Children's Museum of Tacoma

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  • Preschool Powered by Play
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Programs at the Museum

For additional information about all of our programs, contact Crystal Smith at csmith@playtacoma.org or 253.627.6031 ext 221.

Tuesday Play Days

Every Tuesday morning from 10 - 11:30 a.m.


The Museum is open every Tuesday morning* exclusively for families with children who have special needs. This family program is drop in, with no reservation required. Admission is Pay As You Will. For more information, contact Miranda Owen at mowen@playtacoma.org or 253.627.6031 ext. 228.

Watch Northwest Now on KBTC and learn more about the program.

Daily & Weekly Activities

STEAM Activity

Children of all ages and abilities will be able to explore these science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics activities lead by a PlayGuide.
Daily at 11 a.m.

Art Activity

Join us for an art activity in the Museum that celebrates your creativity!
Daily 3 - 4 p.m.

Museum Fun Days

While every day at the Children’s Museum is fun and engaging, join us as we celebrate whimsical national holidays, layering a silly invitation to your playful experience.

These events are available during regular Children’s Museum of Tacoma hours. This program is Pay As You Will admission.


National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day 
January 28
(Member-Only Monday)

From popping, to packing to print-making bubble wrap has many uses. Come celebrate bubble wrap at the Children’s Museum of Tacoma and create one of a kind prints made from bubble wrap.

Love Notes 
February 6 - 15 

Using a plethora of supplies, create collaged cards perfect for sharing with the loved ones in your life.
 
Read Across America Day 
March 2 

Join Museum staff for as we share a favorite children’s books during story times at 11 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

International Children’s Book Day 
April 2 - 8 

In honor of International Children’s Book Day, Becka’s Studio will be filled with materials to help authors and illustrators make their own favorite book!


WEE ONES WEEKLY

Monday for Members Only | 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Fridays for Everyone | 9:30 – 11 a.m.


Drop in and enjoy thematic and musical programs perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and their grown-ups during the academic year September - May. Program participation includes 30 minutes of exclusive play in the Museum. No registration required.

Free to Members. Non-Members are $5 per family. 

Winter Schedule

January

7 & 11 - N is for Nighttime 
14 & 18 - O is for Owls
No class on January 21
25 - P is for Polar Pal
28 - Q is for Queen  

February
1 - Q is for Queen
4 & 8 - R is for Rainbow
11 & 15 - S is for Sparkle 
No class February 18
22 - T is for Tea
25 - U is for Unicorn 

March 
1- U is for Unicorn 
4 & 8 - V is for Volcano 
11 & 15 - W is for Whale  

*No WOW on the following days:
December 24 - January 4
January 21 
February 18



Exceptional Families Parent Workshops

Second Thursday of every month, 6-8 p.m.

Winter dates: January 10, February 14, March 14, April 11

The Children's Museum of Tacoma, together with the Exceptional Families Network's support group and SPECIAL Families of Pierce County, hosts a monthly evening program for families with children who have special needs. 

Advance registration through SPECIAL Families of Pierce County is required for admission of all children into the museum on workshop nights. Parents will need to complete an online intake form for each child they plan to bring. To request an intake form and register your child, please contact SPECIAL Families of Pierce County at specialfamiliestacoma@gmail.com.

PBS Play Date

Second Saturday of each month from 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Join us as we partner with KBTC each month for fun and learning around a selected PBS Kids television show. This is a free, drop in program. Costumed characters do not make an appearance during this program.

*PBS Play Date programs are presented in partnership with KBTC and are funded by a Ready To Learn grant (PR/AWARD No. U295A100025, CFDA No. 84.295A) provided by the Department of Education to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Programs in association with KBTC are FREE to all participants. The PBS KIDS logo is a registered mark of PBS and is used with permission.

Upcoming Themes:

January 12: Odd Squad
February 9: Pinkalicious and Peterrific
March 9: Cat in the Hat



HopeSparks: Relatives Raising Children Group

Upcoming Dates: January 2 | February 6 | March 6 

Times: 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Come meet other caregivers who are raising relative children not theirs by birth. Share a snack, learn about resources, talk about challenges and opportunities while the kids play at the Children’s Museum of Tacoma.

Kinship Caregivers include grandparents, aunts & uncles, siblings, cousins, godparents, stepparents, and fictive kin.

For more information or to register please call Tamie Nielsen 253-565-4484


Alliance for Child Welfare Excellence:
Caregiver Continuing Education

Upcoming Dates:

February 28 - I-LABS 14: "Racing" Toward Equality: Why Talking to Your Kids About Race is Good For Everyone

March 27 - I-LABS 16: Foundations of Literacy

Times: 6 - 7 p.m. The trainings will be one hour in duration followed by one hour of support group.

All children deserve the best start in life and new scientific discoveries deepen our understanding of how to create the best environments for children. The Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences at the University of Washington (I-LABS) is an interdisciplinary center dedicated to discovering the fundamental principles of human learning, with a special emphasis on early learning and brain development.

The Children’s Museum of Tacoma is excited to partner with the Alliance and I-LABS in order to offer training modules to caregivers and provide childcare during the trainings at the museum. Each I-LABS module explores a particular topic in child development, such as brain development, language acquisition, or imitation. Modules share evidence-based information about how young children learn. The modules are useful for understanding everyday interactions with children and cover a variety of relevant topics such as a child’s first days, early interactions, learning, emotions, language, attachment, temperament, race and equality, music, literacy and more.

Limited child care is available for children 3-12. Registration is required. Stalls 1-10 adjacent to museum can be used if vacant, otherwise, use street parking. Signs will be posted directing you to the training room. Feel free to bring a meal or other refreshments.

For more information or to request the childcare paperwork please contact Stephanie Rodrigues at 206-321-1721 or steph75@uw.edu.



In Becka's Studio


Steam Studio

Ongoing in Studio B
Within the STEAM Studio visitors are invited to make, tinker, and create. Hoppers brim with recycled materials and workstations are equipped with authentic tools. Children and adults playfully engage in designing, engineering, and building as they bring a plan into 3-D form. Start with a blueprint, or create a plan of your own. Collect all of the needed materials and tools and set to work. Experimenting and problem solving skills will be honed as curious builders imagine materials in a new light and envision sequential steps to complete their project.

To ensure that our material hoppers are brimming with creative potential, we need your help to save and bring in the following recycled materials mentioned above! You are welcome to place them in the donation hopper located in the Museum's Lobby.


WINTER WHIMSY STUDIO
Starting January 2019

A frosty chill is in the air in Becka's Studio as we welcome winter inspired activities to celebrate the changing season. Create wintry designs using a wax resist technique, make crystallized scenes with salt, and let the whimsy of the season inspire your creations.

PRINTING STUDIO
March 2019-June 2019

Experience our playful twist on printmaking and create one of a kind prints. What is a mono-print? How do you use a brayer and printing plate? What mark does a kitchen utensil leave behind? Looking at everyday materials in a new light develops flexible and creative thinking for artists of all ages.



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Hours:                   

Monday - Members-Only Play Day: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tuesday - Special Needs Play Day: 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (Closed for the day after 11:30 a.m.)
Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 
Thursday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Special Museum Closures
April 21, 2019 for professional development
                               

Member's Hours
Monday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9 - 10 a.m.

Location:

1501 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, Washington 98402
Phone: 253.627.6031
Fax: 253.627.2436

Office: 1501 Pacific Avenue, Suite 202

             

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Birthday Parties:

Bring the Power of Play to Your Child's Birthday!

For Reservations:

Call 253.627.6031 ext. 3
csmith@playtacoma.org

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