Play is one of the primary ways that children learn and grow, and through the creative process can develop abilities such as physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play also fosters imagination and can be a critical part of balancing stress in our lives and promoting health and wellness. At The Woodlands Children’s Museum, we offer hands-on interactive exhibits uniquely designed for young learners. Our mission is to create opportunities that educate, empower, and excite children and families through play while inspiring a lifelong sense of wonder and discovery.
“In an increasingly complex world, children’s museums provide a place where all kids can learn through play with the caring adults in their lives.” – Association of Children’s Museums
Play-a-Long Pavilion Stage
Books, costumes,music and puppets make this a magical area to pretend and play! Imagination is king and you’re the star on our performance stage. Watch for special events that create first-time experiences with character visits, magicians, marionettes, cultural performances, musicians, critter encounters, shadow puppets and more! Weekly Storybook Theater and other activities inspire children to dream big and reach for the stars!
The John Cooper School Dream and Build Exhibit
STEAM Exhibit
Little Ocean Wonders
Our largest gallery in the museum, Little Ocean Wonders is designed specifically for our youngest visitors under age two. Within the exhibit, little ones can practice new movement skills such as crawling, climbing, and standing in a soft play ocean-themed environment. A reading nook allows families to share a story together in the calming presence of our large fish tank.
Pretend Playhouse and Market and Play Cafe
The Playhouse encourages children to use their imaginations while practicing life skills. Through pretend play such as sweeping the floor or having a tea party, these activities build both fine and gross motor skills in an environment where children can also work together and make new friends.
Imitate the role of a shopper, stocker, chef, waiter, customer, cashier and more in this child-size grocery store and café. Children will find a wide assortment of realistic play food in a market place setting, complete with a cash register, grill, food prep station, bar stools and counter, and a fruit and veggie sorter. Children can engage in creative play while developing fine and gross motor skills, exploring new foods, sorting and counting, and learning cooperation and social skills.
The Muse Art Bar
Create a new project each day with museum staff! Specially curated and culturally diverse art projects are designed to allow children to explore a wide variety of mediums and processes. While engaging in artistic expression and abstract thinking, children can practice fine motor skills such as painting, gluing, stamping, rubbing, folding, weaving, and more. We can’t wait to see what you create!
LEGO® Build Table
Playing with LEGO® enhances problem-solving skills as children design and build various structures, encouraging creative thinking and spatial awareness. It promotes fine motor development through the manipulation of small pieces, improving dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Engaging in LEGO® play also supports cognitive development by allowing children to plan, execute, and adjust their creations. Additionally, it fosters social skills and teamwork when children collaborate on projects and share ideas.
Splish Splash Water Play
Splash around in your rain jacket and boots, and try to find the catch of the day! The Water Play exhibit introduces the physical properties of water and allows your child to make new discoveries about movement, velocity, and force. Which objects will sink or float? How does a fishing pole work? Learn to manipulate water in different ways, apply practical applications, all while having some wet and wild fun!
Fire Station
Role-playing in the fire station helps children develop empathy and social skills by allowing them to take on roles and understand the responsibilities of firefighters. It enhances their problem-solving abilities as they navigate simulated emergencies and work together to resolve them. This type of play also supports language development and communication skills as children articulate their actions and collaborate with peers.
Discovery Tunnel
With lookout windows and pop-up portholes, the Discovery Tunnel offers children a playful path for entering the museum’s exhibits. Located near the entrance, the tunnel engages a child’s natural curiosity by inviting them to see what’s inside, what’s beyond, and what can I discover?
All Aboard! Train Tables
The All Aboard! Train Tables are sure to excite your little engineer. Imagine rolling the train cars around town, up and over bridges, through the trees, and around the curves and bends. Children will be able to work together, as well as develop skills such as vocabulary building, imitating noises, prediction, sequencing, counting, & color identification.
Sensory Bins
Sensory bins are a hands-on opportunity for children to explore their world through a variety of textures and senses. Sensory play may calm, focus, and engage children of all ages and abilities. Children can also improve fine motor skills through scooping, grasping, stirring, and pouring with a variety of tools.
Scoop and Shovel Dig Pit
Can you find it? Children will delight in this tactile experience by using shovels, scoops, and diggers to explore what’s hidden in the soft foam dig pit. Watch out for dinos and other surprises!
What people are saying:
It a wonderful place to take your babies and grandbabies they can have their freedom and run all over the place with out getting hurt there's all kind of Play station that they can go and play in and very friendly people and the babies can play together and have a blast and at the in of the Day they are ready to go home and take a nap Thank you children museum we will definitely return and tell other friends and families
We have had another wonderful summer doing several camps at the Woodlands Children's Museum. Your staff is very caring and well-versed in what they teach. I have been so thankful to have a high-quality, educational option for Clara this summer. Clara gets up everyday excited to go to camp and comes home with great things to share. Please tell your staff they are all appreciated. 🙂
This place was a huge hit with my toddler! There is a space for children under two to play, a play-house, pretend-store, sensory bins, a water table where you can fish, and more! They encouraged mask wearing and had hand sanitizer stations, which was a nice touch. Staff is helpful, polite,, and constantly working to clean and organize stations. I highly recommend giving this place a visit!
The Woodlands Children’s Museum
4775 West Panther Creek Drive #280
The Woodlands, TX 77381
281-465-0955
281-465-0956 fax
museum@woodlandschildrensmuseum.org
As a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit our goal is to make memories and create learning opportunities for children in our community. Your donation will help children discover, play, imagine and grow in a safe and nurturing environment. Click to donate.