Kaleidoscope Children's Museum, LLC

8 South Main Street Concord, NH 03301

603-229-4526

PLANNING YOUR VISIT

• If the weather requires boots, please bring a change of shoes.  We require shoes in the museum to keep little feet safe and prevent falls. 
• The average visit is about 2 hours though many members stop in for half an hour and some families make a day of their trip to the museum.  Admission is for the day, so make a day of your trip to Main Street!  Park in the parking garage so there is no limit to your visit. 

There are fantastic coffee shops and bakeries on Main Street for breakfast and many restaurant choices for lunch!  Stop by White Mountain Coffee, Bread and Chocolate, The Works, or Caffenio for coffee, juice and a breakfast treat before we open at 9:30am!

• Mornings are the busiest time of day at the museum.  Looking to meet other parents and kids in the area?  10-12 is the time to visit!  We offer a variety of playgroups and local playgroups often plan a morning trip to the museum.  Get a group of friends together and schedule a visit.  You can receive a group rate for admissions if you schedule a trip with us!

LUNCH TIME!  Many restaurants in the area offer child-friendly options.  Cheers on Storrs Street has a children's menu and is accustomed to family visitors.  Like Mexican?  Dos Amigos is fast and friendly!  The Common Man is a short drive down the street and has a variety of options - my daughter loves their mac-n-cheese!  The Works has a variety of sandwich and bagel options and the Co-Op has many healthy alternatives to the fast food chains.  White Mountain Coffee has sandwiches as well or check out Durgin Lane Deli for soups and sandwiches!  Food is not permitted in the museum due to allergies.  Snacks may be consumed on the benches at the entrance to the museum and drinks are always allowed.  Juice boxes and water are available to purchase at the front desk and coffee is complimentary!  Thank you for keeping the museum safe for all our little visitors.

• Looking for a quieter visit for your child?  12-2pm is the quietest time of day.  Many children are napping during this time, but if your schedule allows for it, this is a great time to play with your child!
• 2-4:30pm is a moderate time of day.  There will be children to play with, but not usually too busy.  We do often hold private art lessons during this time and you may find the art studio closed for a class.  Note:  The art studio closes at 4pm every day so that materials may be cleaned and prepped for the following day.

Have a Special Day planned?  Come to the museum!  Make it extra special with a balloon or toy to remember your visit!  Or purchase a gift certificate for another visit, private art lesson or membership!  Balloons are available for sale at the front desk as well as a large selection of Learning Resources & Melissa and Doug toys and art supplies!  Members always receive 15% off purchases from the gift shop!  Coming soon:  Maplewood toys! 

• Leaving is the most difficult part of a visit!  We recommend giving your child time-checks to prepare them for the time you will be leaving.  Offering 1 or 2 more activity choices seems to work well in transitioning children out of the museum as does time warnings for those old enough to grasp time.  Purell is available at both the front door and the classroom and there is a child-height sink in the art room for hand-washing.  If your child needs a nap or a break - remember your admission is for the day and you can return until closing! 

Been there done that?  For adults doing something once is often enough.  It is important to remember that young children find comfort in repetition.  We occassionally change exhibits and more often we hear from a child that they miss what was replaced rather than excitement over what is new.  Repetition is important for young learners and also makes them feel safe that there is consistency in the world.  So while your curiosity and interest in an exhibit may be filled in a few minutes, young children often require much more time.  It is not uncommon for children to explore only 2 exhibits in an entire visit.  It is also not uncommon for a child to gravitate to the same exhibit each time they visit.  Kaleidoscope is designed to pack a lot of activities and opportunities for creativity into an easily managed space.  This way parents can easily monitor and interact with their children and feel safe and at home at the same time.  Come play with us! 

ALL Adults must be accompanied by a child while visiting the museum.  ALL children must be accompanied by an adult while visiting the museum.  We do not have a "waiting room" area for parents to wait while their children go in to play, our hope is that you will enjoy playing with your child and exploring this engaging and educational environment alongside your child.  All accompanying adults are responsible for the behavior and safety of their children while visiting the museum.