The Miami Children's Museum is situated on Watson Island and was founded in 1983. It opened a new building to the public in 2003, and now houses twelve gallery spaces, a resource center for parents and teachers, and auditorium. It has been designed to promote play, imagination an rativity in children and support care-givers. Many activities are bilingual and the Museum has a full range of programs and classes featuring the arts, community and culture.
The permanent exhibition feature a whole range of displays that are great for play and reflect everyday experiences such as Pet Central - learning to look after your pet, Bank - where children learn how to spend and earn money, and Supermarket - where they can shop and learn about where food comes from. Some exhibits take children to worlds they may not have experienced such as Everglades Park, Ocean Odyssey and Meet Miami - exploring the history and different cultures in Miami. Others features music and entertainment including the Television Studio where you can get behind a camera and learn about recording music in the World Music Studio.
The Museum has a full range of classes year round, including activities based on the Dr Seuss books, creative corner or working with the artist in residence. There are a series of one-day camps where children can make puppets, explore outer space and learn about wild animals. The Museum also runs Girl Scout Badge workshops and seminars for care-givers. The Museum
hosts children's' themed birthday parties and provides invitations, a guided tour with activities and a gift for the birthday child.
