Miriam P. Brenner Children's Museum

My kids had the best time at the museum! There is so much to do and even though it was crowded there is plenty of room! We got there around 2 and stayed til almost 5 and they got to do everything twice. Highly recommend!

Disappointed and Concerned

Our family purchased a year-long membership to the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum about six months ago, hoping it would be a fun and safe environment for our three kids (ages 10, 6, and 3). We've visited several times, but unfortunately, we’ve gotten sick after nearly every visit. While we understand that places like this naturally involve a lot of hands-on interaction and shared spaces, it’s been a consistent pattern that made us cautious.

However, what ultimately led us to cancel future visits was something much more troubling. On our most recent trip, we were deeply disappointed to find that the children’s books in the reading corner were promoting themes of gender identity and sexuality — specifically a book titled "Jacob's New Dress." This kind of content, especially in a children’s play environment, feels inappropriate and out of place. Our kids are here to play, learn, and explore, not to be introduced to topics that are complex, controversial, and—frankly—not age-appropriate.

To make matters worse, an announcement was made over the speaker system: “In honor of Pride Month, we’ll be doing a rainbow-themed science experiment.” I was stunned. Why am I being forced into a conversation with my kids about sexuality and identity before they even understand what any of that means? Because I took them to a children’s museum?

We recognize the museum’s desire to reflect the diversity of the broader community, but it feels like families who hold more traditional values are not equally represented or respected. Inclusion shouldn’t mean the exclusion or silencing of others with different beliefs. It was heartbreaking to tell my 3-year-old son that I couldn’t read him any of the books that were displayed because of our personal values — especially in a space that’s supposed to bring families together.

We won’t be returning. That said, I’m not writing this to tell people to avoid the museum altogether. I’m saying: pay attention. Don’t assume that just because a place is designed for children that it automatically has your child’s best interest in mind. Look around. Take note of the activities, the decor, and the books on display. You might find yourself put in a position to have a conversation with your kids that neither of you are ready to have — all because of a visit to what should be a neutral, imaginative space for all families.

What a fun spot with a large variety of activities for kids! I absolutely love the garden area and chickens to teach kids about how to care for living things. The water room was also a favorite of my son's along with the train and the airplane. The mini shopping carts in the market are adorable too. So many tables for crafting options, too! It is so helpful that they have headphones for any kids that may feel overstimulated by noise too. Definitely check out their $5 Friday night discount because it's not very crowded then and it's a great way to save some money. Also love that parking is free.

Personally, the yearly membership has been a great investment for my family. My child isn’t in daycare, and as a young mom, I don’t have many friends with kids his age. The children’s museum has provided a wonderful space for him to socialize with peers, be creative, and burn off energy. We visit multiple times a week, and the staff is always incredible. Every day, there are age-appropriate activities and story times that David absolutely loves. We look forward to every visit!

This is the best place to visit with young kids! I've taken my three and six year olds to many children's museums, but this was by far the most fun for them. It's organized into themed play areas (e.g. theater, grocery store, pizza shop, post office, train station, outdoor garden, outdoor playground, construction site) with interesting information, decorations and play toys, but with a heavy focus on instructed creative play. The kids make it fun with their creativity! Our kids loved the theatre where they can select lighting, sounds, design their set, and dress up backstage to put on their own creative play or musical! The outdoor garden was interesting too with edible fruits and vegetables they could pick or feed to live chickens. The outdoor playground has the largest net adventure climbing area that I've ever seen!