Museum Open 9:00am - 4:00pm Today More Dates

Play. Explore. Learn.

STEAM

Podcast

Power of Play

Helping Hands

PlaySpace

Virtual Tour



Pet Adoption Night!

It's Pet Adoption Night at the Museum! Come meet some of the animals currently available for adoption at the Animal Rescue League of Boston, Brown Dog Coalition, and The Lowell Humane Society—including dogs, cats, and guinea pigs. This could be the start of a wonderful relationship with a furry friend!

Playspace

Juneteenth

Come celebrate Juneteenth with a variety of music, dance, and artmaking activities developed in collaboration with community organizations, independent artists, museum educators, and local creatives.

Banner for Juneteenth event
Illustration of ducks in a meadow with lavendar

The Art of Being Green

Green is not just a color. Being "green" is something to celebrate! It means you are trying something new or still learning how to do something. The Art of Being Green is an exploration of color and self through the eyes of teen artists from Artists for Humanity. The young artists showcased in The Gallery were inspired by the color green. We invite you to come and be inspired too!

Hundred Acre Wood

Winnie-the-Pooh and friends are back! Return to the Hundred Acre Wood with everyone’s favorite silly old bear. There is so much to discover in the Hundred Acre Wood, including Eeyore’s Gloomy Place, a new play structure of Rabbit’s House, and Kanga's Kitchen!

Hundred Acre Wood
Playspace

Summer Camp Registration Now Open!

Boston Children’s Museum’s Explore It Summer Camp offers a unique opportunity for children to form friendships, learn through hands-on activities, exercise their imaginations, and discover through play and exploration. Spots are limited; register today!

Play: More Important than Ever for Kids.

Play is vital the healthy development of children, but is increasingly squeezed out of kid's lives. The report from the American Academy of Pediatrics examines the singular opportunity that play presents for the cognitive, physical, social-emotional health of children.

Child making bubbles
Playspace

PlaySpace – Just for 0-3 Year Olds!

PlaySpace is a special experience created just for little ones ages birth to 3 years and their adults to play, discover, connect, and wonder! From cooking up a pretend snack and driving a toddler-sized jeep, to climbing hills and crossing a wobbly bridge, PlaySpace is where very young children learn about themselves and the world around them. Infants and crawlers have a special spot too—a shoes-off area for the very littlest learners and their adults to explore together!

2024 Museum Play Survey Results

See the results of the Museum and BostonMoms.com 2024 Play Survey. Thank you to all who took the time to tell us about how your family is playing!

Beyond the Chalkboard

Beyond the Chalkboard for Afterschool and Out of School Learning

Beyond the Chalkboard is an online resource for building skills and knowledge outside of school. Discover hundreds of activities covering science, math, art, engineering, health and space. Activities were created to use mostly easy to find, inexpensive materials—many of which you probably already have.

Online Games

Build your own museum, test your memory through matching, create a fun Mad Lib, and more!

At-Home Activities for Kids

View our growing archive of play and learning activities that you can enjoy at home.

Museum Collection

Come explore our over 100-year-old collection that includes items from all around the world.

This Month in the Art Lab

Japanese House

Age: 6-8     Category: Culture and Identity

Welcome to the Japanese House! Walk down the street, take off your shoes, and step into an authentic two-story silk merchant’s home from Kyoto, Japan. The Japanese House was transported piece by piece from Kyoto and reconstructed here in Boston by Japanese carpenters. Families can explore every corner of the fully-equipped home. Japanese family life, customs, ceremonies, art, architecture, and seasonal events are all highlighted in this fully functional 100-year-old house inside the Museum. This house was a gift to the City of Boston from the City of Kyoto on the 20th Anniversary of their sister city relationship in 1979. Come explore this rare and very special landmark.

Learn more about the Japanese House

Next Exhibit

Dinos In Space

Age: 4-5, 6-8       Category: Play!

How far can your imagination take you? It’s dinosaurs in space! And it’s just as fun, creative, and silly as you imagine. Enter a space dome and create a landscape for dinosaurs, design a new constellation, send an inter-galactic message, and dress up a dinosaur for a space flight. Start with the question “What if…?” and see where your imagination and creativity go next!

Next Exhibit

Japanese House Gallery

Age: 6-8      Category: Art

Adjacent to the Japanese House, an authentic 1880s house from Kyoto, Japan, this gallery space explores contemporary stories of Japan, especially of the vibrant and multifaceted lives and expressions of youth. Using art and culture as vehicles, local and international artists, storytellers, and curators co-create a culturally responsive gallery space that invites visitors to build empathy. Shared narratives are authentic and complex, bringing more appreciation to the lived experiences of each individual. Children and their grownups are encouraged to experience imagination and belonging in the Japanese House Gallery. This small space has a large mission!

Learn about the current Japanese House Gallery exhibition.