OL Children's Museum Offering Curbside Pickup Of Educational Toys

OAK LAWN, IL — Although the Children’s Museum In Oak Lawn is closed and events postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the museum is now offering introduced social distancing curbside pickup of educational toys, puzzles and other items. Items to enrich children’s playtime and education are now available for purchase in the museum’s online gift shop.

"We are glad to be able to offer this service," executive director Adam Woodworth said in a news release. "Children are still having birthdays and families are looking for things for their children to do."

Patrons can purchase items and indicate the time and day they want to pick up purchases. The museum will reach out to confirm orders and give patrons a number to call upon their arrival.

“Open your trunk or your backseat door, and we'll bring out the items and put them in your car," said Woodworth.

Items currently available include plush toys, craft kits, educational puzzles, play sets, science kits, explorer backpacks and more. New Items are being added every week. Patrons can also call the museum at 708-423-6709, ext 201, if they are looking for something specific that might not be up on the website. The museum offers a wide range of Melissa & Doug items as well as Ty and Wow! Toys. Gift cards can also be purchased through museum’s website.

"As a nonprofit organization, these sales will help us during this difficult time," Woodworth said. "Having an online store is even something we are now talking about continuing past the pandemic."

Woodworth said he is asked every day when the children’s museum would be reopening for visitors. The museum is presently slated for Phase 4 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” plan. Childcare centers, schools, bars and restaurants can reopen with safety guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Any gatherings of 50 or fewer people are allowed.

When asked when the museum would be reopening for visitors, Woodworth stated that the museum has targeted Phase 4 of the Governor's "Restore Illinois" plan and that they are actively working to add a variety of safety measures for when that time comes. To move to next phase, a vaccine or treatment must be readily available.