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America's Test Kitchen Kids
Curious young chefs can explore the world of food and cooking with America's Test Kitchen's library of kid-tested, kid-approved recipes, activities, quizzes, and more. We love this resource!
Ages: 5-12Category: Health and Wellness
No-Blow Balloons: Use Chemistry to Blow Up a
Balloon! National Chemistry Week Celebration We continue our celebration of National Chemistry Week with another chemistry-powered at-home activity! Have you ever tried to blow up balloons for a birthday party using just your breath? It can get pretty exhausting, right? Well, a little chemistry can help! Science Program Manager Alissa will show you how you can use chemistry to blow up a balloon and save your breath!
Ages: 8-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Build a Boat Powered by Chemistry! National
Chemistry Week Celebration Celebrate National Chemistry Week with Boston Children's Museum! This year's theme is "Fast or Slow: Chemistry Makes It Go." Coming to you from the Museum, join in the fun with Science Program Manager Alissa as she shows you how to create a small, chemistry-powered boat. Young chemists, DO try this at home (with a grownup nearby!).
Ages: 8-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Exploring Traditional Mariachi Costumes
¡Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispana! Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! Our friend Veronica Robles, a Mariachi singer/founder of Boston's first all-female Mariachi, an arts teacher, and an all-around Boston icon is helping us continue our celebration. Watch and learn as she takes viewers through her colorful Trajes de Charro (traditional Mariachi dress) and some of her other beautiful performance costumes.
Ages: 5-12Category: Cultures
Art-Making Activities for Kids and Families
Our friends at the Museum of Modern Art have rounded up some of their favorite drawing, collage, audio, and movement activities inspired by the artworks in their collection. These fun and creative activities are ideal for kids six and up!
Ages: 5-12Category: Art Activities
Explore the Habitats of North America
In a new segment of National Geographic Kids' Destination World series, experience North America, the continent with the most diverse environments in the world. North America stretches from the polar Arctic to the tropical Caribbean, and you'll find almost all major habitats on this continent.
Ages: 5-12Category: Nature and Outdoor Activities
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15th marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month! The month honors the many Latinos who have greatly contributed, influenced, and enriched our culture and society. Children's books are a fantastic way to joyfully engage children and help them learn why we celebrate through story and art. Check out this list of 11 picture books celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month from PBS Kids.
Ages: 3-8Category: Cultures
A Conversation About Food Allergies and Increasing Allergy Awareness
In the newest episode of the Big & Little Podcast, join Carole and guests Drs. Michael Pistiner and Ali Yurkovic for an important conversation on food allergies in children. As allergy experts and parents of children with food allergies themselves, Michael and Ali speak to the prevalence of allergies in children, their own experiences as parents of kids with allergies, and how people can get involved in advocacy efforts to protect those with food allergies in public spaces.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Podcasts
The Power of Reading
From classroom techniques to technological distractions to a lack of resources, there are many "blame-factors" one can point to in order to explain the decline in children's reading levels in the United States. On our blog, Boston Children's Museum President and CEO Carole Charnow explores these potential causes-and more importantly, what we can do to turn things around.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Oliver the Ball Python Did WHAT!?
Ollie's a....female!? Our friendly Museum ball python Oliver has had quite the month-Alissa recently discovered something that made our jaws DROP and raised so many questions! Check out this video that explains it all.
Ages: AllCategory: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
PBS Kids Educational Games
Check out PBS Kids' incredible library of games that will have kids learning about math, engineering, social studies, rhyming and more–and having fun doing it! We can't get enough!
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
DIY Slushies with a STEAM Twist
We know it's been a bit rainy lately...but Alissa is manifesting gorgeous, sunny days by making DIY slushies. But wait! These aren't your typical slushies-we're using a little bit of science to bring them to the next level.
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
The Incredible Fish of Our Oceans
Summer is here, and there's nothing like cooling off with a swim at the beach! Our oceans are teeming with incredible wildlife that your child might be interested to learn about. National Geographic Kids has a great kid-friendly library of fun facts about deep sea creatures such as electric eels, bull sharks, clown fish (hello, Nemo!), harry frogfish, and more.
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Many Homes in Kyoto, Japan
The Japanese House in Boston Children's Museum was originally built around 1890 near Nishijin, a famous silk district of Kyoto. It was transported as a gift to Boston in 1979 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their sister-city relationship. Many kids in Kyoto and other parts of Japan live in modern housing, but some still live in traditional homes like the Kyo no Machiya. You can meet a diverse group of new friends in Kyoto in this video, 'Many Homes in Kyoto, Japan.' After watching, think about the people you met and compare and contrast their homes, families, and traditions with your own.
Ages: 5-12Category: Cultures
Sidewalk Chalk Paint
Take your conventional sidewalk chalk up a notch and make your own chalk PAINT! Chalk paint is a fun, entertaining way to keep kids engaged and entertained on a summer day. It's easy to make, and kids will have a blast helping out.
Ages: 3-8Category: Nature and Outdoor Activities
The Water Keeper's Library
While in the Art Lab, Arts Program Manager Faith Johnson leads programming like Pattern Play and Curious Comics. Outside the Museum, she is a practicing artist making a difference with her work. Explore Faith's impactful exhibition 'Water Keeper's Library,' an interactive project that connects people to the beauty and magic of water.
Ages: 8-12Category: Art Activities
Fun with Mud
Happy International Mud Day! As it turns out, mud has a lot more benefits than you might think. Sometimes it's GOOD to get messy, but if you'd rather stay tidy, watching someone else do it is good enough. Who could forget last year's celebratory Mud Day video from Science Program Manager Alissa? Check it out.
Ages: 3-8Category: Nature and Outdoor Activities
Make Your Own Homemade Bird Seed Cake
Calling all bird lovers! Learn how you can use just bird seed and gelatin to make your very own bird seed cake! You can use this to bring all kinds of different bird species to your backyard. Then, sit back and observe. With Alissa's help, you can learn how to spot and identify different bird species right in your own neighborhood.
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
The Wavin' Flag Project from DEAFinitely, Inc.
Who are you? What is your identity? What are you proud of? Our friends at DEAFinitely, Inc. explored these questions through the power of art during the Wavin' Flag project. Art materials were provided to remote and in-school Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and Deaf mentors supported kids as they created personal flags representing their identities, including their countries, cultures, languages, and interests. Check out this heartwarming video, and then ask yourself or your child the question - what is your identity?
Ages: 5-12Category: Cultures
Pride Month Storytime: 'When Aidan Became a Brother'
This Pride Month, we invite you to join us in celebrating the diversity of families that make up our community and each person's freedom to be who they are. We are joined by educator Josia Gertz DeChiara who is going to share 'When Aidan Became a Brother' by Kyle Lukoff, a story about embracing one's identity and celebrating inclusivity. We hope you enjoy it!
Ages: 3-8Category: Storytimes and Literacy
Pride Month Resource: Answering Kids' Questions About Gender
It can be difficult to know how to respond to kids' questions about gender or gender-based teasing. This resource from Welcoming Schools offers great techniques to prepare you to embrace teachable moments with kids and foster a gender-inclusive environment.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Juneteenth Stories and History for Kids
June 19th was Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the ending of the enslavement of Black Americans in the US. It is also time to celebrate the many contributions Black Americans have made to this country. The staff of Boston Public Library compiled an excellent list of children's books exploring the history of Juneteenth through stories to help you celebrate and honor Juneteenth with the children in your life.
Ages: 5-12Category: Cultures
Boston Public Library's 'Dig Deeper' Summer Reading Program for Kids
This summer, Boston Public Library branches across Massachusetts will be offering reading programs for children, teens, and adults! 'Dig Deeper' into books and grow stronger in your reading with BPL's summer reading program for youth to seventeen-year-olds. Starting June 14th, get a bookmark from any open branch.
Ages: 5-12Category: Storytimes and Literacy
'We Are Pride'—Pride Month Book List from Boston Public Library
Boston Public Library compiled a list of books published in the last year for all ages concerning the diverse experiences of the LGBTQ+ community in celebration of Pride Month. Check out this fantastic list of books.
Ages: 5-12Category: Storytimes and Literacy
Personalized Summer of Play Journal
Summer 2021 will be one to remember. With a personalized Summer of Play journal, kids can record their favorite memories from this summer with prompts to help them explore how they've played, what they've created, and what new favorite memories they've made. The journal can become a special keepsake to look back on this special time for years to come!
Ages: AllCategory: Open-Ended Play
Make an Everyday Material Sculpture Inspired by Woomin Kim
What do you think you see? What do you really see? In a new art instructable, learn how to make a sculpture out of everyday materials around the house!
Ages: 5-12Category: Art Activities
The Role of Play in Any Setting
Play in early childhood is so important for healthy development. Although we love when families come to play here at the Museum, play doesn't require a special destination to have a powerful effect! Explore the role of play in any setting with this resource from Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Fizzy Lemonade
Who agrees: There's nothing quite like an ice-cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer's day. With just a little bit of science, you can kick your plain old lemonade up a notch and make it FIZZY! Join Alissa back in her kitchen to learn how.
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Storytime: The History of Pride Month
Happy Pride Month! As we celebrate, it is important to acknowledge the origins of Pride and recognize the hard work and struggles of those who have fought for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Join Ms. Loredo for a read-aloud of "Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution". This true story tells of the historic presence of New York's Stonewall Inn during the 1969 Stonewall Riots-the origin story of today's Pride Month celebrations.
Ages: 5-12Category: Cultures
Summer of Play: At Home!
This summer, we're bringing all the fun of the Museum to your backyard with playful ideas you can do right at home. Enjoy our giant library of summer activities and keep coming back for new ideas each week.
Ages: AllCategory: All