School’s Out, Fun’s In

Kids Power the Play at the Museum this Summer

 

Summer break is the perfect time to reclaim playtime and let kids be kids. Through unstructured, kid-powered play, children not only have fun, they also build cognitive and social skills that set them up for future success – skills like confidence, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and more.

This summer, join us in prioritizing play to build happier, healthier kids. There are lots of interactive activities at the museum this summer that put kids in the driver’s seat and allow them to discover and follow their own interests – all while making fun memories with their families.

Four-Story Climber, Laser Maze, Car Wash, Fire Truck and More

Your admission includes all 10 permanent exhibits plus a special traveling exhibit — no extra fees! That means a fun-filled day climbing and sliding in The Scramble, dodging laser beams in Super Awesome Adventures, scrubby a wacky vehicle in Forces at Play in the 3M Gallery, battling imaginary fires in Our World in the Best Buy Gallery and sparking creativity in all the other hands-on exhibits.

dino-train-summer-fun-blogSpecial Exhibit: Board the Dinosaur Train

Dinosaur Train: The Traveling Exhibit is open through Sunday, Sept. 9. This exhibit – created by The Magic House in collaboration with The Jim Henson Company – brings to life the popular PBS Kids series and transports kids back to the time of dinosaurs to unearth concepts in life science, natural history and paleontology. This exhibit is locally presented by The David B. Jones Foundation.

Explore Fabric Arts

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The feature material in The Studio in the Target Gallery recently changed from clay to fabric. Visitors select a piece of white muslin fabric and create patterns using fabric stamps and markers. Then, they transform their fabric by sewing, cutting, gluing, stuffing and more. Visitors looking for more or a challenge can construct a sewn circuit and make their creation light up.

 

Make Music in Creativity Jam in The Target Gallery

In our new musical playground, visitors jam with family, friends and other visitors on percussion instruments. Through this type of play, kids are exposed to rhythmic patterns and counting, and build coordination, collaboration and communication skills. Worried about noise? No need! These are pentatonic instruments, so no matter what combination of notes are struck, the sound is always pleasant.

Soak Up Fun in the Sun

Our outdoor areas – The Backyard and Tip Top Terrace – are open for play. These spaces allow you to enjoy the outdoors and take in the surrounding city during your trip to the museum. Kids can explore the sensory garden, turn and view a new kaleidoscope inspired by a traditional Somali pattern, visit the Queen Ant from our retired Earth World exhibit and more. New elements, like a sensory path, are being added throughout June.

For Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers: Flourish in Sprouts

Youngsters thrive in this exhibit designed especially for children 3 and under. The gallery features a gorgeous one-of-a-kind water table, toddler-sized ramps and stairs, a table for light play, a reading nook and a soft mat for crawlers. There’s also a rest and recharge area with table, comfy sofa, microwave and sink.

Create a Solar-Powered Sculpturegrg3

Teaching artist Gita Ghei will be on The Landing on June 9 and 10. She will collaborate with visitors to create a solar-powered sculpture that celebrates light and the formation of rainbows and colors. Using aluminum and copper foil, each visitor will create a piece of art that represents their own unique super power. This artwork will be added to the sculpture which will be installed on Tip Top Terrace.

Maximize Your Fun with a Membership

By becoming a member of the museum, you get unlimited play for an entire year. You also get exclusive access to free members-only events, 10 percent off purchases at Tomāto Tomäto cafe and the museum store, discounts to partner retailers and attractions, and 50 percent off admission to children’s museums across the U.S. Join today.

Summertime is playtime – and that’s what we’re all about. Join us for a summer of play and discover the lifelong benefits that come from letting your kids drive the fun.

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