Boston Children’s Museum is the second oldest, and one of the most influential children’s museums in the world. It was founded in 1913 by the Science Teachers' Bureau, a group of visionary educators dedicated to providing new resources for both teachers and students, as a center for the exchange of materials and ideas to advance the teaching of science. For over 100 years it has been engaging children in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning.
(1956)
About Boston Children’s Museum Boston Children’s Museum is the second oldest, and one of the most influential children’s museums in the world. It was founded in 1913 by the Science Teachers' Bureau, a group of visionary educators dedicated to providing new resources for both teachers and students, as a center for the exchange of materials and ideas to advance the teaching of science. For over 100 years it has been engaging children in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning. The Museum’s exhibits and programs emphasize hands-on engagement and learning through experience, employing play as a tool to spark the inherent creativity, curiosity, and imagination of children. Designed for children and families, Museum exhibits focus on science, culture, environmental awareness, health & fitness, and the arts. In addition to extensive child-centered exhibits, Museum educators develop numerous programs and activities that address literacy, performing arts, science and math, visual arts, cultures, and health and wellness. The Museum is also one of the few children’s museums in the world to maintain a collection. The Museum’s collections of Americana, Natural History, Global Culture, Native American, Dolls and Dollhouses, and Japanese artifacts encompass more than 50,000 items. As one of the largest children’s museums in the world, Boston Children’s Museum also provides museum consulting services and creates award winning traveling exhibits, staff training curriculum, and exhibit kits for Museum professionals.
Mission: Boston Children's Museum engages children and families in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning.
Do your kids have questions about wearing masks out in public, especially as people start venturing out more? This article from Healthy Children provides answers for some of kids' most frequent questions. Read it here: http://ow.ly/jArZ50AbFVf
The American Academy of Pediatrics answers frequently asked questions about cloth face masks and children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Facial expressions are so helpful for communicating our emotions, but when wearing a face mask, this isn’t always easy! 😷 In today’s video, Health and Wellness Educator Saki demonstrates a fun activity for kids to express emotions while getting accustomed to wearing masks.
Our Museum #collection includes many styles of hats from around the world. In a new Hidden Object Highlight, Collections and Archives intern Gloria Shin teaches us all about a style of hat with centuries-old Korean origins, called "gat" (갓). Check it out! https://tinyurl.com/ycty9ump
After reading, try out this personalized hat making activity, where you'll find your own "collections" item to explore right at home: https://tinyurl.com/ycujj8nh 🎩
Hi all! Oliver the ball python is going into a shed, so unfortunately there will not be a Creature Feature Live this Saturday due to understandable crankiness during this time. We will be back with more live Creature Features soon, so please stay tuned to see Ollie's shed skin and learn all about what happens when he sheds!
Snakes shed their skin several times a year. We'll tell you what to expect and how to help if needed.
How far can your imagination go? After making a paper boat with Alissa, try coming up with a story for it. Maybe the boat traveled across the world and encountered many different people along the way, or perhaps it was found at the bottom of the ocean by an explorer searching for treasure! Share the story you create in the comments below! 🌊
There are many different #Pride flags that use colors, shapes, and pictures to tell a unique story. Some flags have changed and new ones have been added to include stories that weren’t being told. Our challenge today: Make a flag that represents you! What colors will you use? What shapes? What story can you tell?
We look forward to seeing what flags you make, and hope you join us next week to make family portraits!
June 19th is #Juneteenth, a state 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.
North Shore Juneteenth Association Inc. is collaborating with West Medford Community Center to organize a virtual Juneteenth Family Fun Day this year! The event is free, but space is limited. Reserve a space by following the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1030799633940532/
Get creative with leftover cardboard, foil, yarn and a sharpie, and learn how to emboss at home with your kids in this DIY from The New Children's Museum! Embossing is the process of creating raised images and designs in paper and other materials. See what you can create with this fun DIY activity, and share your results in the comments below!
Get creative with leftover cardboard, foil, yarn and a sharpie, and learn how to emboss at home with your kids in this DIY!
Congratulations to parents and caregivers everywhere for making it to the end of the school year! Rachel wraps up our #WorkingFromHomeWithKids Series today with a blog post exploring a question on a lot of parents' minds right now: Summer is here...Now what!? Read it here: http://ow.ly/loD050A6b1D
Catch up on the series on the blog and in our WFH with Kids Instagram highlight! Photo credit to Joy LeDuc Photography.
We’re taking block building to the next level! With any empty boxes or containers you have around the house, you can build forts, cars, an oasis for your pet/stuffed animal — anything you can think of! Building with small or large blocks helps little ones develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and fosters language and engineering skills for older kids. Briana will walk you through getting started!
Let's make a sculpture! You can create just about anything in your imagination using just scissors, tape, and some recycled materials...maybe an owl, or a skyscraper, or even a dragon! Faith will demonstrate. Show us your sculpture by sharing a photo with #BostonChildrensMuseum, and we will feature it on our page!
It’s never too early to start a conversation about race, racism, diversity, and inclusion — in fact, babies begin to notice race at just 6 months old. This 20-minute podcast from NPR offers great tips for handling these critical conversations.
Even babies notice differences like skin color, eye shape and hair texture. Here's how to handle conversations about race, racism, diversity and inclusion, even with very young children.
We were thrilled to participate in the Future of Construction webinar, developed in collaboration with the Boston Public Schools, the City of Boston, and United Way. Students were tasked with designing something to be used at Thompson Island, an island in Boston Harbor about one mile offshore from downtown Boston. Check out some student submissions!
Natalia:
This 3D model is supposed to represent a filter for the Thompson Island flooding situation. The filter would take water from the ocean and turn it into clean water to drink. The filter would be a lot bigger than shown as design but I was not able to make it bigger than that. It would stop the flooding and redirect the water for use by people.
Nathan:
I chose the challenge from Thompson Island. I will be addressing the rising of the tides and flooding. This is a dam that will stop the water from flooding the Island and also filter it.
Zaki:
This is an example of a drainage system that can be placed under landscape to help collect the water for use in other areas of the island.
Chrichna:
The challenge I chose was finding a way to dispose of their trash on Thompson island. The issue is that it's an island and since it's a school there are many bottles and trash everywhere. This is the design I made. This is what the inside of the design would look like. This design is about decomposing and having too much trash which was one of the problems that the Thompson Island had a problem with. So I made this device so when there's a lot of trash they could decompose it and help the soil of their island so they could plant crops to help reduce the problem that they have.
Bernard:
This is a retaining wall to stop Thompson island from flooding.
In a new episode of the Big & Little podcast, Manny Lopes, CEO of the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, discusses how Boston’s vulnerable families are coping as nationwide protests against racism and police violence wage on and we continue to deal with the effects of the pandemic. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts: https://bostonchildrensmuseum.org/bigandlittlepodcast#
Are YOU a #trivia superstar?! 🌟 Join us for Virtual Trivia Night next Thursday, 6/18 to support @bostonchildrensmuseum #HelpingHandsCampaign! 💙 👏🏼 Get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ypc-virtual-trivia-night-tickets-106970216798. PS: While our trivia questions are PG, they're better suited for grownups!
If you were to draw how the pandemic has made you feel these last few months, what would it look like? Take a look at the many drawings submitted to Glifos Comunicaciones A.C. from around the world: http://www.glifoscomunicaciones.org/439651603
Send us your drawing with #BostonChildrensMuseum to be featured! Some examples...
1. Author: Hava Satya Bayanaka
Age: 11
Country: Indonesia
"Using facemask and social distancing keep us, our family and the environment safe and healthy."
2. Author: Nino
Age: 9
Country: France
"At least the birds are free. Lockdown sucks."
3. Author: Julius Tcharland
Age: 10
City: Basel
Country: Switzerland
"Anti Covid-19 spray"
4. Author: David Zepeda Barajas
Age 7
City: Mexico City
Country: México
"We are in this together."
For this week's Tell Me a Story, Steve is reading "The Thank You Book" by Mo Willems. Join Piggie and friends on his quest to thank, well...everyone!
There are SO many people deserving of thanks right now in the community and in our families. Who would you like to thank? Leave us a comment below letting us know who you are thankful for and why.
Check out this coloring book from Harvard Art Museums! Through coloring pages, drawing exercises, space to practice writing hieroglyphs and more, Coloring Ancient Egypt explores Egyptian objects in the museums’ collections. Kids & adults of all ages, enjoy!
http://ow.ly/msNz50A2XY7
Introduce children to the wonders of the ancient world with this new coloring and activity book on art from ancient Egypt.
As adults, there is always room to continue learning right alongside our kids. While children’s books are excellent tools for teaching kids about racial bias, this booklist for adults will help better equip you to open up fruitful conversations with your children about race.
Sharing stories can be a powerful tool for talking about the complex realities of race, particularly in trying times. Here are a few resources and books to help foster conversation, empathy, and understanding with the young people in your lives.
Happy Pride Month! Originated to commemorate the Stonewall Riots, Pride Month is a time to celebrate the experiences of LGBTQ people. Please join us in celebrating the diversity of families in our community and each person’s freedom to be who they are. We invite you to make these "Love Is” Hearts and decorate them with whatever love means to YOU. Create a picture or write some words to show what you think love is and share it using the hashtag #pridehearts to be a part of our virtual #Pride collage! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
We look forward to learning about love with you, and hope you join us next week to explore different Pride Flags, where they come from, and the stories they tell.
For science experiments, sensory activities, art projects, and MUCH more, make sure to check out Tinkerlab. The site is full of activities for kids of all ages that encourage creativity, imagination, and playful discovery and are easy to do right at home. We can't get enough!
https://tinkerlab.com
Drawing Prompts Monthly Art Challenges
The Live From The Living Room Challenge is heating up! Now through June 30th, share a funny video with tag #LiveFromTheLivingRoomChallenge for the chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card! The top ten entries will win. Check out this new submission from @laurasug on Instagram:
"Where do fish keep their money?"
"In the river bank!"
Sewing brings together creativity and function, and it's a fun activity kids as young as six can enjoy. In today's video, Melissa is showing us how to get started with a simple pin cushion, a must-have item for your sewing kit. Show us your pin cushion by sharing a photo in the comments below!
Hands are pretty amazing tools — along with sewing, they can accomplish so much. While the Museum remains closed, you can lend a hand by donating to our Helping Hands Campaign. Your donation will allow us to continue to provide joyful learning experiences for children and their families 👏💙 Learn more or donate here: https://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/support/helping-hands-campaign
Tomorrow at 3:30pm ET, join fellow parents, educators and child development and trauma experts for an important conversation on how you can talk with young children about racial injustice and violence against Black people, hosted by PBS. Register here: http://ow.ly/o8sr50A1JF3
Join parents, educators and experts in this live event for an important conversation on how to talk with young children about racial injustice and violence against Black people.
Museums around the world may still be closed, but collections care doesn’t stop just because our Collections and Archives team is working remotely! Fortunately, the team has received a ton of help from its trusted mascot, Hans. At the link below, learn more about all the hard work Hans has put in so far...he’s been busy!
Can’t get enough Hans? We can relate. Be sure to follow @bcmcollections on Instagram for bonus content coming soon!
https://bostonchildrensmuseum.wordpress.com/2020/06/08/hans-at-home-museum-collections-mascot-holds-down-the-fort/
Join WGBH for a summer of learning at home! Families with young children can participate by completing activities at home for points that can be used to enter a weekly raffle! Learn more here: bit.ly/WGBHFamilyFun #FamilyFunatHome
Help your children learn and grow by doing fun activities at home. Collect points and enter a weekly raffle for a chance to win a $25 gift card.
Schools and families have an important role to play in fostering children’s positive racial identities. Explore this excellent resource from the The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) for educators, parents, and caregivers, offering actionable steps for teaching children about race and racial bias:
This article, along with the suggested resources, provides a starting point for teachers and families seeking to do the important work of supporting young children’s learning and understanding about race and racism.
We’re spotlighting local artist Tyahra Angus today in the third installment of our Artist of Inspiration series. Tyahra is a Boston-based portrait photographer, and her current work focusses on polaroids.
In Part 1 of this two-part spotlight, see some of Tyahra's work up close, hear about her journey towards becoming an artist, and learn the process behind her photography work.
Don't miss Part 2 of Tyahra's spotlight! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/2IyTZhT4W-M
Come hang out with Alissa and Oliver the ball python! Bring your questions!
Are you a Boston area young professional who is passionate about early childhood development, learning, and play? We are actively recruiting new members for our Young Professionals Council! Visit the link below or reach out to Brenna Richardson at [email protected] for more information.
www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/young-professionals-council
At this time, we know that our young children need comfort and a safe place to express their feelings more than ever. Yoga is an excellent way to explore our feelings in times when we are unable to find the right words to make them known. Try out this fun Feelings Yoga activity with your kids — it may benefit you, too, as we are all dealing with complicated emotions right now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2u6K2yjXFc&t=3s
This Saturday at 10am, CNN and Sesame Street are hosting a town hall for kids and families addressing racism, the recent nationwide protests, embracing diversity, and practicing empathy. Click below for ways to watch and to send in your families' questions.
For those hoping to attend our Creature Feature Live at 10am, you can watch the Town Hall anytime on CNN's website after it airs!
As anger and heartbreak have swept across America over the killing of yet another black man at the hands of police, CNN and Sesame Street are refocusing their second town hall to address racism.
Acknowledging and naming race and racism with children as early and often as possible can help counter bias. Children’s books can help to support critical discussions with kids. Check out this list of 31 children’s books to support conversations about race, racism, and resistance.
Beyond addressing issues of race and racism, this children’s reading list focuses on taking action. It highlights resistance, resilience and activism; and seeks to empower youth to participate in the ongoing movement for racial justice.
In our recent blog post, we mentioned several possible supports for talking with your kids about race and racism, including the book “Something Happened in Our Town.” Listen to this webinar from EmbraceRace featuring the three child and family psychologists who collaborated to write this book.
Link to our blog post with more resources: http://ow.ly/Cq7A50zX8C1
EmbraceRace talks to the three child and family psychologists who collaborated to write the children's book, "Something Happened in Our Town": A Child's Story About Racial Injustice.
308 Congress St
Boston, MA
02210
Red Line to South Station Silver Line to Courthouse Station
The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Museum will close at 3:00pm on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve. The Museum opens at 12:00pm on New Year’s Day.
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Facial expressions are so helpful for communicating our emotions, but when wearing a face mask, this isn’t always easy! 😷 In today’s video, Health and Wellness Educator Saki demonstrates a fun activity for kids to express emotions while getting accustomed to wearing masks.
How far can your imagination go? After making a paper boat with Alissa, try coming up with a story for it. Maybe the boat traveled across the world and encountered many different people along the way, or perhaps it was found at the bottom of the ocean by an explorer searching for treasure! Share the story you create in the comments below! 🌊
There are many different #Pride flags that use colors, shapes, and pictures to tell a unique story. Some flags have changed and new ones have been added to include stories that weren’t being told. Our challenge today: Make a flag that represents you! What colors will you use? What shapes? What story can you tell? We look forward to seeing what flags you make, and hope you join us next week to make family portraits!
We’re taking block building to the next level! With any empty boxes or containers you have around the house, you can build forts, cars, an oasis for your pet/stuffed animal — anything you can think of! Building with small or large blocks helps little ones develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and fosters language and engineering skills for older kids. Briana will walk you through getting started!
Let's make a sculpture! You can create just about anything in your imagination using just scissors, tape, and some recycled materials...maybe an owl, or a skyscraper, or even a dragon! Faith will demonstrate. Show us your sculpture by sharing a photo with #BostonChildrensMuseum, and we will feature it on our page!
For this week's Tell Me a Story, Steve is reading "The Thank You Book" by Mo Willems. Join Piggie and friends on his quest to thank, well...everyone! There are SO many people deserving of thanks right now in the community and in our families. Who would you like to thank? Leave us a comment below letting us know who you are thankful for and why.
The Live From The Living Room Challenge is heating up! Now through June 30th, share a funny video with tag #LiveFromTheLivingRoomChallenge for the chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card! The top ten entries will win. Check out this new submission from @laurasug on Instagram: "Where do fish keep their money?" "In the river bank!"
Sewing brings together creativity and function, and it's a fun activity kids as young as six can enjoy. In today's video, Melissa is showing us how to get started with a simple pin cushion, a must-have item for your sewing kit. Show us your pin cushion by sharing a photo in the comments below! Hands are pretty amazing tools — along with sewing, they can accomplish so much. While the Museum remains closed, you can lend a hand by donating to our Helping Hands Campaign. Your donation will allow us to continue to provide joyful learning experiences for children and their families 👏💙 Learn more or donate here: https://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/support/helping-hands-campaign
We’re spotlighting local artist Tyahra Angus today in the third installment of our Artist of Inspiration series. Tyahra is a Boston-based portrait photographer, and her current work focusses on polaroids. In Part 1 of this two-part spotlight, see some of Tyahra's work up close, hear about her journey towards becoming an artist, and learn the process behind her photography work. Don't miss Part 2 of Tyahra's spotlight! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/2IyTZhT4W-M
Come hang out with Alissa and Oliver the ball python! Bring your questions!
Monday is a little more fun with these #DIY space sensory bottles, brought to you by Chelsey from Boston Moms! Follow along to learn how to make your own sensory bottle, which can be an excellent calm-down tool for little ones.
While life in quarantine might not seem all that exciting, historic times like these make for some of the most interesting photographs to look back on. Our challenge to kids: become a documentary photographer and capture what YOUR life looks like at home! Lex will show you how. Put your photos and other memories into a personal Covid-19 Time Capsule to look back on years from now. Find the time capsule materials here: https://letsembark.ca/time-capsule 📸
Staying inside can lead to a lot of pent-up energy — especially for kids! Our Health and Wellness Educator Saki Iwamoto is demonstrating the Line Walk Challenge to help you and your kids get some exercise indoors while having fun. Try it at your house!
Our #LiveFromTheLivingRoomChallenge is in full swing! Check out this hilarious submissions from @Colton_Robinson_Official on Instagram. Join in the fun by sharing a short and funny video to make someone laugh with tag #LiveFromTheLivingRoomChallenge to be featured. Let’s work together to make the world smile. The top ten videos will receive a $25 Amazon gift card 😄
Join Steve for storytime as he reads “Not a Stick" by author Antoinette Portis! This book is all about the places you can go and things you can do when you use your imagination — even while stuck at home. Check it out!
Building a fairy house is a super simple, fun, and memorable at-home activity you can do outdoors with your kids. Today, Debbie from Boston Moms and her adorable little ones are showing us how it's done, using just a few household materials and items found around the yard. Share a photo of your fairy house in the comments below!
Today’s kitchen science experiment is a Museum favorite: Cabbage Juice Indicator. To "indicate" means to show! Cabbage juice will change color to INDICATE whether a substance is an acid or a base. Watch as Alissa makes cabbage juice and tests different substances to see what happens, and try it out at home afterward! #KitchenScience #ChildrensMuseumsAtHome #STEAM
#MemorialDay is the unofficial start of summer and the perfect time to start getting outdoors more. Gardening is a great outdoor hobby, so in today's video, Nate is going to show us how to plant carrots! 🥕 Good news— there's no need for a big backyard to try it at home! Just make sure you water the soil before planting. Try tracking your carrots' progress all the way through ’til harvesting time!
We’re spotlighting artist Hannah Burr today in the second installment of our Artist of Inspiration series! Hannah is a lifelong artist who works with many mediums, including sculpture, painting, drawing, and interactive art. Hear her explain why art is important to her and watch as she demonstrates starting a brand new work of art. Can you explain why art is important to YOU? Try to follow along and create your own art inspired by Hannah’s techniques!
Get to know Oliver the Ball Python!
Happy #WorldTurtleDay from Frida & Georgia, the Museum's painted turtles! 🐢🌎 Thank you so much to our friends at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain for hosting our turtles while our Museum is closed to the public. A few turtle fun facts: - Frida is an Eastern Painted Turtle, which is native to Massachusetts! - A turtle's top shell is called a carapace. The bottom shell is called a plastron. - The world's biggest turtle is the Leatherback Sea Turtle, which can be nearly 7 feet!
When Brad isn't at the Museum helping to build exhibits, you might find him teaching kids classes at Shobu Aikido of Boston. Aikido is a form of martial arts from Japan that's been shown to help kids develop confidence and feel empowered in all areas of life while staying active. Let's take a lesson with him! Parents, feel free to join in!
Learn how to draw your own manga portrait with Liz! Manga is a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels made popular in the late 19th century. Liz will show us the basics of manga portrait drawing, but we encourage you to make your portrait your own with any special details or personal touches you’d like to add!
What does science look like for young children? In Part 2 of our “Doing Science with Kids” series, gain some practical tips and suggestions on engaging your kids in STEAM. Alissa demonstrates a fun and easy experiment you can do with kids while asking the kinds of questions that will help them (and you!) learn along the way — even if the answer is “I don’t know.” With these simple tools, you can successfully encourage your children's curiosity and interest in STEAM.
Check out another one of our first submissions to the #LiveFromTheLivingRoomChallenge — Ada and her baby brother! Though Ada is quite an impressive comedian, your submission can just be much shorter! Send us a video to make someone laugh with #LiveFromTheLivingRoomChallenge and let's make the world laugh 😄
Boston Children’s Museum is the second oldest, and one of the most influential children’s museums in the world. It was founded in 1913 by the Science Teachers' Bureau, a group of visionary educators dedicated to providing new resources for both teachers and students, as a center for the exchange of materials and ideas to advance the teaching of science. For over 100 years it has been engaging children in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning. The Museum’s exhibits and programs emphasize hands-on engagement and learning through experience, employing play as a tool to spark the inherent creativity, curiosity, and imagination of children. Designed for children and families, Museum exhibits focus on science, culture, environmental awareness, health & fitness, and the arts. In addition to extensive child-centered exhibits, Museum educators develop numerous programs and activities that address literacy, performing arts, science and math, visual arts, cultures, and health and wellness. The Museum is also one of the few children’s museums in the world to maintain a collection. The Museum’s collections of Americana, Natural History, Global Culture, Native American, Dolls and Dollhouses, and Japanese artifacts encompass more than 50,000 items. As one of the largest children’s museums in the world, Boston Children’s Museum also provides museum consulting services and creates award winning traveling exhibits, staff training curriculum, and exhibit kits for Museum professionals.
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
306 Congress StBoston Rowing Center (Hull Lifesaving Museum)
88 Sleeper StThe Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston
25 Harbor Shore Drive
Powermeter Event 2016 at Artists for Humanity
Artists for Humanity Epicenter - 100 W 2nd St.
