Best Museums and Exhibits for Kids in NYC

May 1 2013
Best Museums and Exhibits for Kids in NYC

Dying to introduce your preschooler to Picasso or got a tween who's wild for Warhol? Then you're in the right city. NYC offers incredible art experiences for kids, from world-class museums to wonderful little galleries. The hardest part is figuring out what there is and where to start.

This guide features helpful tips for families, like which institutions allow strollers, and ways to make visits to museums even more fun with kids. Check out our money saving tips, which tell you when you can visit cultural institutions for free, or how to snag discounted tickets or memberships. Finally, you'll find reviews of the most kid-friendly exhibits in town.

Current Exhibits

Best Museum Exhibits for NYC Kids Summer 2013: 10 Awesome New InstallationsBest Museum Exhibits for NYC Kids Summer 2013: 10 Awesome New Installations
Best Museum Exhibits for NYC Kids Spring 2013: 7 Great New InstallationsBest Museum Exhibits for NYC Kids Spring 2013: 7 Great New Installations
Whales: Giants of the Deep - Learn About the World's Largest Mammals at the American Museum of Natural History Whales: Giants of the Deep - Learn About the World's Largest Mammals at the American Museum of Natural History
MoMA Art Lab: People: Make Portraits, Puppets and People at the Museum's New Hands-on Art StudioMoMA Art Lab: People: Make Portraits, Puppets and People at the Museum's New Hands-on Art Studio
Frogs at the American Museum of Natural History: A Hoppin' Exhibit Frogs at the American Museum of Natural History: A Hoppin' Exhibit
Underground Art: Take a Tour of the Best NYC Subway Art for FamiliesUnderground Art: Take a Tour of the Best NYC Subway Art for Families
NYC Museum Design Studios: Six Hands-on Spots Where Kids Can Get CreativeNYC Museum Design Studios: Six Hands-on Spots Where Kids Can Get Creative
The Panorama at the Queens Museum of Art: Marvel at New York City in MiniatureThe Panorama at the Queens Museum of Art: Marvel at New York City in Miniature

Must-See Museums: Manhattan

The New Museum of Mathematics Adds Up to Educational Fun for NYC KidsThe New Museum of Mathematics Adds Up to Educational Fun for NYC Kids
Children's Museum of the Arts: The NYC Kids Art Spot Opens Its Beautiful Brand-New SpaceChildren's Museum of the Arts: The NYC Kids Art Spot Opens Its Beautiful Brand-New Space
Must-See New Kids' Museum: DiMenna Children's History Museum at the New York Historical SocietyMust-See New Kids' Museum: DiMenna Children's History Museum at the New York Historical Society
Sony Wonder Technology Lab: Visiting the Free High-Tech Museum with Young NYC Kids Sony Wonder Technology Lab: Visiting the Free High-Tech Museum with Young NYC Kids
Children's Museum of ManhattanChildren's Museum of Manhattan
Tenement Museum: NYC History Kids Can See, Touch and ExperienceTenement Museum: NYC History Kids Can See, Touch and Experience
South Street Seaport Museum: Wonderful Family Programming at the Reopened Culture SpotSouth Street Seaport Museum: Wonderful Family Programming at the Reopened Culture Spot
Hidden NY: 5 Fun Finds at the American Museum of Natural History Hidden NY: 5 Fun Finds at the American Museum of Natural History
More Free Demo ClassesThe Skyscraper Museum
More Free Demo ClassesVideo Post: The Museum of Money
Rubin Museum of Art: Learn About the Art of the Himalayas at Its Education CenterRubin Museum of Art: Learn About the Art of the Himalayas at Its Education Center
Visiting the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in NYC with KidsVisiting the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in NYC with Kids
More Free Demo Classes5 Museums You've Never Heard Of
15 Best Places to Get Scientific with Kids in NYC15 Best Places to Get Scientific with Kids in NYC
Fraunces Tavern, Check Out a Revolutionary HangoutFraunces Tavern, Check Out a Revolutionary Hangout
Where to Meet a Fire Fighter and Learn about Fire Safety in New York CityWhere to Meet a Fire Fighter and Learn about Fire Safety in New York City
Museum of Chinese in America: A Fascinating Look at the Immigrant Experience Museum of Chinese in America: A Fascinating Look at the Immigrant Experience
Jewish Museums in NYC: 5 Spots Where Kids Can Learn About Jewish History, Culture and TraditionsJewish Museums in NYC: 5 Spots Where Kids Can Learn About Jewish History, Culture and Traditions

Must-See Museums: Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island

3 Brooklyn Museums You've Never Heard of That Are Fun for Kids 3 Brooklyn Museums You've Never Heard of That Are Fun for Kids
Jewish Children's Museum: Play, Learn and Go Back in Time at this Brooklyn Culture Spot Jewish Children's Museum: Play, Learn and Go Back in Time at this Brooklyn Culture Spot
Queens County Farm Museum: Feed the Animals and See How Food is Grown at NYC's Only Historic Working FarmQueens County Farm Museum: Feed the Animals and See How Food is Grown at NYC's Only Historic Working Farm
Bronx MuseumBronx Museum
Valentine-Varian House/Museum of Bronx HistoryValentine-Varian House/Museum of Bronx History
Hall of Fame for Great AmericansHall of Fame for Great Americans
Bartow-Pell MansionBartow-Pell Mansion
Poe CottagePoe Cottage
The Brooklyn Children's MuseumThe Brooklyn Children's Museum
New York Transit Museum: An Amazing Underground Museum New York Transit Museum: An Amazing Underground Museum
Cool Stuff for Families at the Queens Museum of ArtCool Stuff for Families at the Queens Museum of Art
Kids Love the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens Kids Love the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens
Staten Island's Snug Harbor Cultural Center is Worth the TripStaten Island's Snug Harbor Cultural Center is Worth the Trip
Historic Richmond TownHistoric Richmond Town
Step Back in Time at Staten Island's Alice Austen House MuseumStep Back in Time at Staten Island's Alice Austen House Museum

Tips for Visiting Museums with Kids

Kids' Books about NYC Museums: Get the Family Psyched to Visit the Metropolitan, MoMA and MoreKids' Books about NYC Museums: Get the Family Psyched to Visit the Metropolitan, MoMA and More
New York City Museum Stroller PoliciesNew York City Museum Stroller Policies
Things to Do in The Art Museums of New York City: Special family programming, story times, free events and moreThings to Do in The Art Museums of New York City: Special family programming, story times, free events and more
MoMA's Great Offerings for NYC TeensMoMA's Great Offerings for NYC Teens
Family Fun Workshops at The Whitney Museum in New York CityFamily Fun Workshops at The Whitney Museum in New York City
How to get more out of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with KidsHow to get more out of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Kids
More Free Demo ClassesWatson Adventures Scavenger Hunts
Night at the Museum: 7 Museum Sleepovers in New York CityNight at the Museum: 7 Museum Sleepovers in New York City
AMNH Explorer App: A Whole New Way to See the Museum of Natural HistoryAMNH Explorer App: A Whole New Way to See the Museum of Natural History

Money Saving Tips

Free Times at NYC Museums: When to Visit at No CostFree Times at NYC Museums: When to Visit at No Cost
More Free Demo ClassesFree Family Programs at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
MoMA's free programs are great for mommas (and daddas) tooMoMA's free programs are great for mommas (and daddas) too
9 More Free Museum Programs in All 5 Boroughs9 More Free Museum Programs in All 5 Boroughs
16 Family Museum Membership Deals to New York City Museums16 Family Museum Membership Deals to New York City Museums

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