I've seen it once, years before I had kids. Don't recall anything too disturbing. But it was a while ago and I didn't have kids at the time so I might be forgetting something/failed to notice something I would've noticed had I had kids.
Do you think it's okay to take a 4.5 year old (turning 5 in a few months)? She has a book about the human body so she has seen many images of muscles, internal organs, and such.
I think it's overwhelming for an adult. One image, perhaps, but an entire roomful? I would not recommend it.
I know **I** would find it interesting, but a five year old? I think it would be too much.
That's MY take. This isn't just "bodies" this is skeletal and musculature - what's BENEATH the skin. It's not a five minute thing that she can look through like a book and put away. This is a museum that she needs to walk through. It's NOT free so you can't just walk out and say "okay, we're done".
It's your kid. You make the decision. I know I wouldn't take my 5 year old.
It depends a lot on the kid.
Some people who would feel fine taking kids to this would think twice about taking them to a wake/funeral.
These are real dead peoples bodies on display (and some animals too) - so if a child can be respectful, it might be all right.
Then again, I know adults I wouldn't take to something like that - it would creep them out.
Yes, it's science/biology - but some might see some horror side of it and have some nightmares.
At that age - we took our son to see dinosaur bones in natural museums - I'm not sure I would've taken him to a Body World exhibit.
You know your child best.
I wouldn't. It's really overwhelming.
Just Googled it - one of their shows recommends for school groups 5th grade and up. Or check out the photos online and see child's response. Keep in mind much larger and more graphic in person.
Yeah, I went to this when my kids were 12 and 14. I couldn't imagine taking little kids to this. But that's just me.
When my son was 7 or 8, he was *really* into mummies, bog bodies, etc. Checked out every book in the library about them. Our science museum had an exhibit, so my husband took him--- Kiddo just wanted OUT of there. What's in a book and what's in front of your face are two different experiences.
Google "Body Worlds" and see for yourself. A lot of very graphic images pop up.
Personally, I think it's enough to give a kid nightmares if they are very young. There are better and more emotionally safe ways for a child to explore learning about the human body. I'm not squeamish, but I found the cut-away sections of the pregnant woman with baby in utero a bit much.
Be honest with yourself, how do you think you will explain this to your daughter?
I think it's probably too much for a young child. In some ways, it's really fascinating, but it's also really creepy. While she's seen it in books, seeing it life-sized is a very different experience. I also think the exhibit with the fetuses might be very upsetting to a child.
My kids have seen bits and pieces of the exhibit at different science museums we have been to. They are currently 7 and 9. The most recent one we saw was a man riding a horse (showing both the man and horse). They have also seen different body systems (just the digestive, just the circulatory without the bodies). My 7 year old usually just walks right by them. My 9 year old thinks they are a little cool, but mostly creepy. Especially the man and horse were creepy for her. I don't think my kids would go through the whole exhibit.
