This was our first time coming to the place and there was so many activities for all ages. They even had a designated spot inside for children 4 and under. read more

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This museum is targeted to children of various ages. Here I am targeting the review to kids from 4-6. The museum is now easier to access, at least from 95 N as you can take exit 20 and you are about 1/4 mile away, and the directions are very clear. For my kids, the two highlight exhibits are the water play area, where they have huge water tables (almost like ponds) where the kids can do all kinds of experiments to see that happens when you attempt to divert flow, push on a pump, etc. there is also another large table that simulates a lock and dam system that is a lot of fun. Littler kids can also enjoy just splashing. The other area my kids enjoy is the air tubes where you can put colored pieces of cloth and watch them move around in clear tubing. Other areas on the first floor are also fun, but my kids never seem too interested in them. The outdoor area is being worked on but is scheduled to be open June 11, it looks very promising. On the second floor, the construction area is a lot of fun, and for older kids has lessons on engineering and problem solving. Smaller kids can play with large dump trucks, etc. On the second floor there is also the 'Time Tunnel' featuring areas from RI history where the kids can play pretend and learn about the different countries that immigrants came to RI from. Our favorites are the packet ship (they pretend its a pirate ship) and the Bodega. There is also a special area for toddlers that is designed for little kids. Nice to keep them safe and fun. The museum gift shop has toys at all price levels, so anyone can get a little something for cheap, or buy an expensive kit. Overall, a fun time for any family. read more

Cool place for our three kids. They enjoyed several hours of fun. They also learned quite a few things as well which is always a plus. Our kids are 4 to 8 and they enjoyed it. If your kids are over 8 it might not be as fun. read more

Fun for small kids. They have a great water room with whirlpools, waterfalls and fog! Lots of toys to float, pipe water and build dams. The pirate ship is great and there's an imitation masonry/brick room that my four year old grandson loves. His favorite exhibit is, sadly, only available rarely. (Hence, the four stars.) It's the "Imagination Playground" which consists of huge blue foam blocks for stacking and building. I'm not sure why access to it is rare. We'd probably go more often if it were available more. In general though the price is good @ $12 per person (there are library passes and specials too.) Parking is free, close and easy. There are several (maybe all?) family bathrooms; not the usual stalls and rows of sinks which don't work well with little ones. It's a great place to hang out for a few hours and play on a rainy or snowy day. read more

This is such an adorable place! We took a four and five year old on a Sunday morning-- it was perfect. Not super busy at first but definitely got progressively busier. I would say there is tons to do for all different ages here, but our little guys were immediately drawn to the outdoor area. A bit pricey at $9 for even 13 month olds- but understandable because there is a lot to do and explore. Maybe have tiered pricing for kids? I would rather pay more for an adult and feel that I got my moneys worth. read more

I love love love this Museum!! Small but a LOT to do.. good for all ages but youre really getting all the activities in for 5+. Prices are decent. Cant wait to go back. read more

Try to get a pass from your local library. We get in free, thanks to those. My daughter has special needs and really enjoys this, they have something for everyone. It's not comparable to Boston Museum of Science or something, but it's a nice thing to do to get the kids out of the house, and less overwhelming as a dad said previously. I have also seen moms nursing here in comfort which is very appreciated. The water room is so much fun for all the kids. There is even a good, safe area for the very little ones to crawl around in where the bigger kids aren't allowed. One thing to watch out for, I hate to say, are the anti-abortion fanatics around the corner outside of Planned Parenthood on Thursday afternoons, and some other days as well. The graphic posters they have can be very disturbing to kids and adults alike and I recommend taking an alternate route that bypasses that part of the street, which is very easy to do. read more

Fantastic day with our 15 month old at PVD Children's Museum! While it is small, it is priced right ($12/pp) and we had half off with our library pass. There is plenty to do in each section and the museum is well laid out. We especially loved the water room and the provided smocks. We will be asking Santa for a membership this year! read more

This is a fantastic place for kids of all ages. My niece just turned 2 and there was plenty for even a child of a younger age to enjoy. Inside you'll find the water room where kids can learn all about H2O while getting a bit wet. There's a room of animals, puppets, books and a slide for the smaller ones, an exhibit on Rhode Island history and an outdoor garden that features tunnels and a giant climbing structure along with toys and outdoor fun. A yearly pass can be bought for just $100 and it's well worth it. read more

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This museum is very interactive. So many things to get your child engaged and excited. Disclaimer for germophobic moms: there will be a handful of other kids playing on the same equipment and area as your child. There is a possibility that your child could get sick. Like all playful outings you take that risk. They had a huge room for the "water table" with all sorts of gears and pumps the kids could manipulate. There were little miniature rooms/houses on the second floor that mimicked some historical eras. Very cool. The upstairs had more puzzles, items to play house and images of informational facts that interested me more than it did for the kids. I recommend coming here in the summer-ish time. I came here during the colder months and sorta felt like a party-pooper making the kids go back inside when they were climbing the jungle gym. The kids had a blast. They would have stayed there all day if they could. I, on the other hand was all too eager to go back to my quiet place. All in all, this place doesn't look like much from the outside, but on the inside its a whole another story. Highly recommend! read more

My 14 months old son had a fantastic time here! He spent an hour in the water room and splashes to his hearts content. He also played outside and splashed some more in the little waterfall in the playground. I highly recommend going at an off hour during the week. And don't pay full price -- libraries have half off entry passes. Definitely bring a change of clothes if your child loves water. The cute aprons they wear won't be enough to keep them dry if they love splashing! We will definitely go back! read more

So in the spring this might change to being a fan. I am sure my daughter had a great time, but that three year old aint writing this review, the guy who had to find the parking place is, so there. Anyway, parking situation sucks. The place was a little smaller than I expected, especially with all of the stuff going on. So be careful where you step, it may be on someones child. Seriously, this place is a lot of fun for kids to be able to run around, explore and engage with. They also have lots of programs going on if you chose to become a member. So I am sure if the herd was thinned a bit, it would have made me want to list it as a 4 and not be looked at by all of the other parents, in hushed whispers, as not 'getting' it. oh well. read more

So fun! My 19 month old loved it! Lots of variety for kids of different ages. Crowded and noisy, yes, but what do expect from a good Children's museum on a rainy day?! :) bring your cameras and your Advil, fellow parents! read more

Went to visit the museum after reading great reviews with our 4 year old. He absolutely loved it. The parking lot was full at about 1pm on a party cloudy Sunday, but we waited for about 5 minutes and were able to get a spot. Free parking. The area surrounding the museum seems to be industrial as many building looked like warehouses. There is metered parking all over that seemed to be in effect everyday from 8am - 4pm ( I think), but the meters were for 2 hours. This place was great, lots of things to do. So much to learn with lots of staff around to help and educate. Everyone was super nice, which is always helpful in a business aimed toward children. It was not overcrowded at all, so my son had more than enough time at each station while not feeling pressured to leave. The prices were about $9 per person. There was also a mini performance going on in one of the room upstairs, which was about recycling and involved some of the kids from the audience. There is a water themed room (whirlpools) where they have little raincoats for the kids, which was just adorable. There is an outdoor area that is great with a cave-like exhibit and some outdoor activities. There is a small room at the entrance where you can hold a private party. An overall great great for both children and adult. They make a great use of the space. It will warm your heart to see your kid's face light up and you will learn a thing or two yourself. read more

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When I was a college student, I made up my mind to bring my future kid here. Now the dream comes true! My kid and I love here! If you have a child, you should be here! read more

While we picked the worst day to visit, I can't wait to take my 3 year old back to the Providence Children's Museum Our plans had changed one rainy weekend & we ended up in the area looking for something to do with our son so we decided to check it out. Apparently we weren't the only parents with the idea of bringing our children to the museum on a rainy Saturday. The place was buzzing. It doesn't seem like much from the outside. It's surrounded by industrial buildings (& Planned Parenthood?!?) I'm not too familiar with Providence so we parked in their private lot which was also packed. We were lucky to find a spot. This is one area that needs definite improvement. My son can be a bit introverted so when we went inside all the excitement had him freezing up a bit. I think he may have been a bit young to really appreciate all of the exhibits but had fun on the second floor & didn't want to go once we decided to leave. There's an arts & crafts room along with a water exhibit that wasn't available since there were too many kids already. I really enjoyed the upstairs exhibit that centered around the history of Rhode Island. A 3 year old can have fun just playing in the rooms while older kids might try to absorb the lesson of each time period. I found it interesting! I wish we had more time to check the place out some more but it was so packed. We are definitely going back & hopefully next time it won't be so packed. Even though, I was extremely impressed with how modern it was & the shear scope of the place. It wasn't shabby or too overwhelming. read more

For wintertime activity, PCM is a solid bet. 2 levels of 'exhibits,' on-site parking, and easy access make this a nice option on cold days. Went here for a 3yr old's BD party. A separate area upstairs was a nice setting for the kiddos to do an activity as a group, have some food and enjoy the museum as they saw fit. A PCM employee led a story, art activity, and facilitated cleanup afterwards. Made things easy. read more

Fun spot for various ages! We love the outdoor area, though it was pretty closed up in the winter. And our kids have a lot of fun on the large wooden boat in one of the smaller rooms upstairs. They raise and lower the anchor a bunch. The water area downstairs is always a hit and we try to do that last because even with the bibs, they inevitably get wet! read more

We had a great experience at the museum and were surprised by the first weekend free bonus for Bank of America customers. Our two-year-old loved the water area and all of the upstairs. It did get a little crowded and could be dangerous on the lofted areas, but overall a great way to kill a couple hours!! read more

Providence Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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While not so imaginative and many of the exhibits are rehashes of other museums (with the exception of the EXCELLENT nature exhibit) you can definitely occupy the kids here for at least a couple hours! The down side is driving here through construction and of course the sketchy neighborhood and people. read more

Nice place to visit with the kids. Small but affordable and spaced out well so it doesn't seem crowded. Also has nice rooms with special projects going on and a section for small children to be watched while you take set children around. read more

Providence Children's Museum - Happy Birthday Landin! - Children's Museums Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Its a great indoor activity spot for toddler from big kids. My son and I have a memebrship here so we visit at least three to four times per week. I personally like the water splash activity! We pretty much enjoying each of the activities in the museum. The only reason that I'm giving four stars is a cleaness. I felt couple times that lot of toys and wood blocks are very sticky. Its a big issue for the kids. Besides that, we really like to visit the museum and must go place for the parents! read more

Providence Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Love this museum! So much better than Boston. Lots to do, fun for my one year old and myself. Free parking. Just got a membership! read more

Providence Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Very nice children's museum. My girls loved the water play and climbing areas especially. Worth the trip, particularly if it's easier to go to Providence than it is to go to Boston. read more

This is the best children's museum I've ever been to. There's a Rhode island walk upstairs with different scenes from Rhode island history. It's the perfect imagination play ground for children. Safe and fun! The outdoors playground is just as magical one of my favorite spots. The water room is my toddlers favorite activity. We stay in the water activity every time. Bring your own towel and a completely extra set of clothes don't forget socks and shoes I'm not even kidding my son can get completely soaked he is in love with the water funnels. I highly recommend you visit with your children you can have hours of fun. They also put on very nice shows and activities for the kiddos. read more

I've been taking my son here since he was 1 and now he is 4 and he loves it more and more the older he gets , the place is such a great spot to have fun and learn ! The new water area is awesome! This time that I went was for a birthday party and I've never been to one there, it was so much fun! I recommend having a party here they did a nice job :) read more

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Brought our 5 year old and 18 month old here today and everyone had a blast. Admission ($9 for ages 1+) was reasonable, especially if you are used to paying more near Boston and free parking was a welcome surprise. We were there for 3 hours and easily could have spent twice as much time there if only we hadn't run into nap time. Bathrooms were clean and plentiful and each section appealed to multiple age groups so we could stay together. One thing to note is that there is no food for purchase so make sure to bring what you need for snacks and drinks - there is a clean seating area inside for eating and 4-5 tables in the outside play area. There are also several restaurants in the immediate area if you want to grab a bite before or after your visit. read more

Providence Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

The Providence Children's Museum is always such a fun treat for the little ones ( and adults too)! So many exciting exhibits that seem to be updated. The water room is always a fun way to wrap up the visit at the museum! read more

It's all about the water room. My three-year-old visited the Providence Children's Museum for the first time a year ago and she still begs to "visit the water table." We've explored other parts of the museum, but the water room is where it's at. Smocks are provided, but be sure to bring a change of clothes because your child is sure to get soaked experimenting with currents, steam and all of the other interactive H2O fun in that room. read more

So far I been here twice an I loved it, my girls had so much fun here learning an playing, beautiful place

Easy ride. Free parking. There is not allot of rooms but the rooms are very nice. Kids love the water room.

Take it from someone that frequents every kid activity in the Northeast including having memberships to every children's museum in the area. This place is worth a visit from anywhere. It may not look like much on the outside, housed in one of the old factory buildings in the south end jewelry district of Providence. Parking is challenging since the lot only holds 6 rows of cars and then you will have to park in a paid garage down the street. Inside it is two floors of packed activities including and outside portion. The admission is reasonable and if you have other memberships to local museums, the reciprocal programs gets you in for free until April, then its 50% off. The exhibits are all the hands on types found in other museums but this place looks redone and more modernized. Plus there are things not found in other museums such as a historical walk through of Rhode Island and an outside area with burrow tunnels and caves. they also have a huge water play room and a construction area. Plus their new exhibit Think/Play is pretty cool with lots of puzzles and hands on activities. They also have a smaller kids area to climb and play called Little Woods. There is even a room to eat lunches and a discovery room for other hands on group activities. They also have live shows depending on the day. Pretty neat place and sprinkled throughout are staff members to monitor and help with all the exhibits. Gift shop at the end doesn't have much but is adequate. This beats out Boston since that museum can be a nightmare when it is crowded and is just too big. Make it a point to stop in to this place, it is a great way to burn 3-4 hours of the day! read more

This was such a pleasant surprise. We took out grandkids who were absolutely entertained. Nicely designed and well thought out. I recommend it to everyone. read more