An Optical Illusion? Nope, Just Parenting in 4D at the Paradox Museum

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I love that we have an international museum on illusions in our city- a whimsical wonderland right in our own backyard. Where were all these activities for kids when we were growing up?

The adventure, of course, began before we even got there. Transporting three kids across the city is no small feat. We had cars, but no drivers (classic plot twist), so we turned to our trusty DriveU app. All was well until — poof — the driver disappeared mid-journey. Panic. Slot-based tickets. Time ticking. We scrambled, rebooked on Uber, and mentally prepared for chaos.

Hot tip: Don’t stress about the entry slot — it’s more suggestion than rule. You get an hour once you’re in, and they let you enter anytime within that slot window.

Big learning:  If you’re heading anywhere with kids, avoid activities with rigid timing. Some chaos is inevitable — build in room to breathe. Luckily the museum worked out.

Inside the Museum: Tricks, Giggles & Gravity-Defying Moments

The museum itself? Total joy. It’s basically a playground for your camera — think science-meets-magic. There was the infinity well, that is like a free fall into a never ending well, there is the reversed room where the installations make you feel as if you are hanging upside down. Not to forget the face blender that blends your face with those of your friends. These are just some of them.

The Paradox Museum: An advanced course in parenting

In the end, however  the Paradox Museum was less an optical illusion and more a crash course in advanced parenting. Take the  3D Camouflage Room we were bending, crouching, twisting like Cirque du Soleil rejects trying to get the kids to blend into the wall. Did it work? Sort of. One looked camouflaged, one looked like a floating head, and one decided he was having none of it.

After winding our way through various illusion set-ups, we hit another camouflage wall at the end. This time, we three adults said, “Let’s do one without the minions.” A moment of calm, a quiet portrait perhaps? Nope. The kids staged a full-scale mutiny. The result: a photo of three grown-ups who look like they wrapped themselves in curtains for a last-minute Halloween party. I haven’t laughed that hard in years.

At some point, we gave up pretending we were solving puzzles or “understanding” anything. We just leaned in. Somewhere in that chaos, we hope the soon-to-be 8-year-old had a blast — because we definitely did.

Paradox Museum: Baby-Friendliness, Family Fun Rated

Here’s how it fared on the baby/kid scale:

1. Stairs Situation: They’re steep and there’s no escalator. But manageable.
2. Crowd Control: It’s compact, but they limit the number of people inside. Weekdays are best to avoid the crowd surge.
3. Kid Enjoyment: Our group had a 7-year-old and two toddlers under 3 — all three had fun, even if the little ones had no clue what was happening.
4. Lift Access: There is a lift! Just hope the last person remembered to shut the door — we weren’t that lucky.
5. Bathroom Battle: Skip the one at the restaurant. Use the (surprisingly peaceful) museum bathroom instead. Especially handy if you’re carrying diapers or a tiny human.

Would I go again? 100%. Would I better plan the transport? Definitely.
But in the end, parenting — much like the museum — is part mystery, part madness, and somehow always magical.

For more fun activities for kids , check this out: https://ideapromoters.net/borivali-national-park-a-must-visit-for-families-in-mumbai/