Elli C says it all exactly. This place is dark, old, dirty and rundown. All the exhibits seem like the originals from when the museum opened decades ago. Doesn't look like anything gets updated. Not sure it gets cleaned either. All the toys and exhibits/equipment have a gross grime on them from all the kiddo hands over the years. If no budget for hefty updates, at least a good scrub down would be nice. Because it's in the basement, it's dark and depressing with no natural light and exposed ductwork and piping visible in the ceilings. It sounds like they have a number of programs, which seems like a nice addition, but we've only attended the baby/toddler one the section for babies. Unfortunately it's pretty lackluster, with a bucket of toys dumped out and minimal engagement. And they're super strict about the toys not leaving the 3x3 space they're dumped in even though the baby area is completely sectioned off (ie toys aren't going anywhere). Staff are a mixed bag: some friendly and engaging, others unfriendly and strict. Be warned that coffee is not allowed. So if you buy a coffee nearby right before you go in, you will be asked to chug or dump it. No accommodations are made either, for storing it or a designated place within the museum to leisurely finish it. In fact, I don't think there's even an area to eat lunch or snacks while visiting. Anyway, I get the burn risk with hot coffee, but seems like there's a better solution. Lastly, I find it silly that parent admission costs the same as kids even though there's minimal parents can actually do in the museum. Everything is kid-size and targeted at the kids. If there's one place where adult admission should be less than kids, it's here. A few pros, hence the extra star: - arts and crafts room seems great - lots of different areas with themes and learning (all just need cleaned and updates as per above) - good location (aside from being in a basement) - young kids can easily entertain themselves, so despite my gripes, my kiddo has fun most visits read more

I have avoided the children's museum for years because of the steep price of admission and the inconvenient location. I finally stopped in with my kids recently and was pleasantly surprised by how much fun they had there. This is a great toddler-friendly sanctuary in the middle of the city. I don't think it's worth the price of admission for a single day, but we got a family membership. We will probably visit a lot when it's too wet or smoky to play outside or stop in when we're near the Seattle Center for an event. read more

My kids (4 and 1) love this place. It's not particularly big but every inch is full of entertainment for kids. I don't understand the reviews criticizing the lack of creativity - the kids add the creativity! read more

We've been to many children museums across the PNW area and the one in Children's Museum in downtown Seattle is definitely one of the larger of the lot. We went around Christmas and we couldn't get our 3-year old son off the mountain where Santa was getting pictures taken. He loved the cave at the top. Meanwhile we had our 18 month daughter down in the area below where there were water tables and people kept leaving the door open and she would go toddling out the gate out into one of the many different areas. There really is something for every toddler's interest. Plenty of places for VERY active kiddos like ours to run, climb, explore and play. Lots of wide open spaces - almost too much space - where they could place some MUCH needed seating for adults to sit and/or nurse a baby (which I've needed to do) .... except there are not many benches in these open spaces even along the walls which would have been nice as oppose to sitting on the ground. The location of the museum is pretty unique - as it's below a great food court - where you can look down and watch the kids play. Getting down to the space is easy - just take the stairs and/or the elevator if you have a stroller (like we did) or family in a wheel chair. The elevator was VERY slow when we were there. It is a great set up where you can let kiddos run and play during rainy days and wear them down before heading upstairs to eat or grab a snack. We will go back, there's much we didn't get to in the hour we were there. Just be prepared as you come and go - you pass by a great gift shop positioned perfectly with all the great little toys kids will tell you they need as they arrive and dash over to and tell you they need as they leave. If you make it out without a temper tantrum you have my respect! read more

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I had no idea such a fun place existed in the heart of Seattle Center! The Children's Museum has so many things to offer: story time in the library, a room designated for toddler toys, a crafting center, themed rooms for different activities (theater, grocery store, optometrist office, camp site, post office, etc.), as well as model homes from countries all over the world. It is as interactive, educational, and playful as you want it to be. If the day is rainy and you can't think of an activity to do with your kids, come here! If MoPop is too packed, and the kids are getting anxious, bring them in! They've got stroller storage and lockers, so you can leave your things behind and enjoy some one-on-one time with your kiddos. I recommend it for any kid that can walk, and definitely by 18 months. They have things to keep your kids entertained in an environment of learning up until the age of 10 or so in my opinion. My only critique is that the floor above the Children's Museum is a foodcourt, and part of the ceiling to the museum is open to the seating area above. If there were a creeper, they could totally enjoy their bubble tea at a table above and look at children below as they please. While it's only a small part of the museum that is open, I couldn't stop feeling like someone was looking down at my child. read more

Over priced for what it is. Adult, child, and toddler prices are all the same. Ridiculous!!!! Two adults, one three-year-old, and a twelve month old cost $12 per person. At a total of $48 for a family of four to enter. Seems extremely steep to me for an hour or two of entertainment. read more

I agree with the other posters. Yes it is a bit tired and run down (I played on some of this stuff as a kid) Yes it is inconvenient to get to and/or park Yes it is expensive when you don't have a membership However - I bought a membership, and it is THE go-to place when downtown and my kids just need to play. I have a 10, 7, and 15mo old. I go here and they are all entertained for an hour minimum. My membership has also provided us safe haven from rain at the Folk Life Festival and heat from the Bite of Seattle. Kids don't care that much that stuff is broken because they use their imagination - that's what this stuff is for - add imagination and it becomes whatever you want it to be. My two oldest can spend hours just on the stage in the theater area alone. I have absolutely no regrets in purchasing my membership - it is a great little lifesaver...and I intend on renewing for years to come. read more

We have an annual membership and as I write this review I've remembered a reason to return when the Bellevue KidsQuest museum is so close and is infinitely better. I recommend the physics lab where bursts of air allow children to move plastic balls behind plexiglass. The reading room has a fantastic storytelling room with good readers so be sure to check that out. The international Pioneer Square storefronts allow for creative play as children can purchase wooden fruits and veggies. The main exhibit directly behind the entrance is the obvious place to explore first. If you go, do yourself a favor and duck into a newer display in a room off the main hall. In the center area children are invited to explore habitats by walking on a fake forest trail. The trail is circa 1975. It has some fake tunnels near the end and they help get wiggles out. One of the best things about this museum is its proximity to the best outdoor play structures in King County. Ask at the desk about the jungle gym with huge slides. If you head out in a clear day the kids will also love the International Fountain. If you are in town and have the time I suggest you also check out KidsQuest in Bellevue, about a half hour's drive away. read more

My two younger kids really enjoyed this. There are a lot of fun areas to appeal to all types of kids. This is a place with something for everyone. Lots of things to learn and do that will keep your child entertained for a few hours. They both loved climbing on the play set to slide down the slide. Another favorite was the little mini grocery store. My almost two years old [She walked her cart around and filled it with everything she could get her little hands on]. There is a produce area, meat, cheese, canned goods, and breads and even little shopping bags and computerized check out stands. The fish tank was also a fascinator. I was entertaining a toddler on loan and am not used to a stroller, etc. but the facility was super stroller friendly and easy to navigate. You could also build a fort, play with legos, work with cogs, learn about weights, act in a theater or learn about town life in Ghana, Japan or Philippines. The water play area was incredibly popular with the kids. It's basically a large water table with lots of toys. They have little raincoats/smocks for kids to wear to try to keep them dry but I can't tell you how many meltdowns we saw as kids did not want to put these things on. So my biggest piece of advice is to save yourself the trauma and just bring a whole extra set of clothes - your kid will get soaked and you don't have to stress about it! Also, there is a food court where you can grab lunch or dinner upstairs in the Armory. Lots of choices, healthy and not. And don't miss the huge fountain outside that sprays water way up in the air choreographed to music. It's a great way to spend a few hours, especially if it's rainy outside. My only problem with this particular museum is that the price is the same for adults and children. Admission Prices: Adult $8.25 Child $8.25 Grandparent $7.25 WA Quest Card $1 INFANT (under 12 months) FREE FREE OR REDUCED ADMISSION ***Donation Only Hour - The last hour of every weekday (4:00pm - 5:00pm), we accept any amount of payment for regular admission to the Museum. Your family simply pays what you can afford to enter and play. ***WA EBT or Food Stamp Card - Show this card at the box office and receive $1.00 per person daily admission for the cardholder, your partner, and your dependent children. (Washington Residents Only) ***WA DSHS Services Cards - Show your DSHS Services Card to receive free daily admission for the individual who is named on the card (Washington Residents Only). Please note they can only accept the ProviderOne Services Card, not letters, forms, or other types of insurance identification cards. read more

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Good spot to take the kiddos and run off some energy. It's located in the basement of the food court in the Seattle Center. Note to those taking the elevator, it is actually floor number one not the basement Pare we wandered around for a bit in a pretty dank dungeon-like area but luckily found our way upstairs. I was actually surprised that this place isn't bigger. For a city like Seattle, I figured the Children's Museum here would be epic, and while it was good, it didn't blow us out of the water. Entry is around $8 and there is some reciprocity with other Children's Museums, so make sure to bring your card. It will usually get you a couple of bucks off. Upon entering, there is stroller parking off to the left in the "transit area". There's also a train set over here which both our kiddos were very excited about. The other areas included a hardware store set-up, the grocery store, a stage for acting comma a great little area that simulated a hike up a hill, as well as a mechanical type room where wiffle balls are tossed to and fro. I didn't see any art specific rooms, though we didn't explore everything. Another big hit at least with our kids was the ceramic Orca that they could crawl through. In addition, there was a sailboat with a working steering wheel that was pretty exciting. All in all, this is a place that is definitely worth hitting up and probably a place that we would frequent if we lived in Seattle. That said, I'm surprised there wasn't a little bit more to the children's museum as the one in Iowa City is larger and has more exhibits. Space is certainly at a premium, but so are our children's Futures : ). read more

I thought this was a great place to bring the kids. There is so much to do here, but my son mostly spent his time playing in the water area with the water toys (sharks, fishes, etc), and both my son and daughter loved the huge train table full of tracks and trains. I liked that the upstairs has a huge food court too, including Mod Pizza! It's nice to play for a couple hours in the morning, then grab a bite to eat in the same place. read more

For toddlers I think this place is a blast. The "museum" side is all behind plexiglass and a bit boring perhaps, but the miniature world on the other side was a blast. Post Office (also with mail boxes at each of the rooms), optometrist, grocery, deli, theater stage (and more we didn't even get to explore!) My son loved the grocery store so we spent a lot of time there picking out produce and putting them in the shopping cart and checking out. We even took some food for delivery to the deli next door. The area in the middle is more for physical activities, and there is a nice aquarium there too. They offer a few story/play time group activities throughout the day. It's a bummer we don't live nearby! read more

This place is NASTY. The whole place was a wreck and the bathrooms were disgusting. The toilets were plugged with diapers in the men's bathroom & the womens bathroom had papers and trash everywhere & they didnt have any paper towels. This place is super small & its packed with people. Some of the rooms are SO HOT . Im not one to be packed into a small on hot. Never again!! I had high hopes for this childrens museum to exceed my expectations being that its in Seattle and next to the space needle. read more

As a Christmas gift we brought our 7 year old boy to the Seattle Children's Museum, along with our 9 year old daughter. He'd been wanting to come here for a long time. I hadn't been here in probably 10 years give or take. I expected everything to be different. Actually, nothing was different, or rather, very little was different. In fact, I swear some of this stuff was here when I came as a kid (I am 39). I found it incredibly sad! The whole Global Village was one of the most depressing things I've seen in ages. The concept is fabulous. So much that could be done to bring it alive to children. Instead it was empty rooms. All the interesting stuff was behind plexiglass. My kids would open cupboard after cupboard to find the interesting stuff... foreign food packages, unusual fruits and veggies, utensils, etc all locked up. We walked through rooms of nothing (literally nothing in these rooms except maybe a painting on a wall). Stupid signs everywhere that interested no one, especially not kids! I'm not sure what this is supposed to teach or how it entertains. It looked exactly like the last time I was there but seemed even more empty and pointless. Bring in local cultural groups and let them run each area! Why would kids want to amble through room after room of nothing? After that rather sluggish start we wandered through the rest of the museum and our spirits sank. Fort Adventure is a big empty room with barely anything in it. A couple collapsible tipis. A whole shed of wood pieces with no rhyme or reason of how to assemble them. Husband and I tried but nothing fit together. Why was it there? A couple sad wood kitchens. A LEGO area with a really cool set of drawers labeled with individual pieces (so you could find the pieces you want and build) but most the drawers were empty. Random toys, all for little little kids, spread here and there. The Metropolitan Market area was junky. The theater area was fun because it had the stage and costumes and sound effects. The Eye Clinic was ok. Cog City seemed to be missing things and some interactive elements didn't work. I felt like it was on the cusp of being pretty neat but because the kids got frustrated right away with non-working elements they moved on. The Mountain is kinda cool... it is definitely what catches the eye of kids from above when they are in the Centerhouse. Unfortunately, about half the rocks are broken off so the "thrill" of lifting them and finding hidden things is lost. I cannot imagine why they are not replaced. Many aspects of it are completely worn down. Worn down is how I would describe the whole thing. Seattle is a booming town, lots of money flowing. I paid $52 dollars for us to enter and we spent 40 minutes there. It is embarrassing that THIS is what Seattle offers. Everett, a much less successful town, has an amazing children's museum that is constantly changing and entertaining. I would not recommend you spend your money here but drive 30 minutes north and visit the Everett Children's Museum. You will get a much better value for your money! And c'mon whoever is heading this up.... you can do better than this for the tourists and locals! read more

I enjoy coming here with my child. Last time we were here was a few years ago, and there were a few new things that I found cool that they changed. They had a "eye center" where kids can play that they were at the eye doctor and another section that was more scientific (forgot what it was called). Plus they have a little area with a train set and they creatively made them go part way into the closet areas (so kids can be a little more spread out rather then just sharing a rectangular table). As well as having a little post office area (don't recall that one a few years ago) where kids can pretend to ring up packages, weigh them and deliver them too. Each section had a mail box. (uniforms too to play with too) I must first add too, I would have given it 5 stars had parents not been charged, BUT i do like this place as a fun place to bring my child when I venture into the city! They have a reading time, art time (grab a time card) and music time (plus more I am sure) There was a few smaller sections intended for toddlers, which makes it nice for parents with younger kids. I would advise that if you were to do the art project, DO IT FIRST, then you can let the art dry as the kids play (I did not do this either time and wished I had) The place is nice and spread out, so one sections does not get over crowded. AND you can bring in your own food (otherwise you can get a stamp and go upstairs to get something hot) The ONLY down side to that is they really did not have a place to sit and eat (they did the first time I visited) BUT they did say there was a little table in the marketplace to sit and eat. I LOVED too how each section had books pertaining to each section (the construction area had construction books, the section with different parts of the world had different cultural books. My daughter is now 7 so unsure how much more she will want to come here, but she STILL had a blast using her imagination playing in different parts, dressing up, building.. We could easily come here again and maybe next time sit and read books in the sections haha read more

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Really disappointing, after visiting Childrens museums in Boston and Chicago we had high hopes for this one in our home town. Fortunately we managed to get a discount for tickets for a trip with our 17 mo. old but so many of the exhibits either seemed broken, missing pieces, or dusty. Plus the venue at the Seattle Center with the smell of donuts (from the upper level) wafting in the air just struck me as wrong when you're visiting a museum. If you have to take your little ones to somewhere in Seattle, I would recommend checking out the aquarium instead. read more

Great place for little ones. Wish we lived closer to it, so that we can become members. Lots of different sections to visit and check out. With little ones (3 year olds), you'd have to come back multiple times because can't possibly check out all areas. Very cool. read more

Seattle Children's Museum - Fort Adventure room - Children's Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We come here using our entertainment book coupon! We pay 16.95 for 2 adults and 1 toddler... I finally used their painting craft area our last visit and my daughter loved it... Since we use our entertainment book we've tried out a couple of the children's museums and would say this is our 3rd favorite! read more

Seattle Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Nice place for kids to play, but is absolutely very expensive, you go couple times and you'll see empty pockets. Almost the same price like Seattle zoo. read more

Save your money and go someplace else. We went here with our 3 year old and were depressed as soon as we entered. There are a couple cool things in the museum, like the overhead tracks with the giant marbles, but in most of the play rooms, the toys were all scattered about, mixed between rooms, beaten up and just sad. My recommendation would be to have staff be more attentive. Close off one area at a time and clean/organize for 5 minutes, then open it back up. I know it is hard to keep stuff cleaned after so many children, but this isn't my first Children's Museum and it is by far the worst one I have been to. The paint on the walls could be freshened up. Baby vomit green was not a pleasant color to look at while playing. The drywall had chips in it. You could see where an electric box cover was changed out for a smaller cover and no effort to paint. I don't mind the open duct work as it was a basement, but then again, it was a basement, and no natural light made it in to the area. The best thing about this location is all the open outdoor space right outside along with the decent sized playground right under the space needle. This place robs children of the experience of what a Children's museum should be. I am surprised that in a place with as much money as Seattle has, this museum is as downtrodden as it is. The Children's Hospital feels so much happier, and it is a hospital. Save your money and use it for a happier place than this. read more

Total ripoff- we asked at the entrance if the museum is fine for an 8 year old - after they said yes we got in and left after literally 5 minutes as she had nothing to do there And started to cry out of dissatisfaction as even she said " its for toddlers only... We tried to find something but half of the stations were broken and super dirty, lot of dirt was also in the bathroom Just stay away!!! read more

This is a great little museum. We have a 7 and 4 year old and they were there for hours. I think it was recently remodeled - the paint looks new and the play areas are well thought out. There is even a crafts room where kids can draw. I saw the staff walking around and wiping things down a lot. It was a great afternoon. read more

This place is a piece of junk, especially being in Seattle Center and the worst children museum I've been to in the US. I've had a membership for the last 2 years and I've been expecting some new updates / new exhibits because everything is so old. But all they do is minimal updates ie painting, etc and very slow. The place is depressing and dark. They also decided to rent out a huge section of the museum (next to the stroller parking area) without telling anyone and we no longer can access it. I'm done with it and will not renew my membership or take my kids back here again. My money is better spent for PacSci or Woodland Zoo Memberships. read more

My son absolutely loved the Seattle Children's Museum. We went for the first time on Saturday right when it opened at 10am. Tickets are $10.50 per person without membership and so if you go often, your best bet would be getting a membership. There is a location to park your stroller and lockers to put away your belongings so you don't have to carry it around while chasing your kid around. There was a Indian tee pee section, building styrofoam blocks, a dentist office, fire truck, a kitchen, a grocery store with cute little shopping carts and fake food that my child had such a blast pretending to grocery shop with his little baby cart. There was a theater with a stage and dress up clothes. On the other side there was an around the world discovery area with cool mini houses with artifacts from Japan, Africa, Europe etc. A library filled with fun books for kids and an area with balls that you can shoot into the air! Lots of activities for kids. There was a discovery play zone for younger children 3 and under where they can go wild! Get your hand stamped on the way out for free re-entry! You can go up a floor to the food court and get refreshments! I was really impressed and my child had a blast. By the end of his two hour non stop running around, he walked right over to our stroller and crawled in and gave us the head nod that he was ready to bounce. The price was affordable and everything was relatively clean and well put together. I love how the Seattle Children's museum put so much effort to ensure kids have a great time exploring and learning while creating memories with their parents. We will be back as we love family friendly establishments. read more

Seattle Children's Museum is a great pace to take the kids for a hands on experience with tons of educational exhibits. The Seattle Center Armory is right upstairs with many food options, and is a great place to take a break from all the fun. Make a day trip to Seattle and visit the Space Needle next door while you are here. read more

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Guys...I was disappointed with this place. But I had pretty high expectations. I drove over from Spokane and felt like it just wasn't worth our time. I think my kid had fun, but compared to Spokane's museum, and especially compared to San Antonio's DoSeum, it wouldn't be on my list to visit again. Here's the thing- I expected more artsiness from Seattle. I think they could take the cute and playful level up quite a bit. Also I expected things to be in better working order. Some of the equipment in the ball room wasn't working, and the Philippines exhibit didn't have any music or accessories for the kids to play with. There wasn't any staff walking around that I saw except in the theatre area. The big tree in the middle was the best part, but you might as well just take your kids on an actual hike if the weather permits. I mean, it is the great Pacific Northwest, we have amazing hikes and trees! So, buy a pass and do it if you are local and need a bad weather play option, but if you are a tourist you might be better off elsewhere. read more

Looks promising from the entrance gate but goes downhill fast. The "interactive" portions of the exhibit are very limited, most the fun parts in the interactive sections are locked behind glass. Luckily there are large signs with small print your little one can read instead. Horrible value compared to other comparable museums across the US. Very disappointed a city as nice as Seattle would have such a poor children's museum. No reciprocal with other children's museums as its non profit. Shocked with how little they offer they aren't turning a profit. read more

This place is trashed, half of the attractions were opened, please don't waste $12 dollars here

Pretty disappointing. Not only is the admission fee high, but all of the "exhibits" are plastered with advertising. Our one year old had fun, but all of the things were sort of dirty, run down, and broken. Nothing seemed planned out, and there was a general lack of creativity. It felt like a place I could throw together myself for a few thousand bucks. You know, a fish tank here, some blocks over there, a pile of Legos right here. Get some smudges on everything and break a corner off here and there. Sweet. That'll be $10. And $10 for little Jimmy, too. And $10 for parking. The pet store has a fish tank too, and no cover charge. There's one redeeming use case, I think. If you've got an active 3-5 year old and yourself, and a whole afternoon to kill, go here and they'll entertain themselves for a good long time. But don't expect to have fun yourself or be impressed or anything. And don't bring your friends and family, you'll just be unimpressed together. Expect to pay $30 for the afternoon all-in. read more

I was a little taken back on why they charge for a child 2 years old and under. It's a great venue for children 4 and older, they can a totally interact with the different set up that are available. Maybe they should charge for children and ask for donations like the museum in Tacoma for adults. I observed several parents on phones while the children did their own thing read more

I'm gonna review this one a bit differently but I hope it helps those with kids make an informed decision: -It's definitely for ages 5 years and younger. Anyone older than that will quickly loose interest in the actual exhibits and would probably be best suited to spend more time in the art department. My 19 month old could stay in here for days. My 6 year old went through the whole place in less than 30 mins...and found the art department too late as we had to leave. -Yes, some exhibits are more run down and sparse than others and some just seem abandoned (hello African village in the back with 2 sad drums in it). But they do have some great areas, I personally liked the play theater and stage exhibit. I've never seen that before, with the legit curtain calls, applause and lights up/down, sound effects that was super cute. -Compared to other children's museums in other cities/states (omg Phoenix, AZ's is crazy awesome, well kept and modern) this Children's Museum isn't the belle of the ball. However, it's spacious and KID FRIENDLY so run, run, run, hit, bang, throw, jump, climb, slide. Run your little one out! It's clean enough, spacious enough, and has just enough to keep the 5 and under amused for a several hours. -After your big kid gets bored and it's not raining, take them outside to that monster metal playground just around the corner =) -As a tourist, I don't know if I'd come back here BUT I found a great Groupon the first time (2 admission for $13) so it wouldn't be out of the question to get my kid out of the rain and entertained. read more

My parents went to a show in McCaw Hall today so I wanted to kill some time with my daughter. We already went to the Pacific Science Center so I thought I'd try the Seattle Children's Museum since we've never been there before. I was skeptical based on many reviews. I'm glad I tried it out. It is run down and a few rooms were empty, but there were still a lot of activities a young toddler could do. I wouldn't recommend this for those over 5, but I think it's enjoyable for toddlers. The layout is pretty creative and can help young kids build their imagination. The theatre room was pretty cool. My daughter loved playing in the little house and teepees. We spent a couple hours there so I think there was enough to see. It wasn't the best museum and could use some improvement, but she enjoyed it so it seemed worth it. read more

Wow. I had no idea! What you see from the main room of the Center House is only a small portion of this expansive play space! And for the record... I was babysitting... I wasn't hanging out in a Childrens museum in my spare time... not that I wouldn't! this place would crack me up if they served drinks! I was really fascinated by the miniature replicas of the homes and businesses of other countries! I really didn't expect to walk away impressed... but I did! read more

My kid loves this place, so I love this place. There's tons of different activities, all of them hands-on, and usually a different traveling exhibit once/quarter. You've got a whole craft room, a ball room, some musical instruments, a reading room, a "grocery store", a "stage" and a "building area". If you're only going once, I agree it's not cheap, but my kid went here 2x/week (or more) in his first 3 years - and so the average cost/visit is like $2. He's spent hundreds of hours in the ball room, or playing the drums, and when he was really little playing in the 0-3 yr old area. The museum is open early, it's open late, it's open Saturday, it's open Sundays - and there's a food court upstairs. One of the best places to take your kids (1-5 are the best ages, I'd say) on a rainy day in Seattle. Also good to get your out-of-town guests/family out-of-your-house, esp. if they bring little kids with them. Considering that hundreds, if not thousands, of kids beat the heck out of everything in this place every day, I'm amazed this isn't a Mad-Maxian wasteland of rubble. I have been a little annoyed lately at just how many exhibits have become run-down, but they assure me changes are in the works for 2010, so it's something they're working on. It's hard running a non-profit museum these days. Perhaps they should re-incorporate as a bank and get some bailout money? I deducted one-star for letting things get so run-down, but the people deducting a bunch are seeing this place through an unfair lens (most museums go through phases of new/old). The parking's not the most convenient (street or a few paid lots about 5 min walk away) but you should be more green and take the bus anyway. And if your kid is older than 5 this probably won't hold their attention as much as the nearby Science Center - but there's not as much to do there for under 5. And besides, why choose? We've got memberships to all the Seattle-area kids places (zoo, aquarium, science center, here). Need to have stuff to do if you have one or more active kids. I'd say a membership to the Seattle Children's Museum is a definite "must have" tool in every Seattle parent's arsenal. read more

This place seriously need at least try to maintain, most of things are not working, they can't even replace these missing pieces. More like collection of abandoned toys from daycare... if it's city funding and free to public I might understand but $10 for each child and adult... really where these money goes to? Feel like scam... read more

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People have children for many reasons: pure hormonal coercion, the pathetic need to fill some void in their soul, a knee jerk reaction to societal norms, ego, hope that there will be someone around to change their diapers when the time comes and the overwhelming desire to relive their own childhood, all come directly to mind. I fall into the overwhelming desire to relive one's own childhood category (and I would love it if I got to pay him back for the diapers someday). The last 25 years has seen some incredible improvements to children's entertainment. I spend a lot of time working through the resentment I have towards the Disney and Mattel corporations for not hauling all the good shit out for my generation. It totally explains the X thing; had I gotten to love a Furby, I'm convinced I wouldn't be the apathetic, cynical, disaffected slacker I am today. So I made a person and now I get to go places like the Children's Museum and: pretend to shop for empty boxes of cereal, drive a bus in Nairobi, put on a play with real costumes on a real stage with real velvet curtains, run my own Mexican restaurant, play instruments from all over the world, read books in a fairy tent, and lately - learn about money in the Moneyville exhibit. I was finally able to buy a home. I am not too proud to admit that I once lost the mini-hero here. It really wasn't just me - his father, grandmother, grandfather and older sister lost him too. Ok fine. It was me. Anyway - the place went into lockdown and we were able to track him down right away. I guess it happens a lot. I'm a good mother...i am.... Memberships start at $40 - good, good deal. read more

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this is an activity that only a parent would love. Yes, no matter where you are in the world, watching your children have fun never gets old. So, on a cold and stormy December day, having forgotten our umbrellas back in Long Beach, yes I know. You need not say anything. This seemed like a FINE idea. And, it was. This museum certainly has enough to keep your little ones busy for hours. It is relatively small, totally contained and spacious enough that you don't feel cramped. Although, they do have some heating issues that make some of the rooms feel like a Turkish Spa, but that is a story for another day. Certainly, places like this are germ breeding grounds, so once you get over that, I think you'll find you will enjoy your time more thoroughly. Although, immediately after leaving I reached for the anti-bacterial. Two steps forward, three steps back.. read more

Good vision but no follow through. I'm a middle school teacher so I know what to look for in good learning environments. They have four rules and volunteers explain them to school groups that come. I listened in while I was stroller parking to one lecture. When I say lecture I mean lecture. These 4, 5, and six-year-olds are being lectured. Any good educator knows to group them and have kids repeat them back. The educator was droning on about irrelevant things. This place has no decent learning environments. To start I got there at 11 it opens at 10 so how could it possibly be that dirty unless they never maintained it from the day before. I found Cheetos on the floor in the zero to three-year-old section. Did a baby eat Cheetos for breakfast? Not likely. Perfect for a little baby to eat. They claim that this section is for birth to three years old but my eight-month-old could barely play because either it was too tall or she could not manipulate it with her hands yet. It looked like somebody threw a bunch of thrift store toys, torn and tattered, together with no rhyme or reason. Since the section wasn't good for her I decided to explore the other areas which are even less conducive to safe play. Check out the pictures of the blocks, all one kid had to do was pull out one and the whole stack would've come tumbling down on them. These were solid wood! See pics. Then if you're going to try to let kids explore their imagination with building materials tear off the shipping labels at least. Pool noodles looked like kids had bitten them. I see at the dollar store all the time. Replace it. See pictures.There are massive blank walls. You're telling me with all the artists in the Seattle area you can't find one that will paint a mural for free or reduced rate. See pictures. Since nothing was safe in that section I went to explore the other sections that are pretend play. It looks like a scene from the walking dead with shelves vacant and empty. See pictures.I saw one person maintaining the entire museum. Since there was nothing for her to do there either I decided to check out the other side. And again, it looks like an abandoned cultural Museum. See pictures. On the other side there's a small section that says 0 to 3 play. However there is a mirror on the wall that had suction cup toys on it. When my daughter pulled the suction cup toys the mirror came down with it. See pictures. In that same section there is a gear table. Perfect for Little ones to get their fingers caught. See pictures. Don't waste your money and don't waste your time. read more

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It's not a museum. There are a few educational signs here and here at best. The majority of the "museum" is themed play areas, like a cafe or supermarket with plastic toys. The kids weren't really engaged by this. When they were, it didn't seem like there was enough toys or even space for all the kids to play. Having been to the Zoomazium at the Woodland park Zoo recently, which was amazing, the "mountain" here was just sad. There was very little for the kids to do. The cogs and gears section was falling apart and kids were mostly playing with the pieces. Another area wasn't yet assembled yet with a sign encouraging large donors to sponsor the area. The best part was a Chinese drum and dragon dance presentation that seemed to occur randomly. read more

We brought my out of town family here to spend the day. They brought a couple of kids with them and this seemed like a reasonably priced venue for the event. The kids had a great time! They really loved all of the fun stuff there was to play, and it was clean and well kept. They spent hours in the little village and they painted and played with clay. They even put on a little show for us in the theater. The reason I didn't give it the full stars is because of the whole enter exit policy. I understand they want to keep the kids safe, but when all they offer is metered parking, to say that you cannot reenter without a child is crazy. Grandpa went to go add money to the meter at two hours, and upon his return was greeted by "Sorry, you need a kid with you to re-enter." So he tried calling everyone inside, but it was loud and no one heard their phones. Eventually someone walked by and let him back in. Why not just set up a "Hall Pass" for going to add money to the meter? Maybe a hand stamp and an actual piece of paper with the time and date on it? There are SIMPLE solutions to this issue, why not come up with one? How they have it set up now, you have to drag a kid out of fun time to plug the meter because the kid with you IS the hall pass. This is a completely crazy expectation if you are dealing with groups of adults with one or two kids. read more

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