New York Transit Museum

New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn.

Child Friendly Score: My children scored this between a 7-9.  They do not allow strollers in the museum store, but they do allow them in the rest of the museum. It can be very busy during the school day with a lot of classes.  But they leave about 1 p.m.

Price: Adults are $7 and children (ages 2-17) are $5.  It is also free one day of the year on Brooklyn-Queens day.

Things to Remember: The guards make sure the children are with their parents or guardians at all times.  There is a cafeteria for everyone to take a break and eat (though I don't think they sell any food).  There are several restaurants within a few blocks of the museum.

Overall my kidlets loved it!  They ran around down by the trains, which made me nervous, but it all worked out---when they did that it was time to leave.

Queens Museum of Art

Child Friendly Score: Kidlets scored it a 9 (do not miss the children's art education area--the people there love kids and want them to come. This is with the new expansion happening). I'd score it a 5 without the education room.

Price: Free with Cool Culture Pass; suggested donation--adults $8; kids $4 (5 and under free); they also have Target free day.

Things to Remember: The highway is not well marked in this area (at least that is how it felt to me), so if you're driving just be prepared for a few wrong turns.  The museum is undergoing expansion and there are not many exhibits open--but the art education room more than makes up for it.  The museum is near many great museums and right behind it is the 1964 World's Fair globe (very photo worthy).  The art education lab hosts many family events, usually on Sundays. Check their website for more details!

The Queens Museum of Art was another inspiring museum that I have wanted to visit for a very long time.  We were almost all the way through the museum when Jane, one of the interns for the museum came to us and said, "Why don't you come into the education lab and you can do a project and take it home." 

I have never had anyone come search out my family in a museum before, usually the guards keep a raised eyebrow-ed eye and they wanted my children to explore art.  The moment my daughter stepped into the room she began talking about how dearly she loved art, which made the art educators there beam. 

They got out supplies to let the children build their own buildings--any colors and many beautiful patterns.  The Queens Museum of Art has a lot of programs for children.  Check their website because it will be fun!

The water table exhibit was a quick walk through with my brood, but they still wanted to touch the bright colors--despite the rope that surrounds it. Watch your toddlers with their fabulous climbing skills that will undoubtedly want to scale the water table and experience the bright colors on the now multi-million-dollar exhibit first hand (and foot). 

Their world's fair exhibits of the water table and the five borough map still amaze me. We found all the places that we've lived and several of the places the children know.  We missed the plane that flies in and out of La Guardia Airport--in the exhibit.  

My kidlets have been asking me if we can go back, which I hold as a great sign. They loved it!

The Moxie Spot

The Moxie Spot

Price: $2.50 per child or $5 per family for the play room, unless you purchase food--then it is free. I think the most expensive thing on the menu was $14, but most of it ranges between $4-6. 

Child Friendly Score: 9 

Stroller: I believe strollers are acceptable throughout the building, but the play area are on the second floor.

Food: tasty, child size portions--sensitive to food allergies/specifics.

 Playroom accessories: Foosball table, dress ups, stories (and a story time), posters, tools for drawing, stickers, etc.

Things to Remember: The playroom is on the second floor--up a lot of stairs. They have a heavy door that is difficult for little children to open (thankfully). Water is available on the second floor, for you to pour yourself, as well as condiments, utensils and paper napkins.  There is a bathroom on each floor. The first floor has a sitting area and some places for little children to draw, turn knobs, and watch television.

My boys loved the Foosball table and my daughter loved the artwork.

My kidlets were begging me to go back as we left and the next day.  We probably will go back.

New York Historical Society Museum

New York Historical Society Museum
Child-friendly score: 7 (they have a children's area)
Discounted/free times: Friday from 6-8 p.m. is pay what you wish. It is free for Cool Culture Pass Members.
Money saved for going free: $25
Things to remember: Keep curious children away from buttons they can normally push.
My 4-year-old pushed the wheelchair access button for the theater in the middle of the show, while I was sitting two feet away and helping other children, and two museums workers rushed to inform us that was not acceptable--they looked at me like we'd done it on purpose for the entire time the doors were open. It was a very long 30-seconds.

Instead of going right when you get there, go to the children's floor last because they will love it.  Also, if you don't want to fork out the $7-9 coat check--as per my two second glance, they have little open cubbies to put your non-valuables.  It's where we put our empty pocketed coats.

They have a section for those that were in the orphanage and it plays recordings of dear orphans expressing a desire for a mommy and daddy and it just about melts your heart!

The New York Historical Society Museum has a movie that plays every thirty minutes (in the theater I mentioned earlier). We missed it due to hunger and the need to get home because it was snowing, but the kind woman that gave us our tickets told us that it was kid appropriate. She said there is a small section about 9/11, but nothing that could worry sensitive souls--like my kidlets.

They had a room of sculptures that looked like they would start talking and moving about the moment you looked away.  I couldn't help thinking that someday, if I have sculptures around my house, I would love some of those smiling, family gathering ones.

This is the reason you want to go the children's floor last, not only do they have an exciting scavenger hunt sometimes, they have this area where you put what you want to be and it labels a picture it takes of you and displays it for a few minutes to other museum patrons.  My son looks shocked that he is the president of tomorrow. :) 

The traditional rabbit fingers hat, compliments of R.

Mommy Poppins Blog Entry and Cool Culture Pass Received

Mommy Poppins has a great giveaway for today only. Check it out. http://mommypoppins.com/family/giggle

I am really excited to tell you, I got a 2012-2013 Cool Culture Family Pass (thanks to my pre-schooler's school) and I'm over-the-moon excited about it. It gives families of schools that are part of the program access to 90 museums in NYC.  How awesome is that?! I just want to go right now. One of them is 20 minutes away and I'm just itching to go . . .  because NYC is amazing and visiting the museums are one of the things I like to do the most.

Also, Christmas break is coming and you know what that means. I could either stay at home with the kidlets watching dear, but corny Christmas movies and refereeing family fights or we could be adventures absorbing the city museum by museum.  

Now which ones will we visit first?!

Fort Magic Building Kit Contest Entry

Mommy Poppins is giving away a Fort Magic Building Kit. This is a contest entry to win it. :)  Today only. Want to try?!  Go here. http://mommypoppins.com/family/fort-magic#

Mommy Poppins Contest Entry

Mommy Poppins is having a great giveaway!  They are giving away a box of toys from Toys "R" Us worth $242!  So go and sign up for a try to win!

http://mommypoppins.com/family/the-hottest-toys-r-from-toys-r-us

Thanks Mommy Poppins for all you do!  We appreciate you!