With the constant threat of fresh snow and low temperatures, it can be hard to plan fun activities for the whole family. Thankfully, several local New York museums are offering some great activities and exhibits that are great for families. The best part: They are indoors and educational!
Editor’s note: Click HERE to see a list of our favorite family- and kid-friendly museum classes and programs!
Museum of Natural History
“The Power of Poison” exhibit is one of the newest additions to the Museum of Natural History. In this exhibit, families can learn about poisons, toxins, and venom (and the difference between all of them). The exhibit teaches people about poisons, where they come from, the truths and myths behind them, and how they can be sometimes used to help people. Other than learning about various animals and how they use venom to protect themselves or kill prey, families can also learn about the human body and how toxins can interfere with normal bodily functions. This exhibit joins others such as “Dark Universe” which helps question what we know or don’t know about space and “The Butterfly Conservatory” which lets families look at divers groups of butterflies. amnh.org
New York Hall of Science
The New York Hall of Science always has exciting exhibits for young science-lovers all year round. Right now you can check out the “Evolution-Health Connection exhibit” from now until the end of February which will teach families all about how our food has evolved with us. From current food challenges and rising problems with our changing human bodies, parents can walk their kids through understanding their bodies and what they put in them. This exhibit joins others in NYSCI including its preschool place for kids under 6 as well as an exhibit on the search for life in outer space. nysci.org
Children’s Museum of Manhattan
While the Super Bowl might be over, families can still enjoy NFL fun at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan with the “You Make the Call: Learn to be an NFL Official” exhibit. This exhibit is open now through March and allows kids to explore the history of the NFL and pretend to be a pro-footballer for a day. It includes an obstacle course, an NFL art area and a collection of football memorabilia. “You Make the Call” joins several other exciting exhibits to check out at CMOM this winter, including “Adventures with Dora and Diego” from the hit Nick Jr. shows as well as EatSleepPlay which teaches families how to become healthier together. cmom.org
Museum of Mathematics
Math lovers can rejoice with two floors of math-related exhibits and programs at the Museum of Mathematics. Kids can try riding a interesting kind of bike in the “Square-Wheeled Trike” and play math games with their feet in “Math Square.” From painting on canvas to learn about symmetry to understanding patterns and shapes to solving puzzles that prove math theories, there are a ton of fun activities for the entire family. momath.org
Rubin Museum of Art
The Rubin Museum of Art has a series of galleries that focus on art from the HimalayanMountains and other parts of Asia. Right now, families can explore Buddhist prayer traditions in the “Count Your Blessings” exhibit, which can teach kids about Buddhism and where it is practiced around the world. Visitors can also explore early photography from South Asia and unique scroll paintings from Tibet until February 10th in their “Allegory and Illusion” and “Flip Side” exhibits. The RubinMuseum also gives out unique “Yak Pack” activity bags to kids under 8 to help families navigate the galleries and learn more about the artwork from these rich cultures. rmanyc.org
Brooklyn’s Children Museum
Appropriate for all ages, the Brooklyn’s ChildrenMuseum has a long list of exhibits and activities to inspire creativity and learning for the whole family. The museum gives families a chance to design the walls of the museum in their “Big Ideas” activity. Plus the Con Edison Greenhouse teaches kids how to be involved in plant life. But one of the most exciting exhibits is the “Collections Central,” which is a permanent collection of around 30,000 objects and artifacts for families to learn about and even interact with. While it is hard to find such an extensive artifact collection at a children’s museum, Brooklyn Children’s Museum has had a growing collection since 1899 and has helped show families different objects from all over the world. brooklynkids.org
New York Transit Museum
For young train lovers, the New York Transit museum offers a great deal of interesting exhibits and programs to help families discover the intricate transit system that runs through the city. In the exhibit, “Steel, Stone & Backbone: Building New York’s Subways 1900-1925,” kids can take a look back in time at the very first subway line and how it was built. Families will also be able to discover photographs, videos and artifacts from over a 100 years ago when the subway line was first built. This exhibit joins others such as one on New York trolleys and buses which teaches kids about traffic rules as well as fuel technology and how it impacts the environment. web.mta.info/mta/museum
DiMenna Children’s History Museum
The DiMenna Children’s HistoryMuseum offers several interactive activities for families to discover New York and American history. With several pavilions on a variety of historical figures and events, kids can take a peek at the past and learn how New York has changed over the years. Some of the recent pavilions focus on the lives of various New York figures including Alexander Hamilton, the Orphan Train Riders, and the New York Newsies. These pavilions join other classic ones such as History Detectives, which explains how historians are detectives, and American Dreamers which compares the pictures of New Yorkers from yesterday and today. nyhistory.org/childrens-museum
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
For families exciting about aircrafts and airplanes, the IntrepidMuseum has a lot to offer. Kids can learn about the different occupations that occur on a ship, including the Intrepid aircraft carrier, through the “Working Below the Decks” exhibit. Through looking at authentic equipment used on the Intrepid ship, families can look at the lives of the men who worked long hours out at sea. This exhibit joins many other looks at real-life air and sea vessels including the space shuttle Enterprise and the submarine Growler. Be sure to check out the Intrepid during Kids Week from February 15-23. intrepidmuseum.org
The Brooklyn Museum
The BrooklynMuseum offers a large, diverse group of art galleries that families can explore to learn about new cultures and the history of art. One of the long-term art collections for families to check out is “Devine Felines: Cats of Ancient Egypt,” where kids can look at art and sculptures centered on the role of cats in ancient Egypt. The museum also offers family-friendly guides that can help parents walk their kids through the various galleries. brooklynmuseum.org
