While the word "museum" might not initially set your tot's eyes (or yours, for that matter) aglow with excitement, you both might be surprised at how unstuffy a day at the museum can be.
The locations below offer exhibits that cater to the younger crowd, which means they're specially designed to be interactive, colorful, and fun, as well as educational. Some may build on your child's school curriculum while others might introduce something totally new, but each specializes in creating an environment that brings learning and playing together for children-and, of course, their grown-ups are welcome too!
Also see our complete 2010 Guide to Children's Museum Exhibits, including Westchester County; Rockland County; Fairfield County, CT; and Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island.
QUEENS
Queens County Farm Museum
73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park
718-347-3276, www.queensfarm.org
- Open daily 10am-5pm, tours of the farmhouse available Saturday and Sunday 11am-4pm. FREE admission. Offers school programs for students in grades pre-K to 9, from September to June. Contact the education department for information and reservations: 718-347-3276 x 302, or info@queensfarm.org.
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street
718-699-0005, www.nyscience.org
Open Tuesday-Thursday 9:30am-2pm, Friday 9:30am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm. $11; $8 children 2-17, students with college ID, and seniors (62 and older); free members. Free admission on Fridays, 2-5pm and Sundays 10-11am, through June.
In addition to over 450 hands-on, permanent exhibits, the Hall of Science hosts traveling exhibits, including:
- Math Midway: This range of exhibits is focused on fun and challenging mathematical content for all skill levels-from children to Ph.Ds. View the exhibits and interact mathematically by creating a pen and ink drawing using the mechanical "harmonograph" or playing with the "organ function grinder," which mixes math and music. February 6 through April 18.
MANHATTAN
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
212-769-5100, www.amnh.org
Open daily 10am-5:45pm. Suggested admission: $16, $12 students and seniors, $9 children 2-12, free members. Kids' site: www.amnh.org/ology/anthropology.
- The Silk Road: Ancient Pathway to the Modern World: Visitors travel the most famous trading route in history, through four ancient cities spanning across Asia and the Middle East whose traditions and technologies still influence the modern world. Watch silk worms spin cocoons, explore a night market, learn about the ancient arts of papermaking and glassblowing, and more. Through August 15.
- The Butterfly Conservatory: Celebrating its 12th year at the museum, this exhibit invites visitors to mingle with up to 500 fluttering, iridescent butterflies among blooming tropical flowers and lush green vegetation in 80-degree temperatures. Through May 31.
Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM)
The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam)
212-721-1234, www.cmom.org
Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm (closed Mondays, except February 15). $10, $7 seniors, free members and children under 1.
- PlayWorks: Children ages birth to 4 years old can feed alphabet letters to Alphie, the talking dragon, drive a fire truck, and more, all while exploring language, art, science, and imagination.
- Adventures with Dora and Diego: Children ages 2-6m join Diego on a series of high stakes animal rescue missions where they can help save armadillos, build a bear's nest, and get ready for a fiesta at Dora's house.
- Gods, Myths and Mortals: Discover Ancient Greece: Children ages 6 and older can climb a giant Trojan horse, escape the Cyclops, sing with the Sirens, and examine ancient artifacts as they learn about the myths, legends, and values of the Ancient Greeks.
- Little West Side: Children age 4 and younger can tell time at the clock tower, learn colors at the grocery store, build the city skyline, or relax with a good book -all while building literacy and math skills in a familiar setting.
- Block Party: Children of all ages can build with specially designed blocks, working together or solo.
Children's Museum of the Arts
182 Lafayette Street (between Broome and Grand)
212-941-9198, www.cmany.org
Open Wednesday-Sunday 12-5pm (Thursday 12-6pm), closed Mondays except February 15. $10 per person (pay by donation Thursdays 4-6pm).
- The Black Book of Colors: Based on the children's book The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin and Rosana Faria, this exhibit teaches sighted children how people without sight can experience colors through sound, smell, touch and taste. Through February 7.
- Five Years Of Films: A History of CMA's Media Lab: This exhibition celebrates the 5th anniversary of CMA's Media Lab, documenting the department's history through its clay characters and film sets. Each film has been chronologically encapsulated into dioramas stretching horizontally along CMA's gallery walls. Films from CMA's Media Lab may be viewed on the CMA Blog: www.blog.cmany.org. March 3 through June 6. Children's opening reception: March 4, 4-6pm.
SONY Wonder Technology Lab (SWTL)
56th Street (between Madison and Fifth Avenues)
212-833-8100, www.sonywondertechlab.com
Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm; reservations highly recommended (must be booked a minimum of seven days in advance of desired visitation date). FREE.
- The SWTL is a four-story technology and entertainment museum for all ages. It houses a wide variety of permanent, interactive exhibits, including Virtual Surgery, where visitors can "feel" what it's like to perform open-heart surgery; WSWLTM Production Studio, where visitors can explore the various roles associated with television production; GameBuilder, where visitors can create their own computer racing game; and Wonder Of Music, where visitors explore the process of making music and perform in front of a virtual audience.
BROOKLYN
Brooklyn Children's Museum
145 Brooklyn Avenue (at St. Marks Avenue)
718-735-4400, www.brooklynkids.org
Open Wednesday-Friday 11am-5pm, weekends 10am-5pm (winter hours). Extended hours February 13-21, 10am-5pm. $7.50, free museum members and children under 1; free admission 2-5pm on select Wednesdays: February 3, 10, 24. Families can explore the museum's collection of more than 30,000 objects at home by visiting Collections Central Online: www.brooklynkids/emuseum
- Neighborhood Nature: Children can take on the role of field scientist when they observe the life forms and document the environment of a freshwater pond, saltwater beach, urban woodland, and community garden.
- Tales from the Land of Gullah: Step into the world of the Gullah people-West African slaves brought to plantations on isolated islands off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina in the 17th century-and discover how they held on to their songs, stories, and customs. Find out about the common nursery rhymes (like Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore) that the Gullah gave to American culture, learn to tell Gullah time, go fish netting with a Gullah fisherman, cook a Gullah meal, and more. Through May 2.
- Totally Tots: This early learner exhibit is for kids ages 5 and under, and includes the Baby Hub for those under 18 months, and Water Wonders, Art Studio, Building Zone, and Little Theater for those 18 months old and up.
- World Brooklyn: Visitors can take a trip through Brooklyn (or at least, a child-sized model of the city), learning about its diversity through the stories of real people and places.
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Parkway
718-638-5000, www.brooklynmuseum.org
Open Wednesday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday 11am-6pm. Suggested contribution: $10, $6 students, $6 seniors (62 and over), free members and children under 12.
- Kiki Smith: Sojourn: This site-specific installation by Kiki Smith explores the ideas of creative inspiration and the cycle of life in relation to women artists. Features a range of media, including drawing, sculpture, painting, and photography. February 12 through September 12.
- To Live Forever: Art and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt: This exhibition draws on 107 ancient Egyptian objects to illustrate a range of strategies the ancient Egyptians developed to cheat death. It explores mummification and tomb rituals and examines what the Egyptians believed they would find in the next world. February 12 through May 2.
Micro Museum
123 Smith Street
718-797-3116, www.micromuseum.com
Open Saturdays 12-7pm. $2 per person.
- Signature Power: Legends and Other Myths: This visual art show for more than 25 artists includes several interactive art works, media installations, and live music on "The Lumiano," a piano that lights up when played. Through April 29.
New York Transit Museum
Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street
718-694-5100, www.mta.info/museum
Open Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday 12-5pm. $5, $3 children 3-17 and seniors, free museum members.
- Last Day of the Myrtle Avenue El: Photographs by Theresa King: This photo essay shot 40 years ago features the trains, stations, passengers, and views from the Myrtle Avenue El on its last day running. These photographs provide a glimpse into the past and preserve a memory of growing up in Brooklyn. Through July.
- The museum also hosts several children's programs, including a Weekly Preschool Time on Thursday afternoons for ages 2-5.
STATEN ISLAND
Historic Richmond Town
441 Clarke Avenue, Staten Island
718-351-1611, www.historicrichmondtown.org
- Bringing Up Baby: Children's Furniture and Family Life: An exhibition that features childhood objects and furniture-such as highchairs, cradles, and baby carriages-from American homes between 1780 and 1925, and explores their role in family life. Visitors will observe how furniture changed as childrearing practices and parental aspirations evolved through the centuries.
- Toys!: This exhibit features more than 200 of the most popular toys from the 1840s through today and explores how toys act as agents of self-discovery and socialization. Includes hands-on activities.
Staten Island Children's Museum
Snug Harbor Cultural Center, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island
718-273-2060, www.statenislandkids.org
Open Tuesday-Friday 12-5pm, Saturday and Sunday (and school holidays) 10am-5pm. The museum will be open for free from 10am-5pm on Monday, February 15. $6, free members and children under 1.
- Bugs & Other Insects: Children can explore the world of insects when they crawl through a human-sized ant hill, try on an exoskeleton, watch butterflies being born and bees working in their hives, and build bug inspired crafts.
- Block Harbor: Visitors can explore and pretend to sail a pirate ship.
- Great Explorations: Learn about extreme environments as you explore a rainforest canopy and cave, drive a dogsled in the tundra or dive to the ocean floor, build an igloo, cross a river, walk on snow shoes, or host a radio show.
- Ladder 11: Pretend you're a firefighter as you ring the bell, slide down the pole, don firefighter gear, and more.
- Portia's Playhouse: Kids can put on skits in this authentic theater using props, costumes, and sound effects on a real stage.
Ever wonder how these exhibits come together, or what formula the museum's follow to find the perfect balance between learning and fun? Check out Children's Museums: Behind the Exhibits and get the answers, straight from exhibit developers in the New York metro area.
