The moment you pass under the dragon’s tail, it’s clear: the Providence Children’s Museum was made for kids to take the lead.
This children’s museum is packed with the kind of open-ended play that keeps kids curious and busy without feeling overwhelmed.
Whether you’ve got 90 minutes to fill in the morning or need a full afternoon plan after nap time, visiting the Providence Children’s Museum is a solid pick.
This guide breaks it all down: what to know before you go, what to do once you’re inside, and how to handle snacks, nap windows, and the moment your kid decides they now live in colonial Rhode Island.
What to Know Before You Go: Providence Children’s Museum
A dragon tail invites you into the Providence Children's Museum.
Providence Children’s Museum Location: 100 South Street, Providence, RI
Website: providencechildrensmuseum.org
Hours: Open daily, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Admission: $17 per person for everyone over 12 months. Babies under 1 are free. Discounted admission is available for EBT cardholders through local library programs and museum reciprocity programs.
Parking: There is an attached parking lot (but it’s small), and metered street parking is nearby if you need it.
Best for Ages: Toddlers to early elementary. If your kid still says “wee!” going down a slide, they’re in the sweet spot.
Food: No café, but there’s a designated lunch/snack room. Just no eating in the exhibit areas.
Bathrooms: Changing tables, kid-sized toilets, and easy to find (no weird hallway hunts required)
Accessibility: Fully stroller- and wheelchair-friendly, and there’s a big ramp between floors, so no need to wrestle with the elevator.
TLJ Tip: Bring a change of clothes or at least a backup shirt. The water play exhibit is basically a splash zone disguised as science.
Providence has more fun up its sleeve. Try our retro-themed itinerary for a full day of family fun…minus the planning headache.
What’s on the First Floor at Providence Children’s Museum
The fish are real, and your kid is now an oceanographer.
From the moment you enter the Providence Children’s Museum, there’s motion, water, color, and a dozen things your kid wants to touch at once.
From swirling water to spinning wind machines, it’s sensory overload in the best possible way.
It sets the tone right away… hands-on, open-ended, and full of play that meets your kids where they are. Here’s what you’ll see first.
Water Ways
(Ages 1–11)
Where toy boats float and sleeves get wet.
Water Ways is one of the first exhibits your kid will lock eyes on…and yes, they’re already halfway to it before you’ve zipped the diaper bag.
It’s classic hands-on water play with pipes, pumps, whirlpools, and mist.
There’s even a dedicated toddler zone with lower tables and gentle features designed for little hands (and shorter attention spans).
TLJ Tip: Don’t fight it. Just let them get wet and pack the extra clothes. (They have smocks to minimize the chaos.)
Play Power
(Ages 5–11)
Climb it, spin it, or just stare at your own face.
Play Power is all about sensory discovery and open-ended play.
Think magnetic walls, light experiments, airflow tubes, building materials, music, and fun mirrors…basically a creativity explosion.
It’s perfect for kids who love to tinker, build, explore, or just follow their curiosity wherever it leads.
Underland
(Ages 4–8)
Squirrels would be jealous of this setup.
Head towards the rainbow ramp and out through the secret door to the outside Children’s Garden, where you will find Underland, a nature-themed space where kids can crawl, climb, and burrow like curious little squirrels.
It’s part cave, part critter hideout, and totally charming…especially if your kid loves a good tunnel.
TLJ Tip: It’s outdoor but shaded and well-contained, so it’s a great energy burn when you need to reset between indoor exhibits.
What’s Upstairs at Providence Children’s Museum
Science, sunlight, and a lot of color theory.
The second floor shifts gears in the best possible way.
After all the splashing, creating, and climbing on the main level, the second level leans into storytelling, pretend play, and hands-on history.
Your kids can run a 1960s market, build with giant shapes, curl up in a book nook, or dress up like a Rhode Islander from the 1640s.
It’s imaginative, immersive, and packed with the kind of play that makes you quietly say, “Wait… this is actually educational.”
Here’s what’s waiting at the top of the rainbow ramp…
Building & Design Showcase Space
(Ages 4–11)
Where giant foam blocks meet big ideas.
First stop upstairs: a rotating space all about building, design, and seeing how things come together.
If your kid’s the type to stack, sort, or construct elaborate block towers just to knock them down again, this is a solid place to start.
Coming to Rhode Island
(Ages 4–11)
Your kid’s new persona? 1640s homemaker.
Coming to Rhode Island brings Rhode Island’s history to life…kid-style.
Through hands-on play and plenty of dress-up, kids can step into the daily lives of real families from four different time periods. It’s part time machine, part pretend play, and way more fun than any textbook version of history.
Kids can explore:
• 1640 Elizabeth’s colonial house
• 1835 Quigley’s Fort Adams home
• 1892 Coelho’s fishing schooner
• 1961 Fefe’s Corner Market
Grab a rotary phone and some canned peas... you're running the store now.
Because every schooner needs a preschool crew.
There are trunks to unpack, costumes to wear, and scenes to act out. Whether your kid’s running a store, sailing a ship, or just trying on a new role for the day, history will come to life.
Story Center
(All ages)
That magical moment when your kid actually sits down.
This cozy little nook is the museum’s version of a reset button. It’s tucked between exhibits and stocked with books, soft seating, and just enough quiet to regroup.
Whether your kid needs a break, a breather, or a quick story before jumping back in, this is the spot.
Littlewoods
(Ages infant–4)
A forest adventure with zero bug spray required.
Littlewoods is a forest-themed wonderland designed just for toddlers and preschoolers. There’s a small slide, soft climbing areas, little caves to crawl through, and enough texture and detail to keep curious kids exploring.
It’s cozy, contained, and full of whimsical touches, like tree trunks, puppets, and twinkly lights.
Think Space
(All ages)
When puzzles win, and snack time is forgotten.
The big, open hall is filled with puzzles, shape builders, fine motor games, and endless tinkering.
Think Space is less flashy than some exhibits, but don’t be surprised if your kid locks in for a solid stretch of time and forgets they were begging for snacks five minutes ago.
For another great New England museum that blends science and play, check out the Ecotarium. It’s low-key, fun, and full of surprises.
Who is the Providence Children’s Museum Perfect For?
Welcome to the floor where ideas multiply.
Short answer… basically every kind of kid.
Got a toddler who always finds the messiest exhibit in the building?
They’ll make a splash (literally) in Water Ways. Pack dry clothes… or lower your standards for car seat dryness.
Have a costume-loving kid who insists on staying in character?
They’ll lose their mind in Coming to Rhode Island. It’s time travel, dress-up, and storytelling all in one.
Raising a tiny builder, puzzle master, or future engineer?
Upstairs is their zone. Between Think Space and the design studio, they’ll be in deep focus mode.
Need a mellow spot for your baby or cautious toddler?
Littlewoods is sweet, soft, and surprisingly engaging…no overstimulation, just good vibes and great design.
Traveling with a climber who needs to scale something every 20 minutes?
Underland is their squirrel burrow playground. Outdoor, shaded, and totally worth the shoe mulch.
The Providence Children’s Museum is manageable, fun, and just the right size for a half-day adventure with kids who need to do something.
Add this to your list…and don’t forget the snacks.
Happy Travels…
