New York City is one of the best cities in the world when it comes to museums and cultural institutions. This city has so much to offer, and not only for adults. There are a lot of you can visit and have a great time with your family and kids. Not all places are kid-friendly, but there are so many of them that are.
There are many kids museums in New York City that will be so fun for your kids and educational too. The kids will love them, and they will have the opportunity to play, learn about history, science, art, and many other things. These places are great to visit at any time of the year, and we guarantee you that both kids and you will have a lot of fun.
We made a list of the best kid-friendly museums in New York City, and here it is:
1. Brooklyn Children’s Museum – Crown Heights, Brooklyn
This museum opened in 1899 and it’s the first museum that was dedicated to children. It’s best for children from the age of newborn to 10. Something that will be interesting for the young ones is the Totally Tots exhibit, and you don’t want to skip it. They also have World Brooklyn which is a pint-size replica of the borough where kids can play pizza maker, baker, shopper or shopkeeper, and other things. The new exhibition ColorLab lets the kids enjoy and learn about art in a sensory and hands-on experience. When visiting this museum you will want to spend the whole day here.
2. American Museum of Natural History – Upper West Side
One of the most popular museums in New York City is the American Museum of Natural History. It doesn’t matter if you are a kid or an adult, you will love it here. If you plan on taking your kids here it’s best if they are 3+ years and it’s best if you plan on spending the whole day here. The kids will be astonished by the Hall of Dinosaurs and the dioramas. The Hall of North American Mammals will also be a hit for the kids. And don’t miss the Hall of Ocean Life where a big, blue whale is hanging. There is something for everyone throughout the whole year. But there is something special every winter that you must see, the annual Butterfly Conservatory.
3. Children’s Museum of the Arts – Hudson Square
This museum is on this location from 2011, and it’s perfect for kids from age 1 to 12. Little ones will enjoy the Wee Arts Studio, where they can play with playdough, or explore their creativity at the painting stations. There is something that you don’t want to miss, Sound Studio and Clay Bar, but you need to sign up upon arrival. At Sound Studio kids will learn the basics of music making and at Clay Bar, they will be introduced to clay crafting, and they can take home whatever they made. Teaching artists are always present here to lead the kids through these special experiences. There are also some activities that will be interesting to big kids, like the Media Lab, where they can learn about stop-motion animation. At the Fine Arts Studio there is a beautiful space where the kids an attend rotating workshops or draw and paint.
4. Jewish Children’s Museum – Crown Heights, Brooklyn
This museum is perfect for learning about Jewish history and the life of Jewish people, and it’s best suited for kids from age 3 to 12. The kids here can learn about the story of creation, what is Shabbat, what are kosher ingredients and kosher meals, and many more. They can also learn about Mar Mitzvah and Jewish weddings through an interactive game of mini golf. The fourth-floor gallery is reserved for Jewish history, where you can learn about the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, the Holocaust and the modern day Israel. But don’t be afraid, everything is made so that kids can understand it.
5. Museum of the Moving Image – Astoria, Queens
This museum is perfect if you have a bit older kids, from age 5 for example. There are a lot of things you can do here, visit the famous Muppets, take a picture with the Jedi master Yoda and many more. You need to visit the Behind the Scenes, where you see a lot of famous movie memorabilia, and learn a lot about movies, and you can even make an interactive film clip. Your kids will love it, but you will also be amazed. There is also an on-site theatre that screens various movies that are related to the current exhibitions, and some of the popular up-to-date hits. On Fridays, you can enter for free from 4 pm to 8 pm.
6. New York Hall of Science – Flushing, Queens
This place is great for everyone, and it’s great for kids of all ages. For the little kids, there are a lot of interactive things that are inspired by science in the Preschool Place, where they can learn and explore. But if you have older kids be sure to visit the Design Lab or the Connected World where you can try and keep an environment healthy on a big touchscreen. They also have an outdoor Rocket Park Mini Golf and Science Playground, that is open in the summer. You will definitely want to spend the whole day here. There are free general admissions on Fridays from 2 pm to 5 pm and on Sundays from 10 am to 11 am.
7. Staten Island Children’s Museum – Snug Harbor, Staten Island
This is a great opportunity for the whole family to have a trip to Staten Island via the Staten Island Ferry. And when you are here, you can visit Portia’s Playhouse and have a great time, or if your kids are interested in insects they can see them at the exhibition dedicated to them. Or you can spend half a day at the Big Games gallery, where everyone can play games. This museum is perfect even for the newborns and for the kids till the age of 10. They offer free admission on Wednesdays from 3 pm to 5 pm, and in summer they have a seasonal exhibition Sea of Boats, that’s worth visiting.
And this is it, this is our list of the best kid-friendly museums in New York City. We believe that you and your family will have a great time in any of these museums, you just need to choose now, and you will not be disappointed. We hope you will enjoy your visit and have a lot of fun.
