Wonder Workshop
Discover our Wonder Workshop, a dynamic maker space where children explore, discover, and create! These hands-on Play Labs provide engaging materials and activities that spark curiosity and imagination. Our museum educators guide children through both structured projects and open-ended exploration, allowing each child to lead and follow their interests while developing new skills. Join us in the Wonder Workshop where young inventors, artists, and scientists bring their ideas to life!
Wonder Workshop Play Labs are included with museum admission and welcome children of all ages and abilities.
Sensory Play Lab Series
Join us every Friday in April from 10-11 AM for our special Spring Sensory Play Lab Series in our Wonder Workshop! In celebration of Autism Awareness Month, we're offering four unique sensory experiences designed to delight and engage children of all neurotypes.
Sensory play is vital for all children's development, creating neural pathways that support learning, self-regulation, and understanding of the world. For neurodiverse children, thoughtfully designed sensory experiences can be particularly meaningful, offering both comfort through familiar sensations and gentle introduction to new experiences at their own pace.
Our Spring-themed workshops honor the beautiful diversity of how we experience our world. Each session provides rich, multi-sensory opportunities through open-ended exploration in a supportive environment that respects individual preferences and needs.
The Sensory Play Lab Series celebrates neurodiversity by recognizing that we all perceive and process sensory information differently—and that this diversity enriches our community. Through thoughtfully designed activities that can be enjoyed in multiple ways, children discover the joy of sensory exploration while developing important skills and connections.
Each Play Lab is included with museum general admission or membership. While registration is preferred to help us prepare materials, it is not required. Join us every Friday in April from 10-11 AM in our Wonder Workshop as we celebrate neurodiversity and the unique ways we experience the world through the joy of sensory play during Autism Awareness Month!
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Blooming Gardens Tactile Exploration
Friday, April 4th 10-11 AM
Dig into spring with our "Blooming Gardens" Sensory Play Lab! Little fingers will discover a world of textures as children explore natural materials, create with spring playdough printing, and plant their very own seeds to take home. This tactile adventure helps children literally get in touch with the natural world while developing important sensory processing skills.
Sensory Focus: Tactile (touch) exploration
Benefits: Tactile sensory play enhances fine motor skills, builds neural connections, and develops sensory processing abilities. Through touching different textures, children learn descriptive language, reduce tactile defensiveness, and gain a better understanding of their environment. These hands-on experiences provide a calming, grounding effect while supporting cognitive development and emotional regulation. -
April Showers Water Play
Friday, April 11th 10-11 AM
Splash into sensory fun with our "April Showers" Play Lab! Children will pour, drip, and explore the wonderful properties of water through playful experimentation. From creating colorful masterpieces with droppers and coffee filters to investigating how water moves and changes, this workshop promises refreshing discoveries! Each child will create their own spring-themed sensory bottle to continue the aquatic exploration at home.
Sensory Focus: Water play and visual stimulation
Benefits: Water play develops hand-eye coordination, introduces early science concepts, and provides naturally calming sensory input. The visual tracking involved in watching colored water move and mix strengthens visual processing skills. Water activities often reduce anxiety through their repetitive, soothing properties while encouraging cooperative play and creative problem-solving. -
Nature's Symphony Sound Exploration
Friday, April 18th 10-11 AM
Listen, create, and discover in our "Nature's Symphony" Sensory Play Lab! Children will become sound detectives as they match mystery sounds in our special containers, create music with natural materials, and explore how different objects make unique sounds. The workshop culminates in creating a personal rain stick instrument that captures the soothing sounds of nature to enjoy at home.
Sensory Focus: Auditory processing and sound discrimination
Benefits: Sound exploration enhances listening skills and attention span, supports language development, and provides opportunities for emotional expression. Creating and identifying different sounds helps children with sound sensitivities gradually build tolerance through controlled exposure. These activities develop rhythm awareness, sequencing skills, and the ability to filter and focus on relevant sounds. -
Spring Movement Proprioceptive Play
Friday, April 25th 10-11 AM
Hop, stretch, and balance your way through our "Spring Movement" Sensory Play Lab! Children will explore how their bodies move through space as they navigate a textured sensory path, try playful yoga poses, and discover the joy of movement. Each child will create their own colorful ribbon streamer to take home, extending the movement magic beyond our workshop.
Sensory Focus: Proprioceptive input and body awareness
Benefits: Movement activities improve balance and coordination, help children understand where their body is in space, and provide necessary deep pressure input for regulation. These experiences build confidence through physical mastery, release energy in a structured way, and develop the motor planning skills needed for everyday tasks. For many children, proprioceptive activities have a grounding, organizing effect on their nervous system.