It’s hard to imagine the Minnesota Children’s Museum without the delightful sights and sounds of children at play, but a three-month closure at the beginning of the pandemic silenced this vibrant community treasure.

Now re-opened in a limited capacity, the museum provides a welcome escape for families to beat boredom and reignite creativity.

Though some experiences like The Scramble slide and face painting have been closed or modified to enhance safety, families returning to the museum they know and love can expect the same level of rewarding and enriching experiences that bring out the best in imaginative play.

What’s open:

• Pretend town in Our World
• Laser maze and climbing wall in Super Awesome Adventures
• Maker space in The Studio
• Space fantasy in Imaginopolis
• Joyful toddler play area in Sprouts

What’s new since March:

• Big blocks in Creativity Jam
• Ball-o-Rama in the special exhibit gallery
• Oversized games on the Landing

Visitors are finding the precautions reassuring and they couldn’t be more overjoyed to be back at their favorite place!

“My kids are so excited to play at the museum again. We love the variety of things to do, especially now that the kids are getting to be preschool age. We’re discovering so many areas that we hadn’t been to before,” said guest Cara who brought her son Tate (3) and daughter Quinn (2).

“The timed entry is a big deal. That helps. So, I feel the limits on the number of visitors and all the extra cleaning bodes well for playing here,” Cara said.

Kids learn through play and it does so much more for their emotional and mental health too. Play sparks joy. Play eases the effects of stress and anxiety.

After months of staying home, guest Erika brought her son Theo (18 months) to the Minnesota Children’s Museum to spread his wings. She was overjoyed at seeing her son Theo so engaged with the car wash and other activities in Forces at Play.

“It’s really great for his development and how he can learn. There’s so much here that we don’t have access to at home,” Erika said. Advance reservations are available now and required for all museum visitors, including members. Scheduling visits in advance allows the museum to manage capacity in the building and creates space to maintain social distancing. All visitors age 5 and older are required to wear a mask. Masks are encouraged for children ages 2 to 4.

The museum will be open Thursdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $14.95 for ages 1 to 101 and free to members. Visitors should plan to arrive no more than 10 minutes before or after their scheduled time. Other helpful tips to plan a visit are available here.