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CreatedBy e-Festival
We have some huge news to share! 2020's CreatedBy e-Festival is just around the corner! In partnership with Mass STEM Week, we are bringing you an all-virtual #CreatedBy2020 from October 19th-24th. Join in for unique and fun workshops and demonstrations all week long from your friends at the Museum as well as some amazing community partners. Stay tuned for more information, coming soon!
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Strategies for Teaching From Home
Check out Scholastic's Learn at Home website for daily ideas to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing at home! Activities are conveniently separated by grade level. They are also offering great resources for parents and teachers as well as home schooling tips and tricks.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Children's Books to Spark Conversations About LGBTQ Inclusivity
Welcoming Schools shared an amazing, up-to-date list of diverse children's books to help spark discussions about LGBTQ inclusivity at home and in the classroom.
Ages: 5-12Category: Storytimes and Literacy
Build a Sensory Walk
Our little ones make big discoveries about the world using their senses. Creating a Sensory Walk is a fun way for kids to explore their sense of touch using their feet! Check out our helpful instructions to learn how to make your walk using simple household materials.
Ages: 0-3Category: Health and Wellness
Towel Sock Toss
Let's get active! Try this fun Towel Sock Toss activity from BOKS to get a quick burst of energy wherever you are.
Ages: 3-8Category: Health and Wellness
Shaving Cream Prints
This week's STEAM activity combines science and art in a fun and beautiful way. We're making shaving cream prints! Join Alissa and learn how it's done.
Ages: 3-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Thrive: The Children's Summit
The Atlantic convened educators, policy makers, doctors, and more to explore practical tools for parents, caregivers, guardians, and advocates to help kids grow in positive ways during these challenging times. Watch the fascinating conversation.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Artist of Inspiration: Lauren Crazybull
Draw your own self portrait inspired by our new Artist of Inspiration Lauren Crazybull! Lauren creates portraits of people from their community that reflect each individual's unique self. Learn more about them and get step-by-step instructions to create your own portrait.
Ages: 8-12Category: Art Activities
Who Lives in Your Garden?
Who lives in your garden? This fun activity from Kids Gardening will help you and your young gardener to answer that question by exploring the unique ecosystem in your garden, backyard, or neighborhood.
Ages: 5-12Category: Nature and Outdoor Activities
Anti-Gravity Cups
Can you make water defy gravity? Seems impossible, right? Well, as usual, Alissa has a solution! She's showing us how to make an easy DIY tool called an Anti-Gravity Cup that makes water defy gravity. Want to skip the video, or just view the instructions in writing? We're introducing new instruction sheets to make life simpler when setting up experiments at home. Access the instruction sheet for this activity here: http://ow.ly/phXj50BeAxj
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
100 Ways to Play
For over 100 years of creating, educating and innovating, Boston Children's Museum has encouraged children and families to play together at the Museum, at home and out in the world in more ways than we can count. Every day, there are a wealth of opportunities for adults and their children to play and grow together. We have chosen 100 of our favorites, and we share them with you.
Ages: AllCategory: All
Artist of Inspiration: Cindy Lu
Our newest Artist of Inspiration is Cindy Lu, an amazing artist and former scientist! Much of Cindy's art reflects her background in biology. In Part 1 of our spotlight, you can learn more about Cindy's process, see examples of her art, and watch as she works. Then in Part 2, Cindy demonstrates two awesome art projects inspired by her work that you can try at home using easily accessible household objects.
Ages: 8-12Category: Art Activities
DIY Flip Book
Check out this great activity from our friends at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, where you'll learn how to make your own moving image flip book! Creativity and a little bit of patience required. Show us your flip book by sharing with #BostonChildrensMuseum!
Ages: 5-12Category: Art Activities
Exercise Your Body and Your Mind by Learning How to Juggle!
Juggling is not merely a fun activity, but it has many potential benefits as well. Juggling can help improve eye-hand coordination, problem-solving skills, ambidexterity, balance, motor skills, rhythm and timing-just to name a few. Learn more here!
Ages: 8-12Category: Health and Wellness
Supporting Families in Need During a High-Stress Time
In a brand new episode of the Big & Little podcast, Carole chats with Cherie Craft, the CEO of family support and community engagement organization Smart from the Start about strategies for effectively supporting families in times of need, especially amid the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic and an unsettled political climate.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Podcasts
The Importance of Relationships and Socialization
In a fascinating new video, our friends at the Children's Museum of Manhattan spoke to child psychologist Tovah Klein about how COVID can effect our children's relationships with the friends and family members they are social distancing from.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Health and Wellness
Join the "Can't Touch This" Challenge!
Instructables is challenging families with students in grades K-12 to invent hands-free solutions for accomplishing everyday tasks safely. They want to see everything and anything that needs to be hands-free, from door openers to light switches. Incredible prizes are up for grabs for the winners!
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Make Your Own Hachimaki Headband!
In Japan, when someone wants to apply herself to a serious task or problem, she wears a traditional headband called a hachimaki. They symbolize focus and concentration, as well as physical and spiritual strength. Hachimaki are a very common sight at festivals, where everyone is working very hard! Learn how to make yours on the Japanese House website.
Ages: 5-12Category: Art Activities
DIY Lava Lamp
We're getting groovy with this STEAM activity-DIY Lava Lamps! Alissa will show you how to make a far-out lava lamp in your kitchen with just a few simple materials. Thanks to our digital STEAM sponsor, National Grid!
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Practice Mindful Observation
Parents, caregivers, and educators: we recognize what a stressful time this is for you. Mindful observation is a useful way to slow down and find calm by just listening to your senses and noticing your surroundings. Take a few moments to practice mindful observation, either with your family or on your own.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Health and Wellness
Fall 2020 Parent and Caregiver Survey
Boston Children's Museum has created a survey so you can help us better understand how we can support families this fall! The Museum is examining options for offering learning and enrichment programs for families at this challenging time when work, school, and care options have been disrupted. Sharing your ideas will help us make decisions that best support you for the fall and beyond! As thanks for your participation, you have the option to share your email address to be entered into a raffle to win a $25 gift card.
Ages: Adults
Tips for Cooking with Kids
We recently shared two cooking tutorials on our YouTube channel. If you're looking for a little guidance in the kitchen with little ones, check out this great blog post from HP Hood offering three tips on cooking with kids.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Picture Books Starring Protagonists of Color
Check out this great list of 25 picture books, both fiction and nonfiction, starring protagonists of color.
Ages: 0-6Category: Storytimes and Literacy
Send a Found Word Haiku to Your Friends!
We're making found word Haiku cards! Liz will teach you how to write a summer-inspired haiku using words found in old magazines or newspapers. We would love to see your finished cards, so please share a photo with #BostonChildrensMuseum.
Ages: 5-12Category: Storytimes and Literacy
Let's Make Blueberry Jam!
Some of the many benefits of homemade blueberry jam include: Delicious, fresh blueberries are easy to find during New England summer months, it makes for the ultimate piece of toast, and it's fun and easy to make with little ones! Join Steve and learn how to make your own blueberry jam.
Ages: 3-12Category: Health and Wellness
DIY Paper-Making for Sustainable Kids
Did you know that you can create brand new sheets of paper out of your used ones right in your kitchen?! We're mixing STEAM with sustainability (and fun!) to become recycling pros. Alissa will show you how it's done.
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Follow Along on the Milk Bottle's Renovation Journey!
Each week on our YouTube channel, you can view a time-lapse video of the previous week and the progress being made on the iconic landmark's restoration.
How to Encourage Kids to Wear Their Mask
Check out this excellent article from Boston Children's Hospital providing helpful tips for getting kids comfortable wearing face masks.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Homemade Ice Pops
Find some relief from the heat with these homemade ice pops from National Geographic Kids! Not only are they delicious and healthy, they are a more sustainable option than plastic-wrapped store versions.
Ages: 3-12Category: Health and Wellness
Let's Make Whatever Butter!
Many folks have allergies to certain kinds of nuts, so it can be difficult to find safe and yummy nut butters at the store. Alissa is showing us how to make a zero-preservative, delicious and nutritious spread with *whatever* kind of nuts work for you!
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)