The New Children's Museum Archives

The New Children’s Museum

May 22, 2011 By socalwithkids

The New Children’s Museum is located in the downtown area of San Diego, California. They have three levels with many different things to do and see. The museum changes their arts & crafts projects each month, and make use of many recycled materials.

If you have a toddler, be sure to take them to the play area next to the cafe. The Barn, located on the middle level (entry level) is super fun for young preschoolers as well. Here, young children can play with switches on the wall that control the room’s lights and sounds. Another fun area for the younger children is the Rain House, located on the upper level.

Older preschoolers may be able to ride the chariots located on the middle level. It takes a bit of skill, but I’ve seen many a preschooler master it! The 3-5 year old age also enjoy painting the whale outside, on the middle level outside. Here they’ll also find earthenware clay which they can use to play and create. The middle level also has a cool room, located across from the chariots, with pillows and cushions to stack, and a chalk wall, located near the arts & crafts area. The upper level patio has a cool bubble area, which is always a hit with kids of all ages. Preschoolers also enjoy building and stacking blocks and planks, also located on the upper level. While on the upper level, be sure to go to the Rain House (mentioned above), play at the cloth wall, and walk inside the trojan horse! Preschoolers can also have fun downstairs, with the blow-up jumpy, and play dress-up as well.

School age kids enjoy the arts and crafts located on the middle level. Be sure to check their website for specific times for projects. They also love the painting & clay area outside, located on the entry level as well. The chariots are very popular with the older kids, who’ve mastered the art of maneuvering them! The climbing wall and ropes, located on the upper level are super fun for school age kids. This age group usually likes to take a stop at the Rain House as well. There are a number of seated easels throughout the museum, which are fun and inviting for budding artists. Our kids love using them!

The New Children’s Museum is FREE the 2nd Sunday of each month. Check the link below to their website for more info. Perhaps we’ll see you there!

Website: The New Children’s Museum
Twitter: @iheartncm

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Filed Under: The New Children's Museum

The New Children’s Museum ~ Free 2nd Sunday

February 12, 2011 By socalwithkids

The New Children’s Museum is FREE the 2nd Sunday of each month. The museum will be open extended hours on Sunday, from 10am-4pm. It tends to be quite crowded on the free day, but less so if you arrive just when they open.

Although parking is free downtown on Sundays, it can often be difficult to find a space. A fun and less stressful way to get there is to take the trolley. There’s a trolley stop about a block from the museum. Parking in the lot for the museum is $10. Perhaps we’ll see you there!

Website: New Children’s Museum in San Diego
Twitter: @iheartncm

Filed Under: Deals, Museums, NCM Free 2nd Sunday, SD Museums, The New Children's Museum Tagged With: 2nd Sunday, create, downtown, family, free sunday, kids, new children's museum, play, san diego, socal, Target, think, trolley

Museum Month in San Diego!

January 18, 2011 By socalwithkids

Each February, for as many years as I can remember, the San Diego Museum Council, as well as Macy’s have been sponsoring Museum Month in San Diego. Forty different museums take part in the event, which allows people to visit participating museums at 1/2 off.

You need to pick up a free Museum Month Pass (available at Macy’s stores in San Diego, Temecula, and Imperial County) to receive the discount. One pass is good for up to 4 people, and from my experience, I’ve found they usually arrive at Macy’s just before the first of February. Just ask a Macy’s salesperson where to find one in the store, and take it with you to the museum(s) you want to visit to receive the discount.

This is a great way to experience some museums that you may have been wanting to take the family to visit, but just hadn’t had the opportunity to do so. I look forward to taking our kids to some museums we haven’t visited, as well as some we haven’t been to in a while.

San Diego has a lot of kid-friendly museums. Some of our favorite museums to visit with kids that are participating in Museum Month 2011 are as follows:

• The Escondido Children’s Museum
• The Birch Aquarium at Scripps
• The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
• The San Diego Natural History Museum
• The New Children’s Museum
• The San Diego Model Railroad Museum
• San Diego Botanic Garden (formerly Quail)
• San Diego Air & Space Museum
• USS Midway
• Maritime Museum

If you’d like to see pictures from some of the many museums we’ve visited that are participating in Museum Month, take a look below. For a complete listing of participating museums, please check the following LINK. Get out there and explore some museums at 1/2 off in February with the Museum Month Pass! Perhaps we’ll see you there!