We’ve missed you. So. Much. It is with immeasurable joy we announce that the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota will be reopening at 9am on October 1 on a limited schedule and with new safety protocols in place. Before you plan your visit, please read through the full COVID-19 Reopening FAQs here, but I’ll highlight
Jump with Toddler Wednesday and #CMSMatHome today! We’ll create a path down our driveway, sidewalk, or room and hop the whole length. Gather some sidewalk chalk (for outside play) or pillows and blankets, or placemats, for inside play. Create your lily pads by drawing or arranging items, then jump around like a frog. Can you
Today, we celebrate five memorable years of the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota! Although CMSM was around long before May 1, 2015, that is the day we officially opened the doors of our current location at 224 Lamm St in downtown Mankato. Oh, the memories that have been made here! Let’s Celebrate! We had big
Have you ever made your own seed tape? Let’s do it together with #CMSMatHome! Gather supplies: toilet paper (you won’t need too much!), ruler, marker or pen, 1 tablespoon of flour, some water, cotton swab, tweezers, and a packet of seeds. Unroll the toilet paper to the length of your planned garden row. Measure the
Make your own trail mix with #CMSMatHome today! This is one of our favorite Toddler Wednesday activities. Offer a variety of family favorites, as well as some new foods: popcorn, pretzels, granola clusters, dried fruit, chocolate chips, coconut flakes… Encourage your toddler (and older children!) to pick and choose ingredients and to create their snack
Are you familiar with Pointillism? George Seurat and Paul Signac developed this technique in the late 1800s. Let’s try to paint with colorful dots to see if we can make patterns in today’s edition of #CMSMatHome! Gather some markers or paint, pencil, and paper. Lightly outline a simple shape or anything else you’d like
Start your week with a #CMSMatHome dance party! Choose a song, your favorite or another, and create some moves. Practice, then perform for your family. Teach them how to bust a move and have a dance party! Do the steps and moves change with the song, as it goes faster or slower? How does the
It’s time for secret messages with #CMSMatHome! Get some paper, cotton swabs, and some pure, strained lemon juice. Dip your cotton swab(s) into the juice and write or draw on the paper. Wait for your message or artwork to dry, then bring it to a lamp. Hold up the paper, close to the light bulb,
Create a quiet, comfortable space to read or relax with #CMSMatHome: let’s build a fort together! Gather blankets or sheets, couch cushions or pillows, chairs, cardboard boxes. Throw a blanket or sheet over the chairs, and pad the floor with cushions on pillows, then snuggle in. Do you have a large cardboard appliance box? Have
Hello from #CMSMatHome! Have you ever done potato prints? We’re working a lot with paint this week, aren’t we? Get a couple potatoes or sweet potatoes and have an adult slice them up or carve a design into them. Pour some paint onto a tie pin or a plastic ice cream pail lid. Dip your
Good morning from #CMSMatHome! Did you know bugs are important to our ecosystems? They pollinate, protect biodiversity, eat bad things, and are a food for others. Today, we’ll create imaginary or realistic rock bugs and decorate our gardens or planter boxes. Search for smooth rocks in different sizes, wash them, and allow for them
It’s picnic time with Toddler Wednesday, and all while we #CMSMatHome! Gather a blanket, tablecloth, large towel. Get a basket if you have one and help your child find plastic plates and cups. Pretend or real food is a bonus, but not a must. Who will you invite to the picnic? Stuffed animals? Other toys?