Family Literacy Month and so much more fun ahead at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire!

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So many fun things are going on at The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire throughout the month of November, ahead in December, and beyond in 2024. There is something for everyone of all ages. Take a peek, sign up, and go visit!

Books Alive with The Pout Pout Fish

Friday, November 17 & Saturday, November 18, 10-10:30 am or 2-2:30pm
Member-Only Meet & Greet: Saturday, November 18, 8:30-9am

Join the Pout Pout Fish at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire as we celebrate Literacy Month, sponsored by the State of New Hampshire on behalf of the UNIQUE College Investing Plan! Join Pout Pout on a fun and colorful rhyming journey as he discovers spreading “dreary wearies” isn’t his destiny! This Books Alive program seeks to make reading a regular family experience. A friendly costumed Pout Pout Fish will be available for hugs, high-fives, and photos following story time at 10 am during the morning play sessions (9am-Noon) and after the 2 pm story time during the afternoon play sessions (1-4pm). There will also be a variety of Pout Pout Fish-inspired literacy, math, and creative activities for all guests. Free with museum admission. Books Alive is sponsored by Newburyport Bank, Eastern Bank Community Foundation, Piscataqua Savings Bank, Shaheen & Gordon P.A., and Frisbie Memorial Hospital. Want to meet the Pout Pout Fish? Simply reserve spots in the museum’s morning or afternoon play session that correspond to the date of the Books Alive program you want to join – it’s included with museum admission, and as always, free for Members! Reserve online at www.childrens-museum.org.

Literacy month at CMNH is sponsored by the state of New Hampshire on behalf of the UNIQUE College Investing Plan. Learn more at www.childrens-museum.org.

40th Anniversary Auction

During 2023, the Children’s Museum of NH is celebrating 40 years of providing enriching play-based learning experiences to children from NH and beyond. To meet the growing needs of its audience, the Museum is planning an expansion that will add two new exhibit spaces to its facility. To help fund this project, the museum is launching a “40th Anniversary Auction.” The online auction will be live from Thursday, November 16 through Sunday, November 26, 2023, and will feature a variety of items, passes, memberships, experiences and more!

Admission Pass Deal – Shop online or in person for Children’s Museum of New Hampshire Admission Passes ($12.50 each) from Black Friday through Cyber Monday and get a special deal: When you purchase 3 admission passes, you’ll get a 4th one for free! Use the discount code CMNHPLAY when you purchase 4 passes online to get one for free. Shop online at: https://childrens-museum.org/membership/cmnh-passes-make-great-gifts

Schools looking to book a fun Field Trip can get a 20% discount if they book a trip to the Children’s Museum of NH in November of 2023! Field Trips to CMNH, now available for up to 65 students, can be Self-Guided, or include a STEAM Workshop for extra learning! Title 1 Schools can visit for FREE, but must visit before the end of March 2024. Reserve your Field Trip date and time online today www.childrensmuseum.org.

Museum Members Get More! Children’s Museum of NH Members are invited to play during special Member Only Monday play sessions! It happens once a month, is exclusive to CMNH Members, and is totally free but spots must be reserved in advance. Learn more about these and other CMNH Membership perks online at www.childrens-museum.org.

Junior Science: Amazing Animals

Tuesdays, November 14th- December 5th (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 November session! This 45 minute class includes a story or felt board activity, followed by a fun experiment, and a related art project to take home. 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 $48/child; Non-Members $60/child. Pre-registration is required. Visit www.childrens-museum.org to learn more.

Tri-City Chamber Business After Hours at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

Thursday, November 16, 5-7pm

Join the Rochester, Dover, and Falls Chambers of Commerce for the final Tri-Chamber Business Open House for the year at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, 6 Washington Street in Dover. The museum invites members of all three chambers to enjoy a free evening of networking, pizza from La Festa Pizzeria, a cash bar, and cupcakes to help celebrate their 40th birthday! Bring plenty of business cards as this event will have members from all three chambers in attendance. Event is sponsored by Kennebunk Savings and Beacon Retirement Group. Reserve spots online at www.dovernh.org/cmnh40

Gallery 6 Art Exhibition: 40 Years of Play

On view through Sunday, January 28, 2024

This exhibition takes a nostalgic look back at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire’s 40 years! Items on display range throughout the museum’s history and include artwork, photos, puppets, exhibit items and more! Gallery 6 is sponsored by The Fuller Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation, Abbie F. Moseley Charitable Trust, and the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts.

Jingle Bell Extravaganza

Sunday, December 3, 1-2:30pm or 3-4:30pm
Sunday, December 10, 1-2:30pm or 3-4:30pm

Enjoy a special ticketed holiday event at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire! Meet Santa for a photo opportunity outside on the Museum’s Play Patio and receive a special gift. Engage in hands-on holiday craft activities and a magical science experiment all while exploring the museum’s many interactive exhibits. On your way out, grab a special treat to enjoy on your way home. Pajamas are welcome! Reserve your spots early. Space is limited! Cost is $18/Members or $22/Non-members per person and children under 12 months of age are free. Thank you to our sponsors, First Seacoast Bank, McLane Middleton and Kennebunk Savings Bank. To learn more or to register, visit www.childrens-museum.org.

Toddler Tinker Time

Every Tuesday in November from 10:30-11:30am

Join us for a 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! 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. STEAM programs at the museum like Toddler Tinker Time are sponsored by Breezeline, Eversource Energy, and Sprague. 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.

Wacky Art Wednesdays

Every Wednesday in November
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 2:30 pm 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.

Baby Storytime

Wednesdays, November 1, 8, 15 & 29 from 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. 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.

Cultural Crafts: United Kingdom’s Bonfire Night

Thursdays, November 2, 9, 16 & 30
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. For November, we will be learning about Bonfire Night in the United Kingdom. Want to join in? Simply reserve spots in the museum’s morning or afternoon play session that correspond to the date of the Cultural Crafts Thursday you want to join – it’s included with museum admission, and as always, free for Members! Reserve online at www.childrens-museum.org.

Science Fridays

Fridays, November 3, 10 & 24
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.

Wee Ones Wednesdays

Wednesdays, November 1, 8, 15 & 29 (No class on Nov. 22)
Wednesdays, December 6, 13 & 20 (No class Dec. 27)
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 $13 ($10 for Members), Additional Children (if participating in crafts & is a sibling) $9 ($7 for Members). Visit www.childrens-museum.org for more info and to reserve your spot.

COMING SOON

Exploring Our Way: Sensory Friendly Playtime

Tuesday, December 5, 1-3pm

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. 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. This program is free, but online pre-registration is required. Register here: www.childrens-museum.org.

Family New Year’s Eve Celebration

Sunday, December 31 from 9am-Noon or 12:30-3:30pm

Join us for our family friendly New Year’s Eve Celebration and ring in the New Year before bedtime! Enjoy “countdowns to midnight” at 10:30am during the morning play session (9am-Noon), or at 2pm during an afternoon play session (12:30-3:30pm) — we’ll lower our glittery disco ball, confetti will fly through the air, and wish blimps made by visitors will gently fall to the ground—it’s always a festive and fun environment that is reminiscent of Times Square. Visitors can make sparkly recycled paper hats throughout the event and enjoy a fun New Year photo booth! All activities are included in regular museum admission and free for members! The Museum closes early at 3:30pm today and will be closed on New Year’s Day. Generously sponsored by the UNIQUE College Investing Plan. Reservations and pre-payment are required. Visit www.childrens-museum.org for more info.

Museum Hours

Closed Mondays. Open Wednesdays – Saturdays, 9am-Noon or 1-4pm; Tuesdays & Sundays 9am-Noon. The Museum will be closed on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 23. 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.