The New Children’s Museum
Do you think your child might enjoy jumping on a pile of mattresses and foam tires? How about crawling through the holes in a giant cheese or climbing the layers of a colorful hanging net? If they visit The New Children’s Museum in downtown San Diego, they can play on these and other artworks created especially for children by artists.
The New Children’s Museum offers arts-based activities for children of all ages and their families. It has hands-on art-making studios, including paint and clay, and a Tot Studio for the youngest children to explore. It also offers “Toddler Time” sessions every Friday morning with story time, singing and dancing, finger painting and other activities that support healthy bodies and minds.
The mission of The Museum is to stimulate imagination, creativity and critical thinking. It offers inventive and engaging experiences with contemporary art to help children practice early learning and developmental skills. The Museum originally started in 1983 in La Jolla as the Children’s Museum/Museo de los Niños. It moved to a downtown warehouse in 1993 and opened in its own new “green” building in 2008, calling itself The New Children’s Museum.
Children receive many benefits from art and creativity. Art experiences help children develop fine and gross motor skills, problem-solving skills and critical thinking. There is also a strong connection between art and mental health, a crucial need. A creative outlet helps relieve stress for both children and families.
There are also free and discounted rates available for entry to The Museum. For instance, active military families are free through Blue Star Museum during the summer and families receiving SNAP and other benefits can be admitted for $1 per person by showing their EBT card. Children 12 months and younger are also free. Toddler Time sessions are free with museum admission or membership. Camps and “Little Learner” series are available for a fee. For other pricing and more information please visit The New Children’s Museum website at www.thinkplaycreate.org.