is really a perfect activity for any preschool-aged child!
Extend the fun at other places nearby
Before Play Lab started we wasted some time at Moore Square and then afterwards headed over to Marbles Kids Museum to extend the fun! It was perfect because everything was in easy walking distance for my toddlers, so no dealing with car seats! Go check it out yourself and make a day of it!