The Children's Museum Blog
Keep checking back daily for new activities, videos, and resources!
Play Ahead – Fears
What is Fear? Fear is a normal reaction that alerts us to danger and prepares us to deal with it. People generally react both physically and emotionally. Physically, we experience increased heart rates and rapid breathing while we also feel endangered and are emotionally upset. Although fear can happen to anyone, some children are more…
Play at Home Guide: Maximize Love, Manage Stress
Basics Focus: Maximize Love, Manage Stress Here are some easy activities that can be used at home to engage your children, and continue learning through play. This is a great way for your family to spend time together, help your children develop new skills, and have opportunities for learning through play. If you would like…
The Benefits of Play for All Abilities
Bridging the Benefits of Play for All Abilities From fundamental concepts to socialization skills, language development and much more, recent research shows that play has a positive impact on a child’s development. Further, the more often children engage in play — especially in safe, supportive and encouraging surroundings such as those found at all four…
Partner Resources
We’ve collected some of our favorite resources from businesses and organizations providing activities for families! Association of Children’s Museums: Virtual Activities for Families The Basics: Resources and Activities for Children Ages 0-3 Years of Age Fun and Learning for Parents & Children: An Activities Handbook The Genius of Play: It’s More than Just Play! Melissa…
The Scribble Game
Let your creativity flow as you turn scribbles into works of art! All you need is a pencil or pen and some paper to get started. Once you create a picture or scene- add color or write a story to go with it! Have FUN!
Making Shrinking Charms with Cameron!
Have a plastic disposable container lying around? Let your child turn that into a charm or keychain in just a few simple steps! Follow Cameron as he shows you how to make a beautiful shrinking charm using household supplies.
Play Ahead – Health Benefits of Play
It Pays to Play! Staying healthy is a concern that we all share, and if you’re a parent, it’s a concern that extends to the entire family. Finding new, engaging and effective strategies for activities that help to build healthy habits in children can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. The good news? There are…
Family Meal Time
Turn any meal time into an educational moment! Remind your children the benefits of eating healthy and ask them to describe taste, smell, and touch. Did you know that you can use breakfast, lunch, and dinner time as a way to bond with your family and children? Here are some easy ways to use meal…
Play Ahead – Playtime
Play is such an important part of a child’s growth and development. Children use play to discover,explore and imitate the world around them. Play helps children develop physically (balls, bikes, push-pull toys), mentally (blocks, puzzles, books) and socially (group play, talking and using new words). Children learn to think creatively and to become better problem…
How to Play
Ten Tips for Helping Kids Play Ahead As any parent or caregiver can tell you, the list of responsibilities that comes along with raising child can sometimes seen unending. Just keeping a child well fed and well groomed can feel like a full-time job, and that’s without even considering the social, emotional, and academic oversight…