Stuck inside this month? Bring your squad to one of these kidcentric events going on in February.
Matisse and American Art at Montclair Art Museum
Give the kids a taste of French modern art without trekking all the way into the city. This new exhibition starts on February 5, and features 19 works from the famed artist, along with paintings by many of his contemporaries, like Max Weber and Maurice Prendergast.
Frozen in Ice at the Skyland Stadium
Break free from the winter doldrums with an awesome ice sculpting exhibit that features more than 100 works of art completely made from ice. The theme of this year’s indoor and outdoor festival is the carnival, so don’t miss the huge ice slides, an ice carousel, Ferris wheel and an ice candy store. There will also be photo ops on an ice car and cocktails for the grown ups . Open February 3–February 26.
Toy World at the NJ State Museum
This exhibit runs until May, but visiting this Trenton museum is a great winter option when it’s too cold and windy to hang outside. You'll see hundreds of toys that date back to the late 1800s through the mid-1960s that have one thing in common: They were made right here in the Garden State.
Engineering Brick Art at the Morris Museum
If you have a kid who’s always pining to touch the giant creations at the LEGO store, the exhibition at this Morristown staple will get him up close and personal with 30 works of art made exclusively from his favorite toy. Make sure to swing by before February 26.
EmPowered at the Newark Museum
The perfect hands-on spot for your older STEAM junkie, this exhibit is geared toward teaching kiddos the importance of renewable energy. Aspiring engineers get the scoop on solar panels, generators and even a wind turbine.
Holiday Train Show at the New York Transit Museum
Your Thomas the Tank Engine-obsessed kid will love a mega display of mini-vintage subway trains making their way around a 34-foot-long railroad until February 26. Bonus: it’s after the holiday season, meaning fewer crowds to battle.
Block Party at the Liberty Science Center
Kids get to put their thinking caps on and build whatever comes to mind (no matter how big it may be!) at a hands-on exhibit that gives them full access to gigantic foam blocks. There’s also a separate space filled with smaller traditional wooden blocks for engineers-in-training who aren’t quite ready for the big leagues yet.
Jurassic World at the Franklin Institute
Travel to Isla Nublar and come face-to-face with a velociraptor or a humongous T-Rex in an exhibit that’ll make mini explorers feel like they’re actually in the movie. Educational bonus: paleontologists designed the program, so kids get to see how real-life dinosaur DNA research takes them back in time.
African American History Month at the National Constitution Center
Gather up your squad and explore your roots in Philly through February 28. Start by checking out the “We the People Exhibit” and learn about key milestones in African-American history before getting the lowdown on facts about important historical figures and the Emancipation Proclamation.
America to Zanzibar at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Headed to midtown for the day? Stop by this worldly exhibit where kids get to learn about Middle East culture. Little explorers will be taken on a journey down ancient trade routes across the Indian Ocean, take in examples of Middle Eastern art and architecture and even learn how to say “My name is…” in 21 languages.