Best Kept Secrets of the Brooklyn Children's Museum

Welcome to children of all ages, as well as their parents and caregivers, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is the perfect thing to do for families in Brooklyn as it is an educational, entertaining, and engaging learning environment for kids. Whether you come from one of the surrounding neighborhoods of Bed-Stuy, Flatbush, Prospect Park, Prospect Heights, and Brownsville or you are coming from other Brooklyn neighborhoods such as Park Slope, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Bay Ridge, Dumbo, Sheepshead Bay, Bensonhurst, Downtown Brooklyn, on Sunset Park, the family trip will definitely be worth-while fun for all ages.

The Brooklyn Children’s Museum will take you and your young one through the cultures and environments of your Brooklyn backyard. The museum, founded in 1899 as an alternative to existing museums, was the world’s first children’s museum. It took the world by storm as it revolutionized the way visitors interact with museums, emphasizing participatory exhibits for children and focusing on leaning through hands-on experiences. It remains New York City’s largest cultural institution designed especially for families. The Crown Heights-based museum continues its original mission as it serves 275,000 children and caregivers annually with its diverse range of exhibits and programs. 

Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s Permanent Exhibits

In addition to a rotating exhibit, the museum remains one of the only children’s museums with a permanent collection in the United States, with six separate exhibits.

World Brooklyn

World Brooklyn is the first permanent exhibit you will come across when entering the museum. In an effort to have children gain an appreciation and understanding for their community, they are free to play in kid-sized shops based on real ones in Brooklyn. 

In the International Grocery Store, children have the chance to carry a miniature shopping cart or basket while picking out fake fruits, meats, and dairy products. In the Mexican Bakery, children can pretend to buy traditional pastries such as concha, mona bread, or pan de muerto, or they can act like they are making it themselves! In the Afrikan Market, kids have the opportunity to try on traditional West African jewelry and clothing, design and make traditional patterns, or even build a chair commonly found in West Africa. The L&B Spumoni Gardens Pizzeria and Restaurant mimics that on 86th Street in Bensonhurst. Here there are tables and menus set up outside and a kitchen and food prep station inside.

Located in the World Brooklyn Exhibit, the Don Paco Lopez Panaderia gives children an immersive experience into the real, local Mexican bakery located in Sunset Park. There is also a location in Manhattan.

Neighborhood Nature

Just a few steps away from World Brooklyn, you will find Neighborhood Nature. With many subsections, this exhibit focuses on the environments and habitats of the animals you can find in your Brooklyn backyard.

With a pretend garden, children can use plastic shovels to plant vegetables while learning about sustainable food and living. Take a walk outside to the greenhouse and garden. Turn the corner to find a beach, with a large sandbox and stations for children to design their own shell. Throughout the area, find live turtles, snakes, bugs, and more, as well as dioramas of bigger animals such as racoons or bald eagles.

Collections Central

On the second level of the museum, you will find Collections Central which is a much smaller and quieter section. Here children are able to learn about the elements of design such as line, shape, texture, and form while looking at traditional African art as real examples. While you are here, you will also see artifacts such as an elephant skeleton, as well as learn about the uses of objects such as bamboo and solar power.

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