Great place to take kids. I took my 4 year old twins and they had a great time.The employees there are great! One of my girls were ready to go and he did an excellent job engaging her. The same with another female employee who made a rose out of play dough for the other twin. It was pretty peaceful vibe amongst the visitors and all the children and parents that I encountered were mannerable and sharing.The venue was smaller than expected but definitely is worth a visit. There are also really cool postings in one of the studios for the children 5 and under on how to explore art with toddlers or young children. Overall, I would return again.
There are multiple amazing centers where the kids are assisted by staff in expressing their creativity. Through clay, paint, markers, and even their rotational chairs the kids were able to let go and have an amazing time. It’s mainly for the children but watching them unravel themselves in the safe and upbeat environment is fun to see. Definitely worth the visit!
This place is great! Music room, several arts and crafts areas, a super cool room with computers that the kids can do stop motion animation, and a hall of normal museum type art exhibits, and more. And those top chairs that you can spin around in and not fall off. Theres a coat check. Plenty of friendly staff on duty. Overall, I think its a bit better for kids over 4 as it seems there is more to do for them, but, my 3yr old had a blast regardless.
Our first time there. A little small museum with arts n crafts to keep busy!. I wish when I signed up for the clay room the staff would have told me about the music room. My son would have enjoyed both. He didnt get to do it because it was booked for the rest of the day when I finally found out about it. Overall my son had fun at the museum.
Very creative. We went on a class trip and I really enjoyed it here. This place is great for kids. I had a lot of fun going around. They had a lot of things for children to do including many art projects.The atmosphere is very welcoming. I would recommend it to families.
Great place for little ones to spend an afternoon exploring their creative side. Fun afterschool programs and excellent, friendly staff. A little out of the way in terms of location, and yet extremely crowded on weekends. Definitely worth a trip but target off-peek dates!
This is a rather small museum, which I guess is fine since kiddos have a limited attention span. The installation they had up was very beautiful, all different kinds of sculptures and paintings made from books, but my toddler wasnt that interested in it. The best thing about this place are the two active studios where employees are ready and happy to assist you and your kids in exploring and making their own art. The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is that I have and have had access to active art classes for tots for some time, and theyre a lot less expensive than the museum since Im only paying for the kids. So the thing that makes this museum special is something that I can get for cheaper in my own neighborhood.
Weve been there a few times and my daughter loves it. Would have get a membership if there were more activities suiting younger kids and easier to get. I love their wee drop in classes especially their music part in the end. Other than that, it doesnt have enough things for my active 3 year old to do to stay there for a longer time.
Huge disappointment for a visitor. Perhaps locals like the various classes they offer which might explain the good reviews. Its not a museum so the name is misleading. I was surprised to find going in, there was no map of rooms to explore/interact with as typical in most childrens museums. After paying for 3 adults and one child for admission I was confused as to why adults had to pay at all. There was one room with used arts and crafts scraps and some eisals - something Id easily be able to do at a local library for free. There was a clay bar, that we had to make an appointment for, and had to wait more than an hour to do. Its basically modeling clay and a couple of people assisting. There was a sound studio that was unavailable during our visit. When we complained to staff, they said it was just an open art studio for kids. Staff was unenthusiastic, parents looked miserable.
Great little museum for kids of all ages. They have different sections but definitely sign up for the classes when you get there such as clay building and sound lab. They were interactive and fun, plus my kids got to take home their creations. I like the separate area door toddlers where they can draw, paint and explore. The imagination blocks area was good to burn some energy. Also like their climbing up slide. Would be nice if they offer a place to eat but you can eat on the 1st floor near front entrance. Admission can get pricey but get a Groupon which we did and saved a lot!
I went today to the museum with my 2 years old boy and our experience was poor. This place is not appropriate for toddlers or children under 3-4 years. There is only one room for small children where they can paint or make some art. The other rooms in the museum are dedicated to children above 4 years and older.The museum Staff is generally nice, however, I really didnt like the situation when my son was playing, touching the objects on the play board under the desk while woman( with ginger short hairs) was cutting a paper using a paper cutter over my sons head. She did not care at all! He could easily lose his finger if I did not take him away from that board. I am still wondering how a person like this can work with the smallest children in this museum?
My daughter and I brought my two young grandchildren last Saturday. It was a fun and interactive experience with a lot of hands-on things to do. The reason I gave a four star rating instead of five, is that I was disappointed that the sound booth was not available and they told us we had to wait an hour JUST to sign up. Not to get into the sound booth, but to have someone there available to sign our granddaughter up for a time. I’d think with technology the way it is, signing up for a time to get in would be easier. In my opinion, it’s a great resource for parents, however, making sure all amenities are available when open and paid for should be a high priority.
Great place for younger kids with lots of stations and materials to play with. They do have a very strange and off-putting policy of asking for your email address if you are using a credit card, with no reasonable explanation why. Otherwise a great place, can get crowded quickly.
Hidden gem in the west village below Houston Street. Completely interactive museum with art projects for kids of all ages including watercoloring, clay molding, stop action animation, recording studio, and more. They always have work by real artists in the main hall and themes for hands on creative work in the art studio. Weve been a few times and brought friends with their kids. Everyone has a great time every time. Sunday mornings are a very nice time to visit.
As a member for 4 years and a big supporter of the Arts, I as well as our nanny has come here several times a year. It has always been a positive experience until today. It was pretty crowded by 12pm. A parent decided to aggressively push aside my child who was waiting to paint, so her child can skip 3 other kids who were also waiting. Never again. I refuse to renew my membership and we will not be returning until there are strict rules applied to parents who are aggressive towards other peoples children and parents who try to skip. Although Two other parents saw it and told the staff, they refused to escort this woman out. This woman should of been escorted out immediately. Also, we signed up our kid for the clay bar and when we arrived, someone made lines through our daughters name and another kids name put their kids name instead. Disgusting. I am honestly disgusted by the behavior of grownups who act like this Sparta or something. After this sour experience and the lack of security, I can say that CMA is not worth any price, even if it was free.
Essentially a number of rooms which provide paints, clay, and a few other tactile and creative experiences for kids. Basically your kids will spend a couple hours painting pictures, drawing with markers, gluing pieces of randomness to cardboard, and perhaps playing with clay. Not impressive by any means, but serves a purpose nonetheless. This would be a great place if you lived down the street and needed something to do to pass the time on a rainy day, but not something any tourist should waste their time on. To be honest the use of the word museum is inappropriate since there is only one very small exhibit hall, which is actually a gallery.
While visiting NYC my 3-year old and I were looking for something fun and interactive to do. The morning 10:45 to 12 drop-in class for $25 was literally perfect. I wish it was longer which is my only beef. The instructors were very easy going, friendly and amazing with kids of all ages. The art element was open meaning we could do any form of art we wanted. The music element was very good as well, all the kids were highly engaged. We visited the museum after for a bit and it was probably better for someone older than him, but thats not what we came for nor what this rating is about.Hands down a fantastic institution in NYC that we will absolutely visit again.
Love the clay bar and the painting stations! There is an African market, an Italian pizzeria, a Mexican bakery and a whole lot more to explore!The exhibits upstairs are also fun, educational and unique.Great place to visit! Take your kids to explore their creative side!
This place is amazing. Even though its called museum, its a place where kids actually get to create art. Multiple station with all kinds of different projects, friendly staff and just so much fun for kids and adults for that matter. We popped in for a free afternoon not really knowing what to expect, but its definitely worth it, and well try to be back.
One of my favorite places to take kids in NYC. Children make art in a hands-on creative experience that they are likely missing out on at school. Museum staff are respectful of each child and of her creative process. They offer ideas and guidance but the child makes her piece from beginning to end. Children work hard here and are fully engaged in work of their own design. From an early childhood perspective, learning just does not get any better.
CMA is a fantastic spot for Kids’ Birthday Parties!!! We’ve had the great pleasure of partying at CMA and are consistently impressed by their enthusiastic, artistic, and sweet staff, whose calm presence makes messy art projects carefree for parents and a thrill for kids. Would highly recommend CMA to anyone looking for a venue to hold a creative birthday celebration.
I have been here twice and just love it. There is a lot of different varieties of art for kids to do. My siblings and I had lots of fun there. The only thing I find bad about this place is the location. It is very hard for my family and I to get there. Hopefully they open another museum somewhere closer to home.
Great museum but terrible staff. Male receptionist was playing on his computer and couldn’t be bothered to answer questions. Spent over 30 minutes trying to find out how to sign up for the sound room. Staff member in the sound room would avoid eye contact and look away whenever we looked in from the outside. No one frequented the sound room the entire time we were there since no one could figure out how to get in. We were told to find someone with a iPad so we could sign up. When we found someone, she told us to go ask the front desk. We won’t be coming back.
CMA’s birthday party removes all the stress of party planning and breaks down the experience to its essential core: celebrating the birth of a child through fun activities that bring together a group of children to share a fun, creative 2 hours together. The children will make memories as they explore the creativity within themselves, and parents will watch with wonder as the CMA staff seamlessly whisk these children into a loose activity structure that keeps the children engaged and motivated.The activities are not complex and they are open to any child’s interpretation. Our birthday party, about 25 kids large, ages 3-6, featured the clay bar. The kids spent the first half hour there rolling around and laughing their heads off on the spinning top chairs. They then enjoyed manhandling slime, playing with the other activities, and then joining together to sculpt their favorite animals. Kids could spend as much time as they liked sculpting or could return to the spinning top chairs that brought endless joy to many of the children. Before we knew it, it was time for cake, which the CMA staff masterfully chopped up (cutting large cakes up into perfect slices is such a marketable skill) and disbursed. CMA then helps with cleanup and keeps the game rolling as the party draws to an end and they prepare for the next birthday party in their day.Remember to bring cash to tip your very deserving cast of CMA artist educators. Youre going to be impressed, so make it a good tip.And relax and be ready to throw the most relaxing birthday party of your life.
Stars are only for the creating team and all zero stars for the organizing like they sell tickets for drop offs they do not provid with specific time and their website states is 9am for classes, so in fact is 10 45. Reception doesnt come at 9am and obviously she does give a darn for the time wastes. Her response was we ALWAYS had at 10.45, when was that al ays, that I remember some classes we went to started at 9.30 and 10.How can you teach kids to be organized and respectful, when your stuff is none of those qualities?
I just spent $26 so my 2 year old could play with magnatiles, paint with watercolors and play doh. Just like day care. Very small museum with little for the under 4 crowd to do. I hate giving negative reviews but the title of the place is misleading. It’s a children’s art center, not necessarily a children’s museum.
A very big waste of money and time. There is nothing special here at all! To make a project out of clay you have to stand in line to sign up and then wait another hour or two. The paper they provide for painting is horrible, of the cheapest kind. I am very dissapointed!! They would not honor the groupon discount since it was spring break. Total Sham!!
A very big waste of money and time. It may be okay if you have no paint or markers at home, otherwise there is nothing special here at all! To make a project out of clay you have to stand in line to sign up and then wait another hour or two. The paper they provide for painting is horrible, of the cheapest kind. I am very dissapointed that we wasted time on this
I never been to this museum but you or they can another attraction for the kids like from the animated characters for example a house or a variety of houses how ever you or they like want or can like the house from the barbie from the matel barbie doll,a house of the Cinderella, a house the little mermaid,a house of snow white and 7 duarfs, a house of hello kitty for the girls and for boys a superman house, a Batman house,Spider-Man or avengers house something like that because if you want to know in Florida they have the united kingdom house, in Orlando Florida in Disney world they have the Cinderella house and in China or Japan they have the hello kitty house. You can also check that information if you want/yo nunca a venido a este museo pero se puede a ser mas attraciones infantiles como por ejemplo una o varias casas de la muneca barbie, Cinderella house,snow white(Blanca nieve) sleeping beauty(la Bella durmiente) ,hello kitty para las ninas y para los ninos una casa de superman una de batman, una de Spider-Man,una de avengers puede ser de cualquier muneco infantil que se pueda o quieran aser porque en orlando Florida en Disney world ay tienen una casa de Cinderella(la senicienta) o united kingdom y en China o japon la casa de hello kitty .cheken esa information si quieren
Total reviews rating 4.4
199 Reviews for Childrens Museum of the Arts 2023:
Review №1
2022-03-16We used to come here at least once a month for the arts and activities. Since the pandemic, they dont seem intent on ever reopening their facility. Instead they are offering off-site and virtual experiences for members. Its a shame their leadership made this decision, when other institutions, like the Manhattan and Brooklyn Childrens Museums have been up and thriving for over a year and a half.
Review №2
2020-01-20Cool place for kids of all ages. All kinds of crafts.But I don’t find many art installations and the interaction with art could have been better designed.I drove a long way here but not very surprised. Don’t forget to get Groupon tickets for discounted prices.
Review №3
2020-02-18We’ve been to a lot of kids museums with my 6 year old and this has got to be one of our faves so far. It’s not as big and overwhelming as some we’ve visited so it was perfect for a 2-3 hour outing. We really really enjoyed the Clay Workshop and the Sound Booth. A must recommend for anyone with kids
Review №4
2019-05-28Was pretty packed since it was spring break for many but the staff were very friendly and kids loved getting to paint, draw, make clay figures and do music. Definitely for kids that love crafting.
Review №5
2018-02-04Great place for kids of all ages. Clay bar and stop motion animation studios are pretty cool. Not to mention the arts and craft area for small kids
Review №6
2020-02-21We visited the museum over President’s Day weekend with our 2 year old and our friend’s 8 month old. Our toddler enjoyed painting, playing with play doh & clubbed and building with blocks. He really enjoyed seeing crickets and tucking the various installations throughout the gallery. The museum does give teachers a discount on admission.
Review №7
2019-08-18More things to do for children ages 5 plus the day we visited. Still, looks like a lot of fun. We will definitely return when our son is a little older.
Review №8
2018-12-27Highly recommend taking the children here! Good for children of ALL ages! Staff is extremely polite and Birthday parties seem to be a big hit!
Review №9
2018-08-30This is an excellent museum with some really great hands on experiences for the kids to participate. My grandson loved the music room and making clay sculptures. I recommend this museum to any who have kids and are in NYC or visiting, great experience!
Review №10
2019-05-30Lovely little museum- kept our 3 and 6 year olds very busy!True that there aren’t many activities for kids below 5 year olds, but my 3 yo was quite content playing in the stArt Studio. My older child did the clay bar and did projects at the fine art studio as well.We went on a weekday, went in shortly after 12, and 3 hours later still can’t get our kids to leave.Will definitely visit again when we’re next in New York.