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This program focuses on parents and their babies, from birth to 12 months, giving them a place to gather and enjoy casual conversation with fellow parents while their little ones play. Guest speakers from partner organizations will lead discussions and activities related to infant growth, and development. The goal of this program is to support YOU as parents, and we invite you to both join and tell us how this program and community groups can best help you!
Free of charge for parent and infant (under one year of age.) May not be combined with additional admissions.
Join us in September for these discussion topics:
September 7th – Bonding With Your New Baby
September 21st – Grounding in Reality
September 28th – Building Your New Community
During this program for children 1 to 4 years of age and their grown-ups, children develop language, small motor skills, and social skills while engaging in hands-on exploration. Each class includes songs and musical instruments, a read-aloud story, time for play, and a visual art activity.
This week’s theme is Bedtime!
Grab your pajamas, brush your teeth, and get ready to snooze. How do you prepare for bedtime? What’s your favorite story to read right before bed?
Advanced registration is recommended. Cost (children only; no additional cost for adults accompanying children): $4 for members, $6 for non-members. This fee does not include the cost of museum admission.
This program has been made possible by a grant from OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois.
Join us every Friday morning between 10am and noon to create art with us! Each month features a different theme; join us weekly to explore a different art medium and learn about types of art making!
No advance registration is required; drop in anytime between 10am and noon. Free with museum admission or membership.
Join us in September for this month’s theme: The Nature of Art!
9/1: Paint
9/8: Collage
9/15: NO CLASS
9/22: Fiber Arts
9/29: Ephemeral Arts
This program has been made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation of Central Illinois, and is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
The PlayHouse will be closed for annual maintenance and repair from September 9th to 19th. We will reopen on Wednesday, September 20th at 9 am.
*We will be open the evening of Saturday, September 9th for our Annual Hopscotch.
HopScotch is the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum’s annual adults-only fundraising event. Leave the children at home and enjoy whiskey-based cocktails and craft brews from local restaurants and breweries. Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, play games, bid against other attendees in our silent auction, and take a chance to win the grand prize raffle.
Check out the Hopscotch 2023 page for information on our auction items and more!
Do you need more information?
Check out our FAQ page or email Executive Director, Melissa Sierra.
All proceeds go towards building and maintaining our exhibit spaces to empower children to become the creators and explorers of the world.
Spark your child’s imagination through a friendly game of Dungeons & Dragons. This five-week program unleashes your child’s creativity beyond what they thought was possible. They will go on unbelievable adventures, create characters without any limitations, and gain everlasting memories.
With all this fun, they won’t notice that in each session they’re building social-emotional skills, including teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking.
Session A takes place on Sundays from 12 to 2:30 pm.
This program is for children 8 to 12 years old. Advanced registration is required.
Spark your child’s imagination through a friendly game of Dungeons & Dragons. This five-week program unleashes your child’s creativity beyond what they thought was possible. They will go on unbelievable adventures, create characters without any limitations, and gain everlasting memories.
With all this fun, they won’t notice that in each session they’re building social-emotional skills, including teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking.
Session B takes place on Sundays from 2:30 to 4:30 pm.
This program is for children 8 to 12 years old. Advanced registration is required.
Come party with the PlayHouse and Forest Park Nature Center at a Preschool Party!
Discover our world through maker and S.T.E.A.M. activities, walks in nature, and stories depending on the location. This program is for preschool-aged children and their parents. For some locations, dress for outdoor fun!
Spark your child’s imagination through a friendly game of Dungeons & Dragons. This five-week program unleashes your child’s creativity beyond what they thought was possible. They will go on unbelievable adventures, create characters without any limitations, and gain everlasting memories.
With all this fun, they won’t notice that in each session they’re building social-emotional skills, including teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking.
Session A takes place on Sundays from 12 to 2:30 pm.
This program is for children 8 to 12 years old. Advanced registration is required.
Spark your child’s imagination through a friendly game of Dungeons & Dragons. This five-week program unleashes your child’s creativity beyond what they thought was possible. They will go on unbelievable adventures, create characters without any limitations, and gain everlasting memories.
With all this fun, they won’t notice that in each session they’re building social-emotional skills, including teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking.
Session B takes place on Sundays from 2:30 to 4:30 pm.
This program is for children 8 to 12 years old. Advanced registration is required.
Join us biweekly on Tuesday mornings for a Preschool Party at Proctor Recreation Center! Each class will include a hands-on STEAM activity, a snack, and playtime in the gym!
This program is for children aged 3-5 and their parents. Accompanying adult(s) can join in the fun, relax, and/or utilize the Proctor Center’s facilities (workout room, TV lounge, computer lab, library) as well as using the kids’ gym with younger siblings during the learning activity.
During this program for children 1 to 4 years of age and their grown-ups, children develop language, small motor skills, and social skills while engaging in hands-on exploration. Each class includes songs and musical instruments, a read-aloud story, time for play, and a visual art activity.
This week’s theme is Food!
Juicy fruit, warm pizza, delicious cookies, and more! Explore the world of food with us during this tot time. What do you like to munch on?
Advanced registration is recommended. Cost (children only; no additional cost for adults accompanying children): $4 for members, $6 for non-members. This fee does not include the cost of museum admission.
This program has been made possible by a grant from OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois.
This program focuses on parents and their babies, from birth to 12 months, giving them a place to gather and enjoy casual conversation with fellow parents while their little ones play. Guest speakers from partner organizations will lead discussions and activities related to infant growth, and development. The goal of this program is to support YOU as parents, and we invite you to both join and tell us how this program and community groups can best help you!
Free of charge for parent and infant (under one year of age.) May not be combined with additional admissions.
Join us in September for these discussion topics:
September 7th – Bonding With Your New Baby
September 21st – Grounding in Reality
September 28th – Building Your New Community
During this program for children 1 to 4 years of age and their grown-ups, children develop language, small motor skills, and social skills while engaging in hands-on exploration. Each class includes songs and musical instruments, a read-aloud story, time for play, and a visual art activity.
This week’s theme is Food!
Juicy fruit, warm pizza, delicious cookies, and more! Explore the world of food with us during this tot time. What do you like to munch on?
Advanced registration is recommended. Cost (children only; no additional cost for adults accompanying children): $4 for members, $6 for non-members. This fee does not include the cost of museum admission.
This program has been made possible by a grant from OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois.
The PlayHouse offers STEAM Homeschool classes at the Bonnie Noble Center in which students explore topics and activities related to science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.
Join us this fall on the third Thursday of each month at the Noble Center to explore Biomimicry!
What does it mean to be inspired by nature? How can humans look to nature as a teacher for engineering and design? In this class, students will take a deep dive into how “form follows function” in the natural world.
This program is for school-aged children between the ages of 4 and 12.
Advance registration is required.
Inspired by Nature: Biomimicry Homeschool Schedule
- September 21st – Nature’s Form & Function
- October 19th – Nature’s Processes
- November 16th – Nature’s Systems
- December 21st – Biomimicry Bonanza