The National Children's Museum
1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC 20004
Daily 9:30am - 4:30pm
$$$
indoor-activities, museums, fun-paid-activities
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There is so much to do at The National Children's Museum, with featured activities for kids of all ages.
The National Children's Museum on Pennsylvania Ave stands adjacent to the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center. The proximity to the National Mall makes it an easy stop if you are spending the day downtown, on the Mall or in the Chinatown/Penn Quarter area.
The Museum is billed as housing "interactive exhibitions exploring science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM)." Although these elements are not obvious throughout, they are threaded into the planning. As a result, with the educational content not at the forefront in every section, kids may connect with the space more as they would an indoor play place than a museum. They love the opportunity to move and interact with the exhibits. This is an ideal indoor option for kids ready to expend a lot of energy.
The Museum is geared towards kids under the age of 12. Some exhibits are clearly oriented towards younger children, such as the Dora and Diego-themed Let's Explore exhibit, and the Little Movers free play space. Additionally, the highlight of the Museum is the three-story climber and slide known as the "Dream Machine" which is definitely designed for kids ages 5 and older.
There are also exhibits that allow kids to send pom poms through tubes pushed by air. All ages enjoyed testing their reaction times on a lightboard, and there is even a station where kids can design a vehicle to send down a track. They loved shooting a basketball through a hoop using an air cannon and taking a swing at a fun tee-ball batting activity, with virtual support.
The Museum offers a really nice, private "Mother's Room" for nursing moms, sponsored by Lansinoh.
During popular times, such as the weekend, the Museum can get very crowded. The Museum urges visitors to buy tickets online in advance, although there are limited walk-up tickets available.
If you are looking for someplace a little polished to sit down to a meal or snack with the kids, The Hamilton is a great option!
The closest metro is Federal Triangle.