Children's Museum of Manhattan

Activity Overview

Kids 8 and younger will delight in four floors of hands-on activities. Many exhibits and programs are specifically geared to the 4-and-under crowd.

Things to Do

To get the most from your visit, take advantage of the museum's daily interactive programs and frequent live music, dance, and theater performances. Kids can do things like listen to storytellers, make kitchen "goop," paint murals, or invent objects from recycled materials.

PlayWorks is a 4000-foot space where kids age 0-4 can play, build, or just safely run (or crawl). In the Art Lab, toddlers can make art to their hearts' content.

Kids age 2-6 will enjoy the activities in the Dora-and-Diego play area. They can also visit the "City Splash" exhibit for sand and water play.

The ongoing exhibit "Eat, Sleep, Play" emphasizes healthy choices through fun activities: crawling through a giant digestive tunnel or exploring how our bodies benefit from exercise.

Through Dec. 31, kids can explore America's rich musical history with the exhibit "Jazzed!" After finding inspiration in the music of Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington, they can make their own instruments, design their own tap shoes, and even record themselves singing jazz.

Children's Museum of Manhattan Insider Tips

Admission is free the first Friday of each month from 5-8 pm, courtesy of Target.
Stop by the Visitor's Services Desk for the schedule of programs and performances, or click here.
To attend a performance, pick up free tickets from Visitor Services one hour before the show.
Due to space constraints, strollers must be checked upon entering the museum.
Food and beverages (other than bottles and sippy cups) are not allowed in the museum. There are water fountains on the 1st and 3rd floors.
There is no cafeteria, but there are nearby kid-friendly restaurants. Grab a sandwich at Artie's Delicatessen (2209 Broadway at 83rd) or try Kefi (505 Columbus Avenue, between 84th & 85th Streets) for pizza or burgers.
You can leave the museum and come back at any time that day.
Riverside Park, two blocks west of the museum, has a lovely playground and picnic tables. Central Park is also nearby.