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 Programming

Take Care with Peanuts The Exhibit | Now – January 4, 2026
Good grief! Join Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Gang at Chicago Children’s Museum! Step into Take Care with Peanuts: The Exhibit and be transported into the world of Charles M. Schulz’s iconic comic strip. See beloved characters spring to life with interactive displays and activities focused on self-care, empathy, and environmental stewardship. Explore character-themed sections, comic-inspired designs, and sustainable features that inspire learning, creativity, and kindness for visitors of all ages. LEARN MORE

Thanksgiving Week of Play | Nov. 22 – 30 (Closed on Thanksgiving)
Let’s Make Music! | November 23 – November 26; November 28 – November 29
Great Hall at Chicago Children’s Museum 10 am-12 pm, 1 pm-3 pm
Rattle and shake! Dance and sing! Join us in making instruments inspired by the life and music of beloved children’s musician Ella Jenkins. What sounds will you make on your instrument? Will you invite someone to play along?

Play For All | December 7, 2025, February 8, 2026, and April 12, 2026
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

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

Finger Puppets | October 15-November 17 | All Ages
Create a finger puppet friend out of fabric, repurposed materials and your creativity!

Thankful Cards | November 19 – December 15 | All Ages
Who are you thankful for? Create a beautiful card to show how much you care for the special people in your life.