Parental Stress Harms Children

Playing in Nature

Simple, fun and important for your child’s growth

Sometimes raising kids is fun and rewarding. Sometimes it’s hard and exhausting.

Either way, doing your best to maintain a playful attitude helps – making the good times even more joyful and the tough patches more manageable.

Hands-On Play

Build Your Own Straw Rocket & Learn About Important Women in Space

Celebrating some of the women whose contributions have played a crucial role in advancing the exploration of space

Glue Gun Fun

There’s no substitution for hands-on exploration. Letting kids (safely) experiment with real tools, such as a glue gun, provides opportunities to build confidence, independence, creative thinking skills and more.

Make Your Own Eyeball Wall at Home

If you’ve visited our new special exhibit, Monsters on Summer Vacation, you’ve likely seen the Eyeball Wall, a chalkboard wall covered in eyes that is the perfect backdrop for visitors to sketch out monster faces of their own.

Three Fun Static Electricity Experiments to Do at Home

Experimenting with static electricity is a great way to introduce young kids to science and spark their curiosity to learn more.

DIY Paper Tube Xylophone

Get your kids excited about exploring music by making your own paper tube xylophone. Or, make a few and start your own xylophone band!

More Hands-on Play

SUPPORTING A CHILD'S PLAY

Managing Family Anxiety During Times of Stress

Whether it’s due to global events, work and school pressures, political climate, family budgets or health concerns, families are feeling increased levels of anxiety and stress these days.