Madison Children's Museum

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 body in this interactive weekly program. This event will be held in the Nice Age Trail exhibit and is free with general museum admission.

Join Ms. Laurie and our Art Studio staff for a weekly drop-in art experience designed for MCM's youngest visitors and their caregivers. Through open-ended & process-based projects, empower your little artist to freely explore materials and art-making with their senses. And the best part? We take care of cleanup! This event is free with general […]

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 offers reduced cost admission and memberships every day to families […]

Become a nature detective! Dissect owl pellets to find out what our nocturnal feathered friends like to eat. Identify animal bones in the mix and examine these dinnertime discards more closely under a microscope.  This event is free as part of our weekly Free Thursday Evenings from 4 pm to 8 pm.

Join our friends from UW Neuroscience for brain-building activities and interact with REAL neurological specimens. Come learn how we think!This program is part of our Free Thursday Evenings! Play in the museum for free every Thursday night, 4 pm to 8 pm each week.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities foster children’s creativity, ignite curiosity, encourage divergent thinking, and increase problem-solving skills as children explore the world around them. Today, we'll taste fried potatoes grown in the Rooftop garden and make colorful potato prints! This event is free with general museum admission.

Dive into an exciting drop-in art experience each week with Laurie and our Art Studio team. We'll offer projects in a wide variety of art media and art processes for all ages and abilities. Today, we'll create our own decorated paper using a marbled painting technique.This event is free with general museum admission.