Long Island Children's Museum
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The Long Island Children's Museum is a vibrant, interactive destination primarily designed for toddlers and preschoolers, offering educational play and diverse exhibits that rotate to keep experiences fresh. Its unique outdoor play area is a major draw during warmer months, making it an excellent choice for a 1-2 hour engaging outing.
Key Highlights
- ✓Numerous interactive and colorful exhibits including a popular bubble section, a musical wall, a block area, and a 'phone section'.
- ✓Features rotating exhibits downstairs, ensuring there's 'always something new' for repeat visitors (e.g., 'Thomas & Friends exhibit' running through Sept. '24).
- ✓An excellent outdoor area, particularly in summer, with activities like 'mud pies', 'butterfly watching', and 'fun water activities' including 'painting with water'.
- ✓A 'DIY building section' that engages slightly older children, with one parent noting their '9 year old loves' it.
- ✓A dedicated 'toddler area' featuring an 'ice cream shop' and 'excavator' for the youngest visitors.
- ✓Maintained as a 'clean and well-maintained space' with 'friendly and helpful staff'.
- ✓The kids consistently 'had a lot of fun' across various activities.
Standout Features
- ⭐Diverse range of hands-on and creative exhibits for interactive play.
- ⭐Significant and engaging outdoor play area, particularly beneficial in warm weather.
- ⭐Regularly changing exhibits downstairs, providing new experiences on return visits.
- ⭐A gift shop with 'unique and educational toys'.
- ⭐Availability of 'free library passes' from local libraries, offering a significant cost saving.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →**Arrive Early on Weekends:** To mitigate crowds, as it 'can get a bit busy'.
- →**Check Local Libraries for Free Passes:** 'Just FYI they have free library passes for this museum at your local library.'
- →**Bring Extra Clothes for Outdoor Play:** If visiting in summer, your child 'will either get dirty or wet from playing' in the outdoor area.
- →**Manage Expectations for Visit Length:** Plan for a '1-2 hour' visit rather than an all-day outing.
- →**Consider Bringing Snacks/Drinks:** Due to limited and unhealthy food options in the cafeteria area.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Can get 'a bit busy on weekends', with one parent remarking an uncrowded Sunday was 'very unusual'.
- ⚠Described by one reviewer as 'highly overpriced for what it is'.
- ⚠Primarily a shorter visit; it is a 'small children's museum' typically providing 'most 2 hours' of entertainment, not an 'all day event'.
- ⚠Older children (beyond early elementary) may find it less engaging, with one parent stating their 'kids are older and not as interested'.
- ⚠The cafeteria space lacks 'actual food' and 'coffee for parents', offering 'just the vending machines with unhealthy options'.
Price & Value
The museum is described as 'highly overpriced for what it is' by one reviewer, suggesting that standard admission may not align with the 1-2 hour typical visit duration. However, the availability of 'free library passes' offers a significant way to enhance the value and make it a worthwhile experience for its target age group.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accommodations for special needs or accessibility features were mentioned in the provided reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •A 'cafeteria space' is present, but it primarily offers 'vending machines with unhealthy options'. There is a expressed desire for 'actual food there and coffee for parents', implying outside food might be a consideration or preferred option.
🚗Parking Info
- •Parking situation was not mentioned in the provided reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •It 'can get a bit busy on weekends'. One reviewer noted that an uncrowded Sunday was 'very unusual', indicating typical weekend crowding.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Safety features were not specifically mentioned in the provided reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Saturday or Sunday afternoons if you dislike crowds, as it can get 'a bit busy'.
- • Families with only older children (9+ years) who are likely to get bored quickly.
- • If you are expecting an all-day attraction; it is a 'small children's museum'.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Uncle Vlad's Pumpkin Patch
2025-2026 Season
Not specified, group discounts available
Part of the LICM Theater's professional performances.
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
2025-2026 Season
Not specified, group discounts available
Part of the LICM Theater's professional performances.
Pete the Cat
2025-2026 Season
Not specified, group discounts available
Part of the LICM Theater's professional performances.
Sensory-Friendly Performance Series
10th anniversary season mentioned
Not specified
Special performances with accommodations for individuals with disabilities, supported by Theresa Alessandra Russo Foundation.
Birthday Parties
Year-round
Not specified, tailored packages
Celebrate with party themes and packages that are tailored to meet your needs, offered in LICM designated party rooms.
🍎Food Policy
- • A cafeteria with vended services is available on the first floor.
- • Visitors are welcome to bring their own food for consumption in the cafeteria.
- • Food and drinks are restricted to the cafeteria.
- • Groups must call in advance to reserve cafeteria space.
- • Party related items are restricted to LICM designated party rooms.
- • No food or drinks allowed inside the theater.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Many preventive steps taken to ensure the safety and wellness of visitors and staff, including cleaning procedures.
- • Security cameras are in place at all times.
- • LICM reserves the right to ask visitors who do not behave appropriately to leave the museum immediately (refer to Code of Conduct).
- • No photography or recording of performances in the theater.
📅Booking Policy
- • Booking required for Group Visits, School Groups, Camp Groups, Field Trips, and Birthday Parties.
- • Groups must call in advance to reserve cafeteria space.
- • Group discounts available by contacting Reservations Manager at reservations@licm.org.
🚗Parking Information
- • Free parking available.
- • Accessible parking located in the west parking lot.
Photos
What People Say
What's Great
- Clean and well-maintained facilities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 5 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Tita Friday PH
a month agoThe Long Island Children’s Museum is a fantastic place to take kids for a fun and educational day out. The exhibits are colorful, interactive, and designed to keep little ones engaged, whether they’re playing with bubbles, exploring the musical wall, or checking out the themed displays. The museum has a great balance of hands-on activities and creative spaces, and the staff is friendly and helpful. It’s a clean and well-maintained space, and the variety of activities means there’s something for every age. The gift shop is also a nice touch, offering unique and educational toys. It can get a bit busy on weekends, so arriving early is a good idea. Overall, it’s a wonderful spot for families to learn, play, and spend quality time together.
Lonny Friedman
a month agoThe Long Island children’s museum was a great place to kill an hour or 2 two. Highly overpriced for what it is. However the kids had a lot of fun.
Ms. Kally
6 months agoLoved the Thomas & Friends exhibit running through Sept. '24 I believe. We had fun from inside to out! From mud pies, butterfly watching, painting with water & all the other fun water activities outside.. Is a sure BONUS!
Jemmy cruz
10 months agoNice Experience! My kids enjoyed themselves. They liked the bubble section, the block section and the phone section. Overall best for little kids. This is a small children's museum so definitely not a all day event most 2 hours. Even though they had fun, i wouldn't go back because I personally feel my kids are older and not as interested as the younger kids that were there. If you have a toddler or preschooler they would definitely like it!
Anna “Aromanna”
5 months agoWe came here so many times! Always so much fun for my kids. This place is great for all ages. Really. I love that they change the exhibits downstairs sometimes so there is always something new. This time we made it to Thomas and Friends exhibit. My toddler is obsessed. So we stayed here for hours. And we got so lucky that on a sunday there actually weren’t that many people. Very unusual. Just FYI they have free library passes for this museum at your local library. On a side note: i love the cafeteria space but i wish they had actual food there and coffee for parents. Not just the vending machines with unhealthy options. My 9 year old loves the diy building section. Always comes home with some creation. The little guy was also into the toddler area with the ice cream shop, excavator etc. Also: nice outdoor area in the summer. Just bring extra clothes, your kid will either get dirty or wet from playing )))