“Children require long, uninterrupted periods of play and exploration.” Jean Piaget
Westchester County is a great place to raise kids. We have access to more than 20,000 acres of parkland, and the weather is nice enough of the year to enjoy the great outdoors. But what about when the weather isn’t so nice? Sure, there are lots of indoor play spaces, but none offer the opportunity to explore, learn, and burn some energy all at the same time. Truly, there is nowhere in Westchester for families quite as unique as the Westchester Children’s Museum.
The Museum calls itself ” A vibrant, colorful, interactive cultural institution where children take the lead, and the adults who care for them share their learning experience about the world around them.” On December 10, our contributor team had the opportunity to put that to the test when Westchester Children’s Museum hosted the Westchester County Moms Blog team and our kiddos for a private play date.
Our crew ranged in age from 11 months-13 years (plus the moms and dads), and I can honestly say that each person had a fantastic time. There’s so much to do there that our two-hour playdate almost didn’t feel like enough time. One of the best things about the Museum is the open concept, so if mom is helping little brother at one exhibit, older sister can wander off to the next one without leaving mom’s line of sight. Another awesome thing is that there truly is something for everyone, according to both age and interest. There are opportunities to build, to create, to craft, to construct, to design, to jump, and to read. One of the best parts was watching the younger kids watch. The older kids (and parents) interact with an exhibit but still be able to do it by themselves.
Here are some Westchester Children’s Museum must-knows:
- The Museum is open to the public Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays are available for group visits, by appointment, so if you want to bring a school group, playgroup, or home school group there, be sure to call ahead.
- Admission is $7 per person ( $6 for seniors and under one is free). If you’re active-duty military personnel, admission for you and your immediate family is free.
- A family membership is one of the best deals going. For $95, you can get unlimited admission for your family for one year, discounts on workshops, programs, events, and access to member-only activities and programs. Since WCM is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, your membership is tax-deductible.
- The staff is insanely knowledgeable and helpful. If you need anything while you’re there or have questions about the exhibits, they’re right there to give you a hand.
- Check out the Makers & Shakers program, an after-school drop-off club for budding engineers!
- You can host your child’s birthday party at the Museum! Parties are held outside of regular operating hours, so you get the whole Museum to yourselves.
- There are many special programs at the Museum, including Museum Minis, a special half-hour each Thursday from 10:30-11 that includes songs, moving, and fun for toddlers.
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If you want to help spread the word about the Museum, they are looking for Museum Ambassadors and Volunteers to help spread the word and support special events. Anyone interested in getting involved should contact Carolyn at [email protected]
