I would say that overall it is more geared to those with longer attention spans. An adult could stay there for days on end and look at anything, but with kids like ours, I dont think they could handle it.
There were many children present while I visited. Seemed like they were having a good time
The lower level has an include kids area, that is hand's on. The top floor is the new dinosaur exhibit, include the new sue exhibit also the hall of gems. It's a big museum I'd start with the favorites and see how long they can last. 8 hours for a full walk through is a bit much for that age range.
There are some interactive areas (dinosaurs & mummies) but mainly learning through listening or reading.
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