Oak Lawn Children's Museum Gift Shop Reopens

OAK LAWN, IL — After five months of closure due to the pandemic, the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn will reopen the museum store toward its eventual reopening. With retail stores opening up and down 95th street, it only makes sense that the children’s museum would open the gift shop.

These are tough times, especially for children's museums. While Illinois' 17 children's museums were ready to open during Phase 4 of the Gov, J.B. Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan, it quickly became clear that children's museums were not considered in the guidelines. The pandemic has already closed the Orpheum Children's Science Museum in Champaign.

“I don't have to tell you how COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on children's museums throughout the state, and we are doing everything we can to safely reopen to the public for play-based learning,” executive director Adam Woodworth said in a letter to the museum members.

In May, the children’s museum began offering contactless curbside pickup of items purchased online. The museum gift shop offers an array of plush toys, craft kits, educational puzzles, play sets, science kits and explorer backpacks, as well as Melissa and Doug items and Ty and Wow! toys. Gift cards can also be purchased at the store or online. New Items are being added every week.

The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn recently opened its doors for private party rentals, and is partnering with Ivy League Kids to provide programming throughout the day for students who are in full remote or hybrid remote learning scenarios.

Families who need a birthday present or a “just because” gift, the children’s gift shop has educational toys to meet every child’s interest or needs.

Hours for the museum gift shop will vary week to week because of reduced staffing. The museum will be posting periodically on Facebook when the gift shop is open. Patrons may call the children’s museum at 708-423-6709, ext 205. The online museum store will remain open with curbside pickup available.

“We appreciate the ongoing support during this time and look forward to getting back to the pitter-patter of little feet, the smiles and the sounds of play that we so desperately miss,” Woodworth said.