Family Programs

A man and a woman help two young children with an activity at a table.

Family Programs

Cooper Hewitt welcomes families to learn about design together through fun and interactive exploration at the museum or at home. Drop in at the museum on the second Saturday of each month from October through June for immersive hands-on activities, discover the museum on your own, or check out Design at Home videos and more resources.

Activities are designed for youth ages 5–12 and their adult guardian/caregivers. Family programs are included in the price of museum admission, and youth 18 and under are always free.

An adult and young child are sitting together at a table. The light skinned adult with long black hair and glasses is holding a marker and they are drawing a square using a template. The child has light toned skin, wears a black long sleeve jacket with a hood over their head, and an orange puffer vest over the top.

A photograph of a medium-dark skinned child building a structure out of cardboard and paper materials and has a very concentrated look on their face. Craft materials are scattered around the table, and more children are building and creating objects in the background.

Many youths look on as a person holds up a popsicle stick construction

A photograph of a light skinned bald adult and medium skin toned child with long black hair are building a model of a swing set out of pink craft paper. The adult and child look invested in what they are making.

A photograph of a young light skinned child with curly blond hair holding up a piece of paper that has their t-shirt design, which has many different coloured scribbles all over. A light skinned, blonde haired adult sits beside the child smiling and helping the child hold up the drawing.

A photograph of a medium light skinned child with dark pigtails and wearing a pink shirt holds up a blue purse close to the camera lens. The blue purse has neon pink stitched sides and pink and blue tassels on bottom corners.

A light skinned adult and child with short brown hair each hold up a white cube that has a face. Their cubes have googly eyes, a pointy nose, and a light up mouth. At the top of the cube there are protruding strands of green and white lights, almost looking like hair.

A photograph of a miniature garden constructed out of clay, paper, and cardboard. In the background are scattered craft materials across the table.

Upcoming Family Programs

Monthly Family Drop-In programs resume on October 10 and will be offered on the second Saturday of each month. To learn more, see below or view our Calendar.

Upcoming Events

10/10

Saturday

Family Program | Fashioning Paper

Sat. October 10, 2026
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET

Turn paper into fabric with momigami, the traditional Japanese technique of kneading and crumpling paper until it’s durable, flexible, and cloth-like. Make your own momigami pouch or create a small vest for a favorite stuffed toy. View full event details here.

Event Address:
2 E. 91st Street
New York, NY 10128

Free with museum admission

Lotus shaped cup on the left and children gathered around wearing aprons as one mixes something

12/12

Saturday

Family Program | Mix, Pour and Make

Sat. December 12, 2026
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET

Mix, pour, and create objects using Jesmonite, a water-based eco-resin. Try out this modern take on Egyptian faience, used to make the oldest object in Cooper Hewitt's collection, the Lotus-shaped cup, c. 1100 BC. View full event details here.

Event Address:
2 E. 91st Street
New York, NY 10128

Free with museum admission

Check out our GALLERY GUIDES AND online resources

Text and a digital illustration on a bright yellow background. Bold that reads, “Explore the Carnegie Mansion”, to the right side of the text is a hand-drawn illustration of a brown and tan mansion with many windows and growing vines climbing to the top of the building. Explore kids’ gallery guides, design activities you can try at home, and more.

Family Resources→