It’s a 23 minute drive for us but it is so worth it. It’s relatively small and the activities don’t change much but my daughter (currently 21 months) absolutely LOVES it. The staff are super friendly and she has room to explore.
- The hours are pretty limited and the weekends are quite busy but if you stay at home with your little one (or their primary caretaker can take them) invest in a membership.
It’s a perfect field trip when the weather gets too hot, too cold, or is raining. - Bring a change of clothes, they have painting and water play. So fun!
Sure they have protective vests but my daughter simply refuses to wear it. Instead of fighting, just bring spare clothes and shoes. - They have a secret hot glue gun stash in the craft room. If you can’t find it, ask staff. Adult use only.
I learned the hard way when I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to use the glue stick to attach feathers to paper. No bueno. - Notice the artwork in the restrooms. Each one has a special theme.
Sounds weird but that’s where I reinforce some baby sign language. - If your child is especially small and is under 3, hang out in the nursery area. Parents are pretty friendly overall and having your baby roll around in there is A LOT less lonely than having them roll around at home by yourself.
- The scarf blower come out of different directions depending on how the knob is turned.
My daughter’s favorite is having the scarfs shoot off from the top and me trying to catch it while holding her. Simply position yourself under the scarf and it will float nicely atop her head. Bigger kids can try to catch it with no hands in this same manner. - Be present. Set aside your cell phone and ask them questions, talk to them, observe their behavior, notice what they gravitate towards, give them the space to figure things out, be encouraging, be loving.
As you nurture and embrace their sense of independence, they will grow. It’s a beautiful thing.
The Sacramento Children’s Museum has become a magical place for my little one, where things are familiar, clean, and happy. It is our sincerely hope that you too will build wonderful memories there too.
With love and gratitude,
KC and baby