Children's Imaginarium - Wausau, Wisconsin

Jennica D. A. S. -. J.

Very clean, enjoyable family environment. Super interesting exhibits that relate to real life. Took my son's school there and they were super accommodating. Back room for parties or schools. Stem Lab makes cool science things.

Amber H.

I have 3 kids, 7 and under, who love this place! They have great playing and learning areas that keep the kids engaged for hours. They have a “lab” area where kids can do crafts and experiments. Just lots to do and explore.
My reason for deducting 2 stars is the 4x I have been there the employees seem less than thrilled to be around kids and families, some of them very indifferent or even rude.
The latest example that has prompted this review is my 3 kids making a craft but being told they need to keep in the lab until we are ready to leave. We left shortly before closing, with about 4 other families still playing. The employees had thrown my kids projects away and everyone else’s because they cleaned up prior to closing. There was an apology after I brought it up but it was indifferent, like most interactions with the staff. My kids were super sad to have their projects tossed.

Tiffany A.

The Children’s Imaginarium is such a treasure for Wausau. Each exhibit was carefully researched and designed to be engaging and attractive for children of all ages. It is housed in one large open room with huge windows, so you get lots of sunlight. If you have multiple children, it’s relatively easy to keep an eye on everyone as they move from one awesome exhibit to another. The large tree created great opportunities for gross motor play and experimentation. The food truck, market, honey, and syrup exhibits provide opportunities for lots of imaginative play. The water area and wind area allow for lots of cause-and-effect experimentation. There’s an area for building forts/mazes and an area with duploes and construction. There is also a room dedicated to STEM activities. Young kids will enjoy exploring, while older children will really love reading the information and experimenting more intentionally. The staff was very engaged and helpful. This will be a great place to go this winter to get some sunlight and gross motor play! We attended on a weekday, and even though there were many visitors, it didn’t feel too overwhelmingly busy because of the open layout.
They also have plans in the new year to create opportunities for inclusivity that will allow those with limited resources to access at a discounted rate, if needed.

It is a bit of a walk from the Forest Street parking garage to the entrance so bundle up but it’s worth it!!

Abdullah Q.

It's amazing! Multiple play areas for children of different ages, a STEM lab with activities, room for activities (a birthday, for example), and a breastfeeding room for nursing mothers.
I wish they were more active on social media. I hope the constructions in the front end soon!
And I wish they open on Sundays.

Christa R.

Place is super clean and staff was friendly! All exhibits had toys that went with nothing seemed to be missing, the stem area was fun. The place is small and in my opinion meant for smaller kiddos.

I don’t know why they charge for adults. I feel they should be free. Construction made it a little confusing on parking especially if you’re not from the area. I would t go back there are better places around for the cost but my son had a good afternoon running off energy

Autumn M.

The price is steep, but you'repaying for thw wntire day so leaving and coming back is a nice option! The air exhibits are constantly getting clogged, even when your children are using the correct toys. The water section is great for toddler or sensory seekers, but there isn't enough smocks or dry towels for everyone. Overall, my kids really enjoyed it

Mel

My kids had an amazing time there! We loved all the activities to do! The only reason I’m rating this 4 stars and not 5 is because I had 3 kids and 2 adults which included me and we were charged for the adults to go in when it is mandatory that adults stay with children. The adults are there to supervise only and I’m not sure why adults don’t have a lower fee if there is nothing for adults to do other than to supervise the children they are with.

Theresa T.

A fun place for a child and their family to learn while having lots of fun. I would have given a five star rating but I saw the same child get injured on two occasions, while interacting with an exhibit that includes stairs and a slide. I feel the stair case may need better surface attention to the steps and possibly padding at the bottom for a falling child. Also the imaginarium floors consist of a hard surface. Since children are prone to falling they may want to install thick carpet or rubberized padding to prevent serious injuries.