Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose

05/02/2019

“I have fond memories of reading the ‘Tale of Peter Rabbit & Friends’ series by Beatrix Potter as a child with my mother. Spending time together reading was my favorite part of going to bed. The set we had was one that my grandmother read to my mom when she was a child. This book reminds me of home, family, and the start of my love of reading. Also, these books are classics! My set has been handed down from my grandmother to my mother to me, and I intend to read them one day to my children. They cultivate a child’s sense of wonder and imagination.” — Morgan Leach, Events Supervisor

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Happy 100th anniversary of Children's Book Week! This children's literacy initiative celebrates the books that shape lifelong readers. Here at the Museum, we see how much joy reading can give kids and their families, and we believe books have the power to change lives and the world. So this week, we're sharing our childhood favorites that have stayed with us into adulthood. What are some of the stories you love?

05/01/2019

"I have fond memories of reading 'Ferdinand' in a small nook in my 3rd grade classroom while other children in my class played different types of games. Ferdinand as a character made the shy, quiet child I was feel validated and understood. In many ways, as an adult, 'Ferdinand' still reaches a soft spot in my heart when I feel like I need a break from interacting with others and would instead like to enjoy a quiet moment alone - most often in a beautiful outdoor space, just like Ferdinand." - Eliana Zacarias, Youth Programs Developer

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Happy 100th anniversary of Children's Book Week! This children's literacy initiative celebrates the books that shape lifelong readers. Here at the Museum, we see how much joy reading can give kids and their families, and we believe books have the power to change lives and the world. So this week, we're sharing our childhood favorites that have stayed with us into adulthood. What are some of the stories you love?

04/30/2019

"As a kid, the line between real and imaginary is fuzzy. “If…” captures that childhood uncertainty of what is possible versus what isn’t, and the whimsical illustrations of how the world would look “if leaves were fish” or “if music could be held” inspired me to think outside of the box, and have stuck with me as an adult." - Anna Dagum, BioSITE Educator

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Happy 100th anniversary of Children's Book Week! This children's literacy initiative celebrates the books that shape lifelong readers. Here at the Museum, we see how much joy reading can give kids and their families, and we believe books have the power to change lives and the world. So this week, we're sharing our childhood favorites that have stayed with us into adulthood. What are some of the stories you love?

04/30/2019

Join us at the Hola Run on May 4th in Discovery Meadow. Come make cornhusk dolls after your run and support a great cause!

04/29/2019

"My mom and I read many books together when I was a child, and 'Pat the Bunny' was one of my favorites. I think what excited me most about this book was that even though I couldn’t actually read, I still felt like I was relating to the book through my senses. I remember her reading the story aloud and I was able to touch, feel and even smell the book. I love the interactive aspect of 'Pat the Bunny' and it made me that much more excited to learn how to read on my own!" - Kylie Smith, Birthday Party Coordinator

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Happy 100th anniversary of Children's Book Week! This children's literacy initiative celebrates the books that shape lifelong readers. Here at the Museum, we see how much joy reading can give kids and their families, and we believe books have the power to change lives and the world. So this week, we're sharing our childhood favorites that have stayed with us into adulthood. What are some of the stories you love?

04/25/2019

Boredom Isn’t a Bad Thing for Kids

"Letting your kids be bored will accomplish something else important: developing them into interesting, funny, thoughtful people who can have dinner time conversations and cope with long car rides. That’s good for them and for all of us."

Hearing “I’m bored!” may be frustrating, but boredom can help your kids become present, creative and independent little people.

04/22/2019

Happy Earth Day! Come sculpt nature in our Make with Nature space in Bill's Backyard, and celebrate the environment with us!

04/19/2019

#FunFactFriday: Did you know you can make teas with herbs and edible flowers? Here at the Museum, we grow all sorts of plants that would make for a soothing cup of tea. In the Thrive Garden, you'll find herbs like mint, lemon balm, chamomile, and lemon verbena, and edible flowers like nasturtium, borage, broccoli flowers, violas, and calendula.

Making homemade herbal tea is a fun activity to do with little ones. Harvest your favorite herbs together, lay them out and dry them in the sun (or if you prefer, use a dehydrator), and pack them in tea bags to enjoy on a lovely spring morning. Herbal teas – mixed with dried edible flowers for a pop of color – are a refreshing, caffeine-free drink that can be enjoyed hot or cold, or mixed with lemonade!

What herbs do you grow at home? What are your favorite herbal tea combinations?

04/15/2019

What’s All the Buzz About?

We’re buzzing with excitement upon becoming recent custodians to nearly 5,000 bees at the museum. This got us curious about the lives of bees – so we took a deep dive into one of the most fascinating insects! We’re now bee-lievers. We hope that after learning more - you’ll bee-lieve, too!

Why We Need Bees

04/14/2019

How to Raise Vegetable Eaters

"Infancy and early toddlerhood are when children are most open to learning new flavors, making this stage of development a critical window for introducing a wide variety of flavors."

Experts offer advice on how to help children develop a taste for vegetables without hiding them in tater tots.

04/13/2019

BioSITE celebrates 25 years and seeks to inspire youth

BioSITE continues to inspire children’s love of science through field work on our local watershed. Thank you to The Mercury News for this great piece on the environmental program’s 25th anniversary!

CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos or video on a mobile device Children often imagine science as something done in laboratories by people wearing sparkling white coats and st…

04/12/2019

Curious Kids: what causes the northern lights?

#FunFactFriday: "Although the northern lights might look like magic, they can actually be explained by science – with a bit of help from the Sun, birds and fizzy drinks."

The northern lights might look like magic, but they can actually be explained by science – here's how.

04/02/2019

Illuminating Children’s Illustrations

"Parents know this to be a simple fact of life: Children’s drawings get better as they get older. The art on the fridge slowly morphs from resembling abstract expressionism to something we recognize, maybe more like the Sunday funnies.

But how exactly does this happen? And why?"

Why Do We Get Better At Drawing As We Get Older?

04/01/2019

Five easy ways to boost children's spatial skills

"Not only is spatial reasoning an important skill in everyday life, it is important in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related careers. And it is never too early for children to develop and enhance their spatial skills."

It's never too early for children to develop their spatial skills, vital if they want to one day design buildings, put up flat-pack furniture or cut a birthday cake. Here's how you can help at home.

03/22/2019

Happy #FarmstandFriday! Today we have carrots, romanesco, and red Russian kale. Come for a taste in Bill's Backyard! We'll be here until 1pm, or until we run out.

03/22/2019

#FunFactFriday: We see mushrooms all the time in nature, but have you seen the musical one in Bill's Backyard? There's just the one right now, but soon there will be three for everyone to make natural and collaborative melodies!

The musical mushrooms were designed by artist Jim Doble, who repurposes found materials to create musical instruments. The ones we put in Bill's Backyard were inspired by a local, edible variety popularly known as Candy Cap mushrooms (Lactarius rubidus). They have a sweet, maple syrup-y flavor that is a great addition to ice cream or cookies!

We have so mushroom in our hearts for our spore friends, but we should say that we don't recommend foraging for wild mushrooms on your own since it takes a lot of practice and knowledge to identify them correctly. Instead, purchase wild mushrooms from reputable sources. And come on out to Bill's Backyard for some FUN(gi)!

03/15/2019

Whoo hoo, it's #FarmstandFriday! 🌿🌿🌿 Come taste cabbage, radish, broccoli and red Russian kale out in Bill's Backyard! We'll be out here until noon, or as long as the samples last.

03/14/2019

Happy 𝜋 Day! Wait, that's not quite right. Happy 🥧 Day! Join us on THURSDAY, MARCH 14 and make mud 🥧🥧🥧 in the Mud Cafe to celebrate math (and pie)! Open all day.

03/12/2019

Every March 14, the world celebrates math (and pie) in honor of the coolest number: 3.14159. Join us on Thursday and make mud 🥧🥧🥧 in the Bill's Backyard Mud Cafe!

03/11/2019

Join us for Afternoons for All Abilities on TUESDAY, MARCH 12, a quieter and less crowded time at the museum that is ideal for children with disabilities and their families.

On the second Tuesday of every month from 1 pm - 4pm, children can explore the museum on their own terms while caregivers have the opportunity to connect with families who may share similar experiences. Join us for a special storytime and a sensory activity!

03/11/2019

Thank you to PwC volunteers for spending their Friday afternoon helping us clean up our native garden! We rely on volunteers and donations to help the Museum meet its mission of instilling creativity, curiosity, and lifelong learning in all the children of our community. We ❤️ volunteers!

03/05/2019

Happy March! A new month means new activities in our program spaces! In the Art Loft, come make visual recipes of your favorite dishes. In Bill's Backyard, build an urban wilderness where animals, plants, and people thrive together. For the four and under crowd, join us in the Art Studio to paint a masterpiece on a shiny canvas of aluminum foil. Come and create! #PurpleMuseumCreations

03/04/2019

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03/01/2019

Unlock the Learning Power of Baby Babbling

"It’s easy to assume that children who can’t yet form a word are unable to understand what their parents are saying to them. But spend just a few minutes with an infant, and you quickly realize how rapidly the gears are turning."

At around six months, infants aren't making sense yet—but they're incredibly receptive to how parents respond to their vocalizations

02/22/2019

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02/21/2019

Energetic, urban and contemporary, VOLTA by Cirque du Soleil is a captivating voyage of discovery that showcases never-before-seen acrobatics in a visually striking world. As a friend of the Museum, use promo code VOLTA20 to save 20% on tickets to go see VOLTA under the Big Top! Now playing through March 24 at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.

For more information, please visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/volta

02/21/2019

Kids Like To Move It continues tomorrow, THURSDAY, FEB. 21, with a rock climbing wall in Bill's Backyard! Come climb to new heights, as well as dance with Los Lupeños de San Jose, stretch with Spirit of Youth Yoga, and play with Lil' Kickers San Jose!

02/20/2019

CANCELLED: Today's Family Yoga session for Kids Like To Move It has been cancelled. Come join us today to play with the San Jose Sharks and dance with the West Valley Dance Company!

02/17/2019

Join us for Kids Like To Move It, starting MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18. We're excited to kick off our week of activities with Spirit of Youth Yoga, Latizmo Hip Hop Productions, and San Jose Earthquakes!

Check out the full week's schedule: https://bit.ly/2WDZGtf

02/15/2019

Join us for Kids Like To Move It and come meet the street team from Cirque du Soleil’s newest production under the Big Top, VOLTA! These colorful ambassadors will be here from 12 noon - 3 p.m. on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, and will offer anyone who tries to juggle a chance to win tickets to see VOLTA by Cirque du Soleil, now playing through March 24 at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds.

For more information, please visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/volta

02/13/2019

Celebrate your birthday party in our new Teal Party Room! This space can accommodate up to 30 children and 75 total guests (adults and children). Let our expert staff take care of the details so you and your guests can celebrate without the fuss. We tend to book 3-5 weeks in advance, so reserve your date today!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/2BswjkP

02/07/2019

CANCELLED-Our apologies, due to a large event at the Convention Center that conflicts with our event, this Play Your Way event has been cancelled. These were unforeseen circumstances out of the Museum's control. Thank you for your understanding! Please join us on April 27th for our next Play Your Way!

02/05/2019

From Here to Ingenuity – Purple Museum – Medium

"What is most challenging designing for children is you can’t assume anything. If you design the exhibit to be used a certain way, you can expect that the kids will use it completely different than you intended. This is the 'surprise' that keeps me on my toes as a designer."

Shop Talk with Our Exhibit Designers!

02/04/2019

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02/04/2019

Happy February! A new month means new activities in our program spaces! In Bill's Backyard, explore the amazing world of mushrooms and fungi. In the Art Loft, make festive handmade decorations, sculptural sweets, and more. For the 4 and under crowd, discover the magical properties of sand. Come and create! #PurpleMuseumCreations

01/29/2019

Join us this weekend at our Lunar New Year: Year of the Pig Celebration for a special Meet the Artist with Le Chan Dang and create some beautiful Vietnamese calligraphy!

01/28/2019

Subverting the Intended Use of Objects

"While there are many arguments for the incredible value of unstructured play out there, one of the highlights tends to be that it provides the opportunity for kids not only to find creative solutions to problems, but also identify and define the problems they would like to solve themselves."

From childhood forts to grown-up life hacks

01/25/2019

Curious Kids: why do spiders have hairy legs?

#FunFactFriday: "Like you, spiders have different types of hairs. But spiders can do much more cool things with their hair then we can with ours (except, maybe that we are superior in styling our hair in a cool fashion)."

Believe it or not, I have studied the hairy legs of spiders for years and can give you some definitive answers on this.

01/22/2019

When you visit, don't miss our new Art Gallery exhibit: Mother Tongue! We have partnered with the Alborz Farsi School. In their first annual juried exhibit, they invited young artists to explore what language means to them. We are thrilled to display the original entries of the top 30 finalists and a digital gallery that showcases all the participants!

01/17/2019

Jump to the beat with your friends on Sesame Street! Introducing an all-new, interactive show that unfolds on one of the world’s most famous streets at the funniest, furriest party in the neighborhood… get ready for Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party! Playing City National Civic in San Jose from January 19-20, 2019. Buy tickets today at Ticketmaster.com

http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/2386261

01/17/2019

Kick off the Year of the Pig at our Lunar New Year Celebration!

Kick off the Year of the Pig at our Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, February 2 and Sunday, February 3. Enjoy traditional Chinese and Vietnamese crafts, see lion dances and lively performances, try calligraphy and more!

01/16/2019

Delivering Difficult News to Young Children – Purple Museum – Medium

"Difficult situations are teachable moments in the life of a soon-to-be resilient child. Parents are the “helpers” that give hope despite tragedy."

By Dr. Damon Korb, M.D.

01/14/2019

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01/08/2019

Join us for Afternoons for All Abilities on TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, a quieter and less crowded time at the museum that is ideal for children with disabilities and their families.

On the second Tuesday of every month from 1 pm - 4pm, children can explore the museum on their own terms while caregivers have the opportunity to connect with families who may share similar experiences. Join us for a special storytime and a sensory activity!

01/08/2019

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