When school is out during winter recess and families are looking for activities to keep children engaged and entertained, they can look no further than the Long Island Children’s Museum, which has a full calendar of events, including a Bonus Monday with live theater, plus science and art workshops that promise fun for the whole family.
The following is a schedule of programs and events the museum has to offer.
Sound Tubes
Monday, Feb. 18 and Friday, Feb. 22 from 11 a.m. to 1p.m.
Experiment with your own sound tube and make some noise. Make it into your favorite creature and spin your tubes around in the air to make a loud humming noise.
All ages. Free with museum admission.
Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Monday, Feb. 18 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Brady Rymer performs rockin’ music for kids and families with The Little Band That Could. Rymer’s pop rock music regularly wins critical acclaim and national awards, including three Grammy nominations for Best Children’s Album. This energetic Long Island artist returns to the LICM stage to continue their 25th birthday celebration.
Ages: 3 and up. Fee: $9 with museum admission ($7 LICM members), $12 theater only.
Cute As a Bug
Monday, Feb. 18 to Friday, Feb. 22 from 1 to 4 p.m.
February is buzzing with love. Children can stop by the museum and create their own butterfly love bug using a plastic spoon, fuzzy pipe cleaners and sequins to decorate. These little butterflies will fly right into many hearts.
Ages: 3 and up. Free with museum admission.
Create with a Crown
Tuesday, Feb. 19 through Thursday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“I like kids’ work more than any work by real artists any day.”
— Jean Michel Basquiat
To celebrate Black History Month, learn about the life and work of artist Jean Michel Basquiat. Kids can join in and create their own Basquiat-inspired mixed media art using a variety of unusual materials. They will explore his collage-style paintings and discover how to make new meaning from everyday objects.
Ages: 3 and up. Fee: $4 with museum admission ($3 LICM members).
Messy Afternoons
Saturday, Feb. 23 and Sunday, Feb. 24 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Little ones will be up to their elbows in oobleck, clean mud and slime in the type of artistic activities that everyone likes, but doesn’t like to clean up after.
Ages: 18 months to 4 years. Free with museum admission.
Polar Bear Plunge
Sunday, Feb. 24 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Polar bears are uniquely adapted to survive in one of the world’s harshest environments. They have translucent hairs to help them blend into their surroundings and black skin to absorb the sun’s warming rays. Kids will learn all about these amazing animals and create a polar bear portrait to take home.
Ages: 3 and up. Free with museum admission.
Traveling Exhibit — Sonic Sensation
Through Sunday, May 5
Listen up. The newest LICM traveling exhibit offers children the opportunity to see, feel and hear sound. Visitors will experience a sonic world while exploring 14 interactive learning stations. Children will discover key listening skills through the science of sound and hearing. They will:
• Test their lung power in the Scream Chamber.
• Create their own movie soundtrack.
• Conduct an orchestra with their whole body.
• Learn about the anatomy and physics of how we hear.
• Explore decibels, amplitude, pitch and sound waves.
• Find hidden “animals” in kitchen cupboards by listening (no peeking!).
• Discover ways they can protect your hearing.
Sciencenter of Ithaca, NY developed Sonic Sensation.
All ages. Free with museum admission
All activities are held at the Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave. in Garden City. For the safety of all visitors, adults are not permitted in the museum without children; museum visitors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Museum hours: Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and most school holidays. Museum admission: $14 for adults and children over 1 year old; $13 seniors; free to museum members and children under one year old. Additional fees for theater and special programs may apply. For additional information, contact 516-224-5800 or go to www.licm.org.
