• STEAM Time: Race Car Rally

    Design, build, test, repeat! Use everyday materials to build a race car, then launch it down the ramp. What works? What doesn’t? Kids will explore the engineering design cycle as they fine-tune their creations. A hands-on STEAM activity full of motion, momentum, and imaginative problem-solving.

  • Clay It Forward!

    Roll, shape, and sculpt with us on Friday afternoons! Join Art Studio staff to explore the magic of clay while creating pots, tiles, and shapes that will find a home here in the museum. It’s a hands-on way to leave your creative mark while learning the basics of ceramic art.

  • Early Explorers Playgroup (Saturday special)

    Join us for a special fall Saturday edition of our Early Explorers playgroup.  Get out of the house, play with some different toys, see new faces and meet new people! Best for ages under 2. 

  • Let’s Move! with Abby

    Join us for movement games and activities! From obstacle courses to dances, group games and balance activities, we'll enjoy different opportunities to move our bodies every day. Program location is subject to change, depending on the weather. Please check our Welcome Wall for the most up-to-date location information.This event is free with general museum admission.

  • Kids for Peace Day

    Mark International Kids for Peace Day with a celebration of creativity and connection. A half-hour Suzuki violin performance kicks off the morning, followed by a community art-making experience where kids can arrange garden cuttings into a beautiful, large-scale mandala on our garden rooftop. You can also search for peace in the Wonderground, and make peace […]

  • Art Adventures: Peace Mobiles

    Celebrate Kids For Peace Day by designing a playful, peace-themed mobile in this hands-on art and engineering challenge! Using wood, string, metal, and recycled plastics, explore how shapes, weight, and motion interact. Laurie and the Art Studio crew will guide you through the creative process, helping visitors of all ages build something unique to take […]

  • Scratch Programming Class

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

    Fall 2025 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 […]

  • Let’s Move! with Abby

    Join us for movement games and activities! From obstacle courses to dances, group games and balance activities, we'll enjoy different opportunities to move our bodies every day. Program location is subject to change, depending on the weather. Please check our Welcome Wall for the most up-to-date location information.This event is free with general museum admission.

  • 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.

  • Let’s Move! with Abby

    Join us for movement games and activities! From obstacle courses to dances, group games and balance activities, we'll enjoy different opportunities to move our bodies every day. Program location is subject to change, depending on the weather. Please check our Welcome Wall for the most up-to-date location information.This event is free with general museum admission.

  • Li’l Music with Junko: Open Preview

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

    Get moving and grooving with your li'l one! Today's session is a free sample session of a registered class that will run this fall. Do you have a dancing baby? Discover Junko's weekly music class where babies and toddlers can explore their natural love of rhythm. Together, you and your tiny dancer will bounce, sway, […]

  • Messy Art with Laurie

    Join MCM art educator Ms. Laurie for a weekly burst of color, texture, and joyful experimentation. Young children can freely explore art materials in a welcoming space designed especially for our youngest artists. It’s creativity without limits—or cleanup. Come make a beautiful mess with us! Free with general admission.

  • Music Sprouts: Open Preview

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

    Music and movement for preschoolers! Today's session is a free sample session of a registered class that will run this fall. Is your 3–5 year old ready to jam? Join Junko for a dynamic weekly class designed especially for preschool-aged kids. In this class, your child will experience storytelling through songs and actions, practice responding […]