Best Children's Museums in New York
These children's museums in New York are sure to please those who want to have a fun and educational time. Exhibits designed specifically for children are interactive and allow them to run around the museum without the fear of knocking over priceless objects or works of art. Museums offer a great option for spending time indoors when the weather isn't cooperating.
Founded in 1899 as the country's first museum specifically designed for children, today it is one of the largest, with a permanent collection of 30 objects, including musical instruments, masks, dolls and fossils. Kids love the interactive World of Brooklyn, a miniature city surrounded by faux shops where kids can feel like adults.
2. Children's Museum of Manhattan
Head to the Inside Art exhibit, which allows your little ones to climb in, over and around the exhibits. Learning about culture, history and science is a fun activity for children aged six and under. Classes and seminars are also held.
3. DiMenna Children's History Museum at the New York Historical Society
Exhibits at this children's branch of the New-York Historical Society take children back 350 years in U.S. history. Children are encouraged to climb and interact with exhibits that chronicle the lives of children who grew up to become famous doctors, athletes and politicians. Little explorers can take part in singing songs and making crafts.
4. Staten Island Children's Museum
There are hands-on activities such as Block Harbor (lots of blocks to play with), games of Connect Four and Dominoes, and even the chance to crawl through a life-sized anthill or play fireman on the 11th staircase - You'll find exciting entertainment around every corner.
5. Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art and Storytelling
Children can explore various exhibits dedicated to fables and folk tales. The museum hosts various events for children and art workshops.
The Jewish Children's Museum explores Jewish history and heritage in a fun, engaging environment, developing natural curiosity through hands-on exploration. Kids squeeze olive oil from fresh olives, make and eat their own delicious potato latkes, and spin a dreidel to create chocolate gelt. Throughout the year, children learn biblical history, Jewish holidays, and much more.
Hundreds of interactive exhibits and activities bring science, technology, engineering and mathematics to life. There are lots of rotating exhibits about light, XNUMXD printing, space and robots, as well as a design lab where kids can engage in five stations: Backstage, Sandbox, Studio, Maker Space and Treehouse. Children can also climb the rope web and play mini golf on the huge science playground.
8. Museum of Mathematics (MoMath)
This museum features the "Wall of Fire" - a laser "wall" that shows visitors that cross sections are not always what you think they are, the "Math Square" - a jumbotron on the floor that connects every person standing on it in a changing shortest path at the moment of movement. There's also a design studio, where participants create a design on a screen for the chance to 3-D print it into a real-life sculpture, and the Enigma Café, a place where families can sit around tables and work on digital puzzles.
The museum has succeeded beautifully in its goal of reinventing the science museum experience - interactive heat-sensitive "cave painting" allows little ones to add their handprints to the mural, like real Cro-Mages. There's also a giant blue nose that sneezes on visitors. Don't forget the I-beam, which allows kids to "walk on steel" like a construction worker building a skyscraper (with the help of safety harnesses, of course).
This museum is full of gadgets and spectacles, from late 18th century hand pump fire engines to modern equipment. The museum also houses a permanent exhibit commemorating the heroism of firefighters following the attack on the World Trade Center.
11. Long Island Children's Museum
The Long Island Children's Museum opened in 2002 after renovating its 40-square-foot facility. Today it houses 000 galleries with hands-on exhibits for little ones, as well as a state-of-the-art theater and several learning studios.
