Chicago Children’s Museum

Three floors of fun for kids and their families!

There are so many ways to play at Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier! Dig for bones on a dinosaur expedition. Scale a three-story schooner, from cargo hold to crow’s nest. Make a big splash in a squirting, pumping water playground (raincoats provided!). Tinker with real tools and materials in the ultimate DIY maker-space. Dress up as a firefighter, drive the truck and put out a “fire.” Paint, print, sew, sketch and sculpt in an authentic art studio. Construct a skyscraper, fish in a river, shop in a grocery store and much more. Chicago Children’s Museum is three floors of fun for kids and their families!

Chicago Children’s Museum offers a rotating calendar of programs in the Art Studio, Great Hall, Pritzker Playspace, and Tinkering Lab. Please visit program locations for session times and free passes. Space is limited. Free passes are available 1 hour before the workshop starts at each workshop location.

SPECIAL HOURS

LATE OPEN on Feb. 8 | 11 am – 5 pm

Special Programming

I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit | Now – May 10, 2026
I AM WILD: A Charley Harper Exhibit explores the flora and fauna of six different habitats, including the Desert, Ocean, Rainforest, Sky, Woods and City. The exhibit invites children and families to discover the diversity and interdependency of life in the natural world, fostering an appreciation for its creatures. LEARN MORE

$5.29 Family Day with Bright Start 529 College Savings | Sunday, January 25 | 10AM-5PM
Join Chicago Children’s Museum for $5.29 Family Day sponsored by Bright Start 529, an Illinois 529 college savings plan. In addition to $5.29 admission, families who register for the event can decorate and take home their very own piggy bank in the Bright Start 529 “Little Savers Crafting Workshop. Registration is limited, so sign up today to learn how Bright Start 529 can help you provide your child a brighter future. LEARN MORE

Play For All | February 8 and April 12
Play For All invites children and families with disabilities and Chicago Children’s Museum members to come and experience CCM’s inclusive, multisensory exhibits and programs. The museum opens at 10 am for Play for All guests and members exclusively, and at 11 am to the general public. Pre-registration is required for free admission. LEARN MORE

Space is limited in Art Studio, Pritzker Playspace and Tinkering Lab. Free passes are available 1 hour before the workshop starts at each workshop location.

ART STUDIO

Workshop Times
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm

Painting Studio | Now – February 23 
Explore different painting methods in this workshop for all ages. Paint anything from large-scale collaborative works to mini masterpieces you can take home!