Children’s Museum of NH’s Celebrates it’s 40th Anniversary with you this year! Special programs and fun events kick off in January and continue throughout 2023!

2023 is the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire’s 40th anniversary year and the museum is ready to celebrate with the community that has helped shape it into one of the state’s most well attended family attractions. In addition to all its regularly scheduled events and programs, the museum has planned a few special events like a Dover Resident’s Day in June during which Dover residents can visit for $1 per person, and a Family Fun Day in July when all visitors will pay only $1 per person admission – which is what the museum charged for admission back when it opened in 1983! In addition, the museum will be sharing photos and memories from throughout its long history, and inviting the community to do the same. Check www.childrens-museum.org for updates.

Through August of 2023, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is offering free admission for Childcare Providers from NH Licensed centers/facilities. The free admission applies only to the childcare provider and one of the following proof of employment is required: valid ID with business card, pay stub, or center ID. The museum is able to offer this free admission because they are a recipient of an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) INSPIRE! Grant for small museums. CMNH launched a series of educational initiatives designed to help providers and families implement enriching, engaging, and developmentally appropriate play-based learning (PBL) activities for children from birth to age 5. Learn more about this discount and others online: https://childrens-museum.org/visit/accessibility

Sunday & Friday Birthday Parties are available at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, and include access to a private classroom area for food and cake, along with complete access to the museum’s exhibits. Birthday Party dates are going quickly, so reserve yours online today at https://childrens-museum.org/visit/parties.

Book a Field Trip to the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire! Whether you want a simple Self-Guided visit, or if you want a visit with a STEAM Workshop for added fun, CMNH has something for all schools. We can now accommodate groups of up to 60 students and their chaperones. We even have free and discounted visits for Title 1 schools thanks to support from the Lincoln Financial Foundation. Dates are available through spring of 2023 and you can reserve your date and time online today! Learn more at www.childrens-museum.org.

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire has been chosen as one of the area’s “Target Circle” non-profits. This provides Target shoppers with the opportunity to vote for CMNH after shopping at Target, and those votes will help direct Target’s giving to benefit the museum. Voting continues through the end of March 2023. Voting can be done through the Target app or through the website and is available to all Target Circle members (free to sign up). Target.com/circle

Winter Museum Hours: All museum play sessions are mask optional – Wednesdays – Saturdays, 9am-Noon or 1-4pm; Tuesdays & Sundays 9am-Noon. Before visiting, the Museum is asking guests to reserve and pre-pay online to help stick to their capacity limit, which is currently at 50% of its actual capacity, or 250 individuals. Learn more at www.childrens-museum.org.

Volunteer at CMNH: Our museum has always thrived with the help of many hands, and after a hiatus we are very excited to start recruiting volunteers to help with our programs and events throughout the year. Since we reopened in 2020, the museum has been very grateful to have a few dedicated volunteers help with events, programs, and our garden. We are now ready to bring back more volunteers in various roles from helping with art projects, to events, to summer camps! We welcome volunteers with all kinds of skills and backgrounds. To be considered for a volunteer role, see our website for volunteer roles and descriptions, as well as the application form. Our age requirement to volunteer is age 14 and up without an adult, and younger children may volunteer with an adult for some roles. Visit www.childrens-museum.org to learn more and to apply.

CALL FOR MAKERS – New Hampshire Maker Fest

• Deadline for applications is Monday, May 22, 2023
• Date of NH Maker Fest: Saturday, June 3, 10am-3pm

Join us at the 11th annual New Hampshire Maker & Food Fest, an all ages celebration of creativity and innovation taking place in and around the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in downtown Dover, NH on Saturday, June 3 from 10am-3pm. If you are an engineer, a scientist, a baker, a tinkerer, a hobbyist, or an artisan, we want to see what you do! Sign up to be a Maker presenter, performer, sponsor, to give a workshop, or to sell your creations. Visit www.childrens-museum.org to learn more or to register.

Gallery 6 Art Exhibition: Step into a Story – Art by New England Illustrators
On view through March 6, 2023

Five New England Illustrators will be displaying some of their creations at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire’s Gallery 6 this winter. Work by Lisa Griffin, AJ Smith, Sean Bixby, Karel Hayes, and Vita Lane will be featured. Gallery 6 is sponsored by Bank of America, The Fuller Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation, Abbie F. Moseley Charitable Trust, and the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. Visit www.childrens-museum.org to learn more.

January Programs

Toddler Tinker Time
Tuesdays, January 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 from 10:30-11:30am

Join us for a weekly program that emphasizes the importance of tinkering! Tinkering helps little ones develop fine motor skills, increases problem solving abilities, and is an open invitation to foster peer relationships! What is tinkering?! Tinkering can range from taking something apart and putting it back together to making an open-ended sculpture, to playing with “loose parts” and special science tools. We will have different activities every week and some old favorites will pop up again and again.

Want to join in? Simply reserve spots in the museum’s morning play session that correspond to the date of the Toddler Tinker Time you want to join – it’s included with museum admission, and as always, free for Members! Reserve online at www.childrens-museum.org.

• Tuesday, January 3 from 10:30-11:30am: Winter
• Tuesday, January 10 from 10:30-11:30am: Outer Space
• Tuesday, January 17 from 10:30-11:30am: Outer Space
• Tuesday, January 24 from 10:30-11:30am: Snow
• Tuesday, January 31 from 10:30-11:30am: Snow

Junior Science: The Wonders of Winter
Tuesdays, January 10th – 31st (4 weeks) from 1:30-2:15pm

Join us for Junior Science at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire. We are excited to invite junior scientists (ages 3.5-5 years old) to our next session: The Wonders of Winter. We will be learning all about winter weather and nature through hands-on experiments and activities. This 45 minute class includes a story or felt board activity, followed by a fun experiment, and a related art project to take home. Classes will be held in our STEAM Lab, and families with siblings may opt to play on the second floor during the class time from 1:30-2:15pm – please note that the museum is closed to the public on Tuesday afternoons. Grown ups are welcome to stay in the building during class time. Cost is Members $40/child; Non-Members $48/child. Pre-registration is required. Visit www.childrens-museum.org to learn more.

Wee Ones Wednesdays
Wednesdays, January 11, 18 & 25 from 9:15-10am

Join Miss Xanthi at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire for this interactive weekly program for children ages 2-4. Designed as a PRE pre-school program for children and a parent or caregiver, we will enjoy art, music, movement and conceptual learning together! This program is limited to 10 children, and caregivers or adults are welcome to sign up multiple children within their family. Pre-reservation/payment is required and does not include museum admission. Reservations to stay and play in museum exhibits must be made separately. Prices: Child $11 ($8 for Members), Additional Children (if participating in crafts & is a sibling) $8 ($5 for Members). Discount Cards are available for CMNH Members: 5 Class Discount Card for $35 or a 10 Class Discount Card for $65. Visit www.childrens-museum.org for more info and to reserve your spot.

Wacky Art Wednesdays
Wednesdays, January 4, 11, 18 & 25

• 10:30am during Morning Play Session (9am-noon)
• 2:30pm during Afternoon Play Session (1-4pm)

Join us at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire at either 10:30am or 2:30pm every Wednesday to do a wacky and wonderful art project. Want to join in? Simply reserve spots in the museum’s morning or afternoon play session that correspond to the date of the Wacky Art Wednesday you want to join – it’s included with museum admission, and as always, free for Members! Reserve online at www.childrens-museum.org.

• Wednesday, January 4 at 10:30am or 2:30pm: Ice Painting
• Wednesday, January 11 at 10:30am or 2:30pm: Pool Noodle Sculptures
• Wednesday, January 18 at 10:30 am or 2:30pm: Clay Mosaics
• Wednesday, January 25 at 10:30 am or 2:30pm: Tin Foil Printmaking

Baby Storytime
Thursdays, January 5, 12, 19 & 26 9:30-10am

Babies (ages 6 months-2 years) and their caregivers are welcome to join Baby Storytime! This weekly program, led by Museum early childhood specialist Meredith Brustlin, MLIS, features songs, rhymes, movement ideas, and books to babies and their caregivers and introduces important pre-literacy skills along the way! This drop-in program is a great way to socialize with other babies and caregivers. Want to join in? Simply reserve spots in the museum’s morning play session that correspond to the date of the Baby Storytime you want to join – it’s included with museum admission, and as always, free for Members! Reserve online at www.childrens-museum.org.

World Traveler Thursdays: Chinese New Year
Thursdays, January 5, 12, 19 & 26

• 10:30am during Morning Play Session (9am-noon)
• 2:30pm during Afternoon Play Session (1-4pm)

Join us at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire during our Thursday play sessions at either 10:30am or 2:30pm to do a fun craft, play a game, or make some art celebrating a culture from around the world! Each month we will choose one culture or festival to focus on, this month we will be “traveling” to China to learn about Chinese New Year! Want to join in? Simply reserve spots in the museum’s morning or afternoon play session that correspond to the date of the World Traveler Thursday you want to join – it’s included with museum admission, and as always, free for Members! Reserve online at www.childrens-museum.org.

• Thursday, January 5 at 10:30am or 2:30pm: Paper Lanterns
• Thursday, January 12 at 10:30am or 2:30pm: Dragon Puppets
• Thursday, January 19 at 10:30am or 2:30pm: Paper Lanterns
• Thursday, January 26 at 10:30am or 2:30pm: Dragon Puppets

Science Fridays
Fridays January 6, 13, 20 & 27

• 10:30am during Morning Play Session (9am-Noon)
• 2:30pm during Afternoon Play Session (1-4pm)

Join us for Science Fridays! New each week and included with regular Museum admission, Science Friday drop-in programs engage children in experiments and activities that focus on fun, and act as a jumping-off point for learning about science concepts. Sponsored by the State of NH on behalf of the UNIQUE College Investing Plan. Want to join in? Simply reserve spots in the museum’s morning or afternoon play session that correspond to the date of the Science Friday you want to join – it’s included with museum admission, and as always, free for Members! Reserve online at www.childrens-museum.org.

• Friday, January 6 at 10:30am or 2:30pm: Fossil Prints
• Friday, January 13 at 10:30am or 2:30pm: Fizzy Drips
• Friday, January 20 at 10:30 am or 2:30 pm: Make Snow Dough
• Friday, January 27 at 10:30 am or 2:30 pm: Melt a Packing Peanut Snowman

Little Learners Play Group
Fridays, January 6, 13, 20 & 27 from 9am-10am during the morning play session

Join us at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire Friday mornings for a special play time designed for our youngest visitors. Little Learners Play Group is for babies between the ages of 0-2 and their grown ups. The museum’s interactive classroom will be set up with baby friendly sensory activities as well as fine and gross motor activities that children can explore at their own pace. This is a self guided, informal play time where caregivers can chat while babies play and meet new friends. Want to join in? Simply reserve spots in the museum’s morning play session that correspond to the date of the Little Learners Play Group you want to join – it’s included with museum admission, and as always, free for Members! Reserve online at www.childrens-museum.org.

MEMBER-ONLY EVENT: “Bring a Friend” PJ Party
Monday, January 23, 9am-Noon

CMNH Members of any level are invited to an exclusive PJ Party! CMNH Members can invite a non-member family (up to 4 individuals not included in their membership) to play with them during this special event! CMNH Members are required to reserve spots for all, including their guests, online prior to visiting. As always Members play for free, and today only…so do their friends! Be sure to sign-in before adding anything to your cart. Any issues getting your member discounts, please email [email protected]. Reserve online at www.childrens-museum.org

Robotics Petting Zoo Presented by Sages Entertainment
Saturday, January 28 at 11am or 1:30pm

Join us for a special Robot theme day! At 11am during the morning session, and 1:30pm during the afternoon session you can meet robot ambassadors from Sages Entertainment and build your coding skill with hands-on demonstrations. You will learn about how robots help people in everyday life and get to learn how to write the code that makes them so special. In addition, there will be a robot scavenger hunt and themed craft in our Muse Art Studio. This event is funded by Irving Foundation and BAE Systems. Want to join in? Simply reserve spots in the museum’s morning or afternoon play session on Saturday, January 28 – it’s included with museum admission, and as always, free for Members! Reserve online at www.childrens-museum.org.

Coming soon in February

Dinosaur Valentine’s Day Party
Sunday, February 12, 1-3pm

Come celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover with a little dino-themed fun! Make special Valentine’s Day and dinosaur themed crafts, listen to dinosaur stories, and meet a friendly costumed dinosaur to take pictures, and take home a nice treat at the end of the event. The Dinosaur Valentine’s Day Party is sponsored in part by the Silver Fountain Tea Parlor in Dover. This is a special ticketed program, and space is limited. Reservations required. Members are $10/person, non-members are $16/person, and kids under the age of 1 are free. JUST FOR MEMBERS: CMNH Member pre-sale starts Wednesday, January 25th and tickets go on sale to the public Monday, January 30th. Visit www.childrens-museum.org to reserve your tickets.

Try A Junior Science Class: Valentine’s Day FUN\
Tuesday, February 14 (One class), 1:30-2:15pm

Try out our popular Junior Science classes at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire with this special one-class sampler! Interested families and returning scientists can try out Junior Science and see if it is a good fit. Junior scientists (ages 3.5-5 years old) will join this 45 minute Valentine’s Day-themed class and enjoy a story or felt board activity, a fun experiment, and a related art project to take home. This class will be held in our STEAM Lab, and families with siblings may opt to play on the second floor during the class time from 1:30-2:15 pm – please note that the museum is closed to the public on Tuesday afternoons. Grown ups are welcome to stay in the building during class time. Cost is Members $10 per child; Non-Members $12 per child. Pre-registration is required. Visit www.childrens-museum.org to learn more.

Exploring Our Way: Sensory Friendly Playtime
Wednesday, February 1, 1-4pm

For some children with autism spectrum or sensory processing disorders, a visit to museums like the Children’s Museum of NH is challenging or over-stimulating. Exploring Our Way are FREE low-sensory events designed for children with autism spectrum or sensory processing disorders, and allows them to explore the Museum along with their families without the noise, crowds, and stimulation of a typical open day. While the museum is open (with regular admission) to the public during Exploring Our Way, we limit the number of families who can attend, turn down sounds and lights, provide a quiet zone with sensory activities away from the exhibit floor and have noise canceling headphones to borrow. A medical diagnosis is not required. Online pre-registration is required. Visit www.childrens-museum.org to learn more.

About the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

The 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover and offers two levels of hands-on, interactive exhibits for children from newborn to middle school. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art, natural history, and S.T.E.A.M.. Open year-round, the Silver LEED-certified museum specializes in creating memorable family learning experiences and works closely with schools, social service agencies, and educators. A central part of the museum’s mission is ensuring accessibility, and the “Reach All Initiative” works towards this goal by welcoming over 28% of yearly visitors for free or reduced admission. The museum also hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families.