Time for little ones to rule the roost!

Museum Hours: Wednesdays - Saturdays, 9am-Noon or 1-4pm; Tuesdays & Sundays, 9am-Noon

Now that the big kids are back in school, it’s time to celebrate our youngest visitors! During Toddlerfest, visitors to CMNH can enjoy crafts in our art studio that will stretch those budding fine and gross motor skills. Children and their caregivers will bond over special projects and activities that embrace early literacy development. Every year we assemble a dynamic line-up of special guests that will share their expertise - explore music, art, dance, literacy, science, and more! Toddlerfest also features the return of the museum’s popular weekly drop-in programs like Wacky Art Wednesdays, Toddler Tinker Time, Science Fridays, and Cultural Crafts. See below for details.

A visit to the museum requires online reservations. All Toddlerfest programs are included with museum admission and as always, free for Members.

The Museum is under construction to build two new exhibits. Construction will be ongoing through 2024 while we remain open to the public, and the new exhibits will open in early 2025. A few existing exhibits will be relocated and modified to accommodate the construction. The Dino Detective exhibit will not be available.

Fall Fun Storytime with Dover Public Library
Tuesday, September 24, 10am >>
Join the Dover Public Library at the Children’s Museum of NH for a joyful and fun gathering that promotes early literacy skills. A librarian will lead families in nursery rhymes, songs, and movement.

Toddler Tinker Time
Tuesday, September 24, 11am-Noon >>
Tuesday, October 1, 11am-Noon >>
Join this weekly program and informal playgroup 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.

Baby Storytime
Wednesday, September 25, 9:30-10am >>
Wednesday, October 2, 9:30-10am >>
Babies (ages 6 months–2 years) and their caregivers are welcome to join Baby Storytime! This weekly program features songs, rhymes, movement ideas, and books for babies and their caregivers and introduces important pre-literacy skills along the way! This drop-in program and informal playgroup is a great way to socialize with other babies and caregivers.

Nature Fun with Special Guests from White Pine Programs
Wednesday, September 25, 10:30am >>
Join White Pine Programs educators for a fun nature-based activity. White Pines Programs is a non-profit education organization located in Southern Maine whose nature-based education programs vary from weekly, full day experiences to outdoor learning at schools, to hour-long walks in the woods. Their accessible programs incorporate birding, nature skills, and nature study in addition to hiking and camping.

Wacky Art Wednesdays
Wednesday, September 25, 2:30pm >>
Wednesday, October 2, 10:30am >>
Wednesday, October 2, 3pm >>
Join us every Wednesday for a wacky and wonderful art project you can take home!

Toddler Dance & Movement Class with Belletete Ballet Studio
Thursday, September 26, 10am >>
Join us for this fun-filled dance and movement class for toddlers with special guests from Belletete Ballet Studio. Let your little ones explore movement through playful games, music, and interactive activities. Perfect for building coordination, creativity, and confidence! Belletete Ballet is a dance school led by Meghan McCusker Houlahan, and offers classes for all levels, focusing on the joy and self-expression of dance education.

Messy Paint Crawl
Thursday, September 26, 11am >>
Parents, get ready to let your babies and toddlers discover their artistic side and make some messy art during this special Toddlerfest activity! Let them crawl, slap, or roll around in washable paint on a floor canvas, and we'll make an artistic sensory mess together. Be prepared with a change of clothes. Participants will have access to our many sinks for clean up time.

Puppet Show & Spanish Lesson with One World Language School
Thursday, September 26, 2pm >>
Join Spanish educator Esther Littlefield from One World Language School here at the museum for a puppetry show and Spanish lesson for young learners. One World Language School's goal is to make language learning accessible. Students as young as 4 years old can take classes in Chinese, French, German, and Spanish at their in-school or after-school programs throughout the Seacoast.

Groove & Grow Music Class with the Sonatina Center
Friday, September 27, 10:30am >>
Join music therapist Marissa Scott for a fun and informal music class for babies (crawling) and kids up to 4 years of age and their caregivers. Groove and Grow is a fun and unique music enrichment program for families. Designed by board-certified music therapist, Marissa Scott, the curriculum focuses on strengthening parent-child relationships and building strong social-emotional skills. Little ones will have opportunities to sing, play instruments, dance, move to music, and of course have a lot of fun!

Rock Painting
Friday, September 27, 2pm >>
Get creative and messy with a little rock painting project! Paint rocks and either add them to the museum's growing rock garden, or take them home to start your own!

Science Friday
Friday, September 27, 3pm >>
Friday, October 4, 11am >>
Friday, October 4, 2:30pm >>
Join us for a drop-in science experiment that focus on fun and act as a jumping-off point for learning about science concepts. Experiments change every week! Sponsored by the State of NH on behalf of the UNIQUE College Investing Plan.

Bubble Dance Party!
Saturday, September 28, 10:30am>>
Saturday, September 28, 2:30pm >>
Sunday, September 29, 10:30am >>
Join in an outdoor bubble dance party (pending weather) and get those wiggles out!

Collage Chaos with Neva!
Tuesday, October 1, 10am >>
This special grown-up and child art workshop, led by Neva Cole, CMNH Communications Director (and artist), will feature messy, papery, gluey, collage fun, ending with a keepsake to take home.

Make a Mini Flower Arrangement
Wednesday, October 2, 2pm >>
Make a mini flower arrangement to take home. Kids can use real flowers to design small arrangements, and decorate the containters with stickers.

Music and Movement with Miss Xanthi
Thursday, October 3, 10am >>
Join CMNH Education Director Xanthi for some songs and movement. Learn some fun songs to sing with your toddler and get your wiggles out!

Cultural Crafts: Hispanic Heritage Month
Thursday, October 3, 11am >>
Thursday, October 3, 2pm >>
Join us every Thursday to do a fun craft, play a game, or make some art celebrating a culture from around the world! Each month we focus on one culture or festival.

Family Yoga with Relief Parenting
Thursday, October 3, 2:30pm >>
Museum guests (ages 2+) can join Relief Parenting for a relaxing mini parent and child yoga class, featuring stories, songs, and movement. No previous experience necessary.

Parachute Play with Miss Colie
Friday, October 4, 10am >>
Sing songs and play simple games using our parachute, scarves, and soft balls with Miss Colie!

Princess Storytime with Noelle
Saturday, October 5, 10:30am >>
Saturday, October 5, 2:30pm >>
Join Princess Noelle in the museum's Pattern Palace exhibit for a special storytime!