Play. Explore. Learn.

STEAM

Podcast

Power of Play

Helping Hands

PlaySpace

 

Play: More Important than Ever for Kids.

Play is vital for the healthy development of children, but is increasingly squeezed out of kid's lives. This 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

'You, Me, We' Exhibit Entrance

Museum Opens You, Me, We! Exhibit

You, Me, We! is a shared exhibition experience for families to connect around questions of identity and bias in the world around us. Through interactive experiences, self-reflection, and guided dialog, this exhibition addresses an urgent need in our society to disrupt hate, build empathy, and explore ways to strengthen our communities together.
Gift Membership

The Wonder Ball!

Join us April 29, 2023 for an evening of fun and wonder at our annual Wonder Ball gala with the theme "Under the Sea."

Gift Membership

A Gift that Makes Memories

Give the Museum as a gift this season and share the fun and magic of play!

2023 Summer Camp

2023 Summer Camp!

Registration is open for the Museum's 2023 Explore It Summer Camp. Campers will engage in hands-on and fun learning activities, enjoy the Museum, make friends, and much more.

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.

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