Staten Island Children's Museum

Name: Staten Island Children's Museum
Address: 1000 Richmond Terrace Building M Enter via the Fillmore St. Gate, off, Tysen St, Staten Island, NY 10301, USA, New York, NY, US
Telephone: (718) 273-2060
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.6

1000 Richmond Terrace Building M Enter via the Fillmore St. Gate, off, Tysen St, Staten Island, NY 10301, USA

Overview

Category:Interactive Science Centers

Location:New York, NY

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

The Staten Island Children's Museum is lauded as a consistently positive, interactive, and educational destination that can keep children engaged for hours. Parents praise its friendly and adaptable staff, immaculate facilities, and diverse range of activities. It's especially valued for providing a calm and enriching experience that effectively 'tires children out' while offering significant educational value.

Key Highlights

✓Offers a wide variety of interactive and educational experiences, from STEM activities to arts and crafts and imaginative play areas.
✓Staff is consistently described as super friendly and helpful, enhancing the overall visitor experience.
✓Bathrooms and the facility as a whole are maintained to a very clean standard.
✓The museum is spacious and airy, situated on a beautiful campus, contributing to a pleasant atmosphere.
✓Demonstrated excellent adaptability during renovations by condensing activities and bringing beloved items into accessible areas, ensuring continued enjoyment.
✓Often described as a 'calm trip' and 'not crowded', particularly on weekdays, making for a relaxed visit.

Standout Features

⭐Diverse exhibits including a 'walk in workshop' with coloring, painting, sand playing, and train tracks.
⭐A 'first floor' featuring a jungle, fire truck, and various STEM activities.
⭐Large, beautiful lawn out front, perfect for picnics and outdoor play.
⭐Exceptional staff known for their friendliness and helpfulness.
⭐Free admission for EBT or benefit card holders (with ID), making it highly accessible.
⭐The ability to engage children for 'hours' and effectively 'tire them out'.

Perfect For

Specifically highlighted as 'the best place' for 3-year-olds, indicating strong appeal for toddlers.

Engaging for preschoolers and early elementary children, with a 5-year-old grandson mentioned enjoying it for years.

The diverse activities (jungle, fire truck, STEM, workshops) cater well to children aged approximately 2-8 years old, providing enough variety to hold their interest for an extended period.

Ideal For

Families with toddlers (specifically 3-year-olds) and young children looking for interactive and educational activities.

Weekday adventures for a more relaxed and less crowded experience.

Parents seeking a venue where children can be actively engaged for several hours and 'tire themselves out'.

Families seeking affordable or free entertainment, especially those eligible for EBT/benefit card discounts.

Children with specific interests (e.g., 'bugs', train tracks) due to the themed and varied exhibits.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

→Consider purchasing the annual membership for $50 if you plan to visit more than a few times, as it offers better value than the $8/person or $8/child daily rate.
→If you hold an EBT or benefit card, remember to bring your ID for free admission.
→Allocate ample time for your visit; a 2-5 PM slot may not be enough to fully experience everything the museum offers.
→Pack a picnic to enjoy on the beautiful lawn out front, especially on pleasant days.
→For a calmer, less crowded experience, plan your visit for a weekday.

Things to Consider

⚠A 2-5 PM reservation slot was reported as insufficient time to fully explore all offerings, indicating that visitors should plan for a longer stay.
⚠Some beloved exhibits, such as 'the bugs', were temporarily removed or relocated due to renovations, which might disappoint regular visitors, though staff made efforts to mitigate this.

Price & Value

Daily admission is $8 per person or $8 per child. An annual membership costs $50. Critically, EBT or benefit card holders (with ID) receive free entry, offering significant value and accessibility. Reviewers consistently deem the experience 'worth every penny' due to the extensive activities and hours of engagement, especially for the membership and free entry options.

♿Accessibility & Special Needs

•Offers free entry for EBT or benefit card holders (with ID), addressing financial accessibility.
•Staff showed sensitivity and adaptability for children with special needs, exemplified by their handling of a 5-year-old with autism and his beloved 'bugs' exhibit during renovations.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

•On-site food is available and positively reviewed ('food was bomb!'), suggesting quality options.
•The front lawn is highlighted as a 'perfect spot for a picnic', implying that bringing outside food for consumption in this area is permitted and encouraged.

🚗Parking Info

•The reviews do not provide any specific details about the parking situation at the museum.

👥Crowd Levels

•Described as a 'calm trip' and 'wasn't crowded', particularly on weekdays.
•Suggests it's an excellent option for families seeking a less hectic environment compared to other popular venues.

🛡️Safety Features

•Bathrooms are consistently reported as 'very clean', indicating high hygiene standards.
•The presence of 'super friendly' and helpful staff contributes to an overall safe and welcoming atmosphere.

⏰When to Avoid

• There are no specific times or situations explicitly advised to avoid based on these highly positive reviews. However, be mindful that limited time slots (e.g., 2-5 PM) might not allow for a complete experience.

Pricing/Package/Events

Pricing & Packages

General Admission

Duration: Per visit

Admission for adults and children.

One Day Camp for School Breaks

$85

Duration: Per day

Days of science experiments, art making, outdoor exploring, and exhibit play during school breaks.

Includes:

•Science experiments
•Art making
•Outdoor exploring
•Exhibit play

Ages: 5-9

One Day Camp for School Breaks (Member Rate)

$70

Duration: Per day

Discounted rate for members for day camps during school breaks, including science experiments, art making, outdoor exploring, and exhibit play.

Includes:

•Science experiments
•Art making
•Outdoor exploring
•Exhibit play

Ages: 5-9

All School Year Day Camps Package

$1,680

Duration: All school year (30 days total)

Access to every school year camp with one discounted price. Excludes summer camps.

Includes:

•Access to all 30 school year camps
•Science experiments
•Art making
•Outdoor exploring
•Exhibit play

Ages: 5-9

Events & Schedule

Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)

Art Workshop

October 1, 2, 3, 2025

Included with admission

Hands-on workshop where kids use paint, fabrics, and fun materials to explore imagination and design colorful masterpieces.

ShopRite Kidz Cook: Bento Box School Lunch

October 4, 2025

Free with admission

Young cooks learn to make a Bento Box School Lunch. A caregiver-and-me program introducing children to a diversity of foods, cooking concepts, and building dexterity with cooking utensils.

Flint Corn Art

October 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 2025

Included with admission

Young artists draw the shape of flint corn with crayons and add watercolors. Crayons create a 'resist' effect for vibrant colors.

DJ Got Me Fit Fitness

October 5, 2025

Included with admission

Local favorite DJ Got Me Fit leads children in silly games and dances inspired by pop music.

Forest of Feelings (New York City Children’s Theater)

October 12, 2025

Included with admission

An immersive theatrical experience where two friends stumble upon a lost laugh and travel through a storm, jungle, and along a rainbow to return it to the Forest of Feelings.