Boston Children's Museum552

The newly renovated and expanded Boston Children's Museum features a three-story climb, a 160-seat KidStage, and Kid Power - a new health and fitness exhibit.

Permanent exhibits at the Boston Children's Museum include:

Art Studio: A fun and messy activity space where children and families can explore a variety of processes and materials from paper collage and printmaking to sculpting 3D forms with clay, paper, fabric or felt. Ideal for children 5 years old and up, the Art Studio welcomes all visitors seeking to discover their inner artist.

Arthur and Friends: Arthur and Friends immerses visitors in imaginative settings based on Marc Brown's beloved books and the popular WGBH television series.

Peep's World: WGBH's animated children's series PEEP and the Big Wide World has been transformed into a hands-on, interactive exhibit during which children, parents, and caregivers guide their own investigations, observe "what happens when...," and discover the wonders of the big, wide world.

Boston Black: A City Connects: Teaches kids how Boston's Black community shapes Boston through interactive displays.

The Common: For games and gatherings, The Common is the place to play with such activities as magical light and shadow games, a giant maze, the musical chairs, and a giant chess game. From dance performances to live animal meet and greets, The Common also features events like dance performances and live animal meet-and-greets.

Construction Zone: A kid-sized building world.

The Alan and Harriet Lewis Family Global Gallery: Hosts rotating children's exhibits from all over the country.

Japanese House: Kids can explore every corner of a fully equipped Japanese House reconstructed in Boston by Japanese carpenters.

Johnny's Workbench: A workshop space for working with hand tools and simple materials.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Kid Power: Whether you're power pedaling, lighting up the interactive dance floor, climbing the walls, or on power pump seats, families can find new ways to get exercise and learn about super foods, good breakfasts, and other ways to eat and drink right.

New Balance Climb: A three-story climbing sculpture made of brightly painted curved platforms, rising like a fleet of magic carpets up the new glass lobby of the museum.

PlaySpace: For children ages 0-3 years old. Young visitors can climb up a tree house, cross bridges, and slide down. They can get inside a huge toy train landscape, drive a car, or take care of the babies while playing house. The Messy Sensory area offers arts and science activities. The gated infant area has plenty of soft space for crawlers and a cozy waterbed. The Family Resource Room provides recommended resources, parenting information, as well as a quiet space for reading and snacking.

Recycle Shop: An array of safe, clean, reusable fabrics, plastics, papers, ribbons, boxes, and who knows what is available for science, crafts, and fine arts projects.

John Hancock Science Playground: The activity center offers opportunities to observe, measure, compare, discuss, and work together, and explore the world around them.
Weaving: Large-scale looms invite children and adults to intertwine textures, blend fabrics and create patterns.

The Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation KidStage, a state-of-the-art, 160-seat theater, introduces children and families to the magic of theater and the performing arts. Professional actors perform original participatory short plays during daily performances of 15- to 30-minute plays that use music, song, movement, and comedy to tell memorable stories. When dark, KidStage's costumes and props are available for improvised plays and role-playing.

Birthday parties at the museum include use of a private Birthday Party Room for 2-hours for up to 25 children and adults. Parties can be held on on Fridays at 5:30pm, or Saturdays and Sundays at 11am or 2pm. Families bring their own cake and food.

Special admission rates are available on Fridays from 5pm-9pm: all visitors are $1 each.