Madison Children's Museum

Create your own unique nature painting! Experiment with leaves, flowers, sticks, and pinecones as materials to apply paint and see what organic patterns you can create. This event is free with the price of general admission.

Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more! This event is free with general museum admission.

Social time for babies and their grown-ups! This playgroup is thoughtfully designed for our earliest visitors. We will provide a space for infants and toddlers (2 years and under) and their caregivers to explore and play together, and engage in activities that support various aspects of child development. Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity […]

Join us for a story and circle time that connects children to kindness and nature. Sing songs, interact with puppets, listen to a story, and move your bodies in this interactive weekly program. This event will be held in the Nice Age Trail exhibit and is free with general museum admission.

Visit MCM for free every Thursday evening, 4–8 pm! Enjoy extended hours each Thursday, completely free of charge. Please check in at the admissions desk when you visit during free hours. Looking for more affordable ways to visit? During the rest of the week, MCM also offers heavily discounted admission and memberships to families who […]

Our art studio staff will lead visitors in a weekly assortment of creative clay sculpture activities.
We will create all kinds of collaborative projects- plant pots, jewelry, ornaments, tiles and more.
All ages are welcome to join us and experiment with clay.

Kick off Worldwide Day of Play with our friends from the UW College of Agricultural and Life Sciences! Learn more about the origins of your food, from farm to lunch table. This event is free with general museum admission. Image credit: Kevin Rej

Celebrate Worldwide Day of Play with us and create ginormous bubbles on the Rooftop Ramble. This event is free with the price of general admission.

Celebrate Worldwide Day of Play with our friend Shelby from Force of Nature Movement! Come down to the Wonderground for guided movement games and open play time. We'll practice intuitive movement skills like climbing, crawling, jumping, and running (to each child's comfort level and ability.) This program is designed for children 3-10 years, but all […]

Dive into an exciting drop-in art experience with Laurie and our Art Studio team for Worldwide Day of Play! Embark on projects with a wide variety of art media and processes for all ages and abilities. Materials are included—and the best part? We take care of cleanup! This event is free with general museum admission.