• Saturday Art Adventures: Wooden Spoon Puppets

    Join Art Studio Manager Laurie for a playful project that blends sculpture, craft, and character design. Visitors will use wooden spoons and a variety of materials to craft their own puppet pals. Whether it’s wild or whimsical, every puppet has a story to tell. Great for school-age kids and curious creators of all kinds.

  • Imagination Station with Abby

    Join Abby in the Art Studio classroom on Wednesdays to stretch your creativity with common materials used in unexpected ways. Each week will feature a different activity.

  • Nice Age Tales

    Snuggle in for a delightful mix of stories, puppets, and songs! This trail-side program invites young children to explore emotions, rhythm, and imagination through movement and mindful moments. Grown-ups welcome, too—this is a peaceful pause for the whole family.

  • Music Time with Tim

    Explore the world of music and rhythm! Each week, Tim leads children in singing, rhythm games, and musical stories that inspire creativity and connection. It’s an engaging experience for kids and families—free with admission.

  • Tales with Teresa

    Join us for story time and hear Teresa read some of her favorite books using her DynaVox. With this speech-generating device, Teresa shares stories that help us build listening skills, develop early literacy, and celebrate each other’s differences. This event is free with general museum admission.

  • Member Morning: February

    Enjoy exclusive, members-only playtime in the museum before things get busy! Enjoy complimentary coffee to accompany the calm, crisp morning (while supplies last.) Not a member yet? Become one today! Membership starts immediately, so you can visit for free anytime the museum is open. Learn more about membership.

  • Exploration Station: Milkweed Babies

    Transform a milkweed pod into a tiny cradle and gently swaddle a soft wool baby to rest inside. This sweet, sensory activity blends fine motor practice with imaginative caregiving. Take your “milkweed baby” home for continued play, nurturing, and storytelling. A gentle invitation into the worlds of nature, art, and empathy.

  • Scratch Programming Class

    Madison Children's Museum 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, United States

    Spring 2026 Session Exercise your creativity and have fun learning computer programming! Class participants will learn computer programming fundamentals while making their own interactive art, animated stories, or games using Scratch, a programming language specially designed for teaching. For kids aged 9–13 interested in problem-solving/figuring out how to do stuff—no prior programming experience necessary. Parents […]

  • Imagination Station with Abby

    Join Abby in the Art Studio classroom on Wednesdays to stretch your creativity with common materials used in unexpected ways. Each week will feature a different activity.

  • Nice Age Tales

    Snuggle in for a delightful mix of stories, puppets, and songs! This trail-side program invites young children to explore emotions, rhythm, and imagination through movement and mindful moments. Grown-ups welcome, too—this is a peaceful pause for the whole family.

  • Music Time with Tim

    Explore the world of music and rhythm! Each week, Tim leads children in singing, rhythm games, and musical stories that inspire creativity and connection. It’s an engaging experience for kids and families—free with admission.

  • Tales with Teresa

    Join us for story time and hear Teresa read some of her favorite books using her DynaVox. With this speech-generating device, Teresa shares stories that help us build listening skills, develop early literacy, and celebrate each other’s differences. This event is free with general museum admission.

  • STEAM Time: Lava Lamps

    Ready for a glowing good time? In this hands-on STEAM session, young scientists will mix, pour, and shake up ingredients to create a colorful lava lamp. It’s part art, part chemistry, and all fun as we explore reactions and motion in a bottle. Take it home and keep the magic bubbling!

  • Exploration Station: Love Bugs

    Build a buddy to bug around with! This playful Valentine’s Day activity invites kids to design their own “Love Bug” using fuzzy materials and plenty of imagination. Will your creature have wings, feet, hearts, or extra eyeballs? There’s no wrong way to love your bug.

  • Saturday Art Adventures: “Stained Glass” Hearts

    Craft a dazzling heart to catch the light! With sparkling paints and colorful materials, kids can create their own “stained glass” masterpiece. Hang it in the window and let your artwork glow. A sweet way to spread joy for Valentine’s Day—or any day!