About KidsPlay

KidsPlay Children’s Museum, founded in 2012, has grown into an anchor institution attracting families from across Northwest Connecticut to downtown Torrington.

KidsPlay Children’s Museum is:

  • A place where children learn through hands-on and multi-sensory activities.
  • Designed to promote developmental skills such as role-playing, sharing, communicating and self-control.
  • Geared toward children ages 1 to 10 with exciting exhibits and programs in the areas including science, arts and literacy.
  • An environment that sparks curiosity and motivates learning.
  • Designed for children and adults to share fun-filled activities.
  • Accessible to children and families across the socio-economic and educational spectrum.
  • A wonderful venue for celebrations and field trips.

Our Mission

The Mission of the KidsPlay Children’s Museum is to provide children with an environment that fosters imagination and creativity through interactive exhibits and play that will deepen their appreciation and understanding of the sciences, the arts and the world around them.

Our Vision

The Vision of the KidsPlay Children’s Museum is to provide a sustainable anchor institution, preparing a diverse community of children to thrive intellectually, socially, and emotionally.

History of KidsPlay Museum

2012

KidsPlay’s town center is modeled after our city Torrington, Connecticut.  It provides community staples including a diner, grocery store, bank, stage, a Pick’n Patch Garden, and much more. Perfect for dramatic play and big imaginations!

2014

KidsPlay hired their first ever Executive Director to lead the effort of providing the community with a center for children to engage in creative and artistic exploration

2015

Changed their legal name to KidsPlay Children’s Museum while purchasing their new location at 69 Main Street in Torrington, Connecticut (formerly the Quality Shop)

2016

Opened Literacy Treehouse where children can climb up, cross bridges, and slide down a rope slide while following along page by page in our monthly StoryWalk® featured book. It also introduced a series of interactive activities to promote STEM learning and literacy.

2017

Opened “North Gallery” in 69 Main Street building which more than doubled the space in the museum. The new gallery featured a series of attractions that delighted young visitors including an interactive model of a Torrington fire engine and a life-sized game of Operation.

2018

Opened Maker Space and launched Education Initiative. It provide a space where children could engage in artistic and scientific creation, innovation, and experimentation. It also allowed children to manipulate various tools, mediums, and materials both in guided and free play.

2019

KidsPlay purchased 57 Main Street with a vision of using the space to maximize their collective impact on children and families. The new space expanded exhibits and created a centralized space to best serve the growth and development of children.

2020

Conducted an Audience and Community Engagement Assessment with the American Alliance of Museums and the Institute of Museums and Library Services which helped the museum to understand, serve, and impact its community with a new clarity of purpose.

2021

KidsPlay participated in CT Summer at the Museum and piloted Summer Camp. Through this program, Connecticut children age 18 and under plus one accompanying adult can visit the museum free of charge during designated timeframe in which the program operates.

2022

57 Main Street facade improvement began to improve the safety, energy efficiency, and general appearance of the building. The facade improvements are the first step in rebuilding the space formerly operated as the Salvation Army Family Thrift Store. The building, once fully renovated, will be connected to the Museum’s current galleries, adding 8,000 square feet of additional exhibits and programming space.

Media and Press

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Statements & Acknowledgements

DEIA Statement

KidsPlay Children’s Museum values all members of our community, especially those impacted by the traumatic effects of racism, violence, and discrimination. We stand in solidarity with our diverse community to speak out against all forms of injustice and inequity. We are committed to lifelong learning, positive change, and creating space for empathy, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We will continue to work with our community to do our part towards a peaceful and inclusive future.

Accessibility for All

KidsPlay Children’s Museum is dedicated to providing a Museum and learning environment that is accessible to all. As a participating member of the Museum for All program, those in need of financial assistance are eligible for free or reduced admission. Contact the Museum for more information.

Land Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge and honor the Indigenous communities of this region and recognize that the Museum is situated on the traditional homelands of the Mohican Peoples. We offer gratitude for the land itself, for those who have stewarded it for generations, and for the opportunity to play, learn, discover, and be in community with this land.

Join Our Team

Meet the KidsPlay Team

Our People

Our Corporate Partners & Funders: