Activities Email Sign-up
Artist of Inspiration: London Basquiat
Our newest Artist of Inspiration is local artist London Basquiat, maker of incredible wearable art. Through his work, London hopes to show others that no matter what you go through in life, you can make it somewhere. Learn about his work and create your very own wearable art inspired by London with our new instructable!
Ages: 5-12Category: Art Activities
Why Your Child Needs Play
If you're a fan of Boston Children's Museum, you know how strongly we believe in the power of play. This article from Today's Parent explains why play is so important to a child's healthy development.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Materials Hunt
Take a guess: How many different materials do you think are currently in your home? Materials include fabrics, plastics, carpeting, wood...the list goes on. See how many materials you can identify on an epic Materials Hunt around your home with Alissa.
Ages: 3-8Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Performing Artist of Inspiration: Jean Appolon
We continue our Performing Artists of Inspiration series with Jean Appolon: dancer, choreographer, teacher, Founder, and Artistic Director of Jean Appolon Expressions. In this video, Jean shares his story of growing up in Haiti and explains how dance can build community and heal trauma. He also demonstrates some dance steps to the Haitian rhythm, Yanvalou, that are fun and easy to follow! Many people may be feeling stress or anxiety following recent disturbing national events, and we are grateful to Jean for sharing how dance can be healing and bring us together.
Ages: 3-8Category: Music and Dance
10 Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids About Race
We honor the life and leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who dedicated his life to advancing racial and social justice-work that spans generations. Our friends from EmbraceRace compiled a list of ten things that caregivers can do to support the child they love in thinking critically about race and continuing the ongoing work of racial justice.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Performing Artists of Inspiration: Ellice Patterson
Advocates for Disabilities Rights Through Dance Our #BCMPerformingArtists series continues with dancer & choreographer Ellice Patterson, founding director of Abilities Dance. Ellice shares how her dance advocates for disabilities rights and how you can use dance to tell a story. Check it out, and tuned for more Performing Artists of Inspiration each week in January.
Ages: 3-8Category: Music and Dance
2020's Top 10 At-Home Activities for Kids Check out our list of the Top 10 At-Home Activities for Kids from 2020, all made by Boston Children's Museum staff. We hope you'll give these activities a try (or a few!) and stay tuned for much more to come in 2021!
Ages: AllCategory: All
10 Resources to Help Kids Understand and Cope with the Riots at the Capitol
Boston Children's Museum staff have compiled a list of resources from organizations doing excellent work to guide parents, caregivers, educators, and children through this difficult time. We have also included resources that will help you connect with your child through play, one of the very best ways to comfort and support your child.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Create a Cozy Space in Your Home
Do you have a cozy space in your house where you can go to relax and have some quiet time? Hear from our Health and Wellness Educator Saki on how to construct a cozy space (whether you're a kid or an adult - we can all benefit!) This is a great activity for cold winter days spent indoors!
Ages: 5-12Category: Health and Wellness
Performing Artists of Inspiration: Sandeep Das Demonstrates the Tabla
Over the next four weeks, Boston Children's Museum will share a new series called Performing Artists of Inspiration, featuring local performing artists who will teach us how they make art and what they learn by making it. We kick off the series with Grammy-winning composer and musician Sandeep Das. Sandeep shares how we can find joy in music by demonstrating his instrument, the tabla.
Ages: 3-8Category: Music and Dance
Let's Make Snow Dough!
Learn to make snow dough, a simple playdough recipe that brings all the fun of snow indoors without melting. This fun sensory activity only takes two ingredients!
Ages: 5-12Category: Open-Ended Play
87 Indoor Activities for Families this Winter
Being stuck at home this holiday season is a drag, but this list of 87 at-home activities from Today's Parent will make dealing with self-isolation from COVID-19 just a little bit more fun for the whole family.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Make Your Own Spinning Top!
Tops are found in cultures worldwide and have been around for thousands of years, and no wonder-they're fun! Follow along as Alissa shows us how to make two kinds of tops with items found around your home.
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Storytime: "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats
It might not be as stormy out there as we saw in Boston two weeks ago, but we can enjoy a nice snow-themed storytime! Gather 'round for a reading of "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats.
Ages: 0-6Category: Storytimes and Literacy
Jack Frost Introduces New Snowed-In Kits for At-Home Fun
Not sure what to do when it's snowing or too cold to venture out? Have some winter fun inside with a Jack Frost-inspired Snowed-In Kit! Snowed-In Kits include the materials to decorate a mug for hot cocoa, design a unique snowflake inspired by Jack Frost, or create your own magical shrinking key chain. Create an unforgettable experience for the family by ordering your Snowed-In Kit.
Ages: 3-8Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
The "HERstory" of Boston Children's Museum's Collection
Throughout our history, women have always been the guiding force behind Boston Children's Museum's collection. However, they have oftentimes been overshadowed by the stories of men (AKA "his"story.) In a new blog post, read the tale of a beloved dollhouse and an amazing Massachusetts woman that demonstrates a portion of the rich HERstory our collection holds.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Encourage Kids to Make Music Inspired by Nature - Part 3
Get your kids excited about making music with our friends at Continuo, who are back with a final installment of the "Music in Nature" series! This time, we're putting together all that we've learned about how instruments can mimic the sounds of nature. You'll even get to hear what the flute and oboe sound like when played together. Let's listen!
Ages: 3-8Category: Music and Dance
Playdough Two Ways
Let's make play dough-two ways! Kids will have a blast doing this messy sensory activity (slight emphasis on "messy") while learning a little bit about kitchen science. Alissa shows us how it's done.
Ages: 3-8Category: Open-Ended Play