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March 5, 2017 · 6:46 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: March 6-10

Go to Story Time, then sort mail in the Railway Mail Car at the Postal Museum

Monday – Go for Story Time at the National Postal Museum. Occurring the first Monday of every month, the program includes a book reading and activities for little ones in the museum’s education space. Stay after to explore the rest of the museum, full of interactive exhibits that all ages can enjoy. Story Time is at 10:30am and repeated at 11am. Admission is free. Read more about the museum in this KFDC post.

Tuesday – See an all-ages art exhibit with scientific themes and enjoy some reading time at the National Academy of Sciences. The organization is hosting Igniting the Imagination, an exhibition of 28 children’s book illustrations from the collection of the Mazza Museum in Findlay, Ohio. The show looks at the power of images and stories to ignite the imagination of young people, and all of the works in the show relate to science, engineering, or medicine in some way. Copies of the books will be on hand in the gallery for families to read along with comfy couches and chairs. The exhibit will be on view March 6 through August 7. Hours are 9am – 5pm, and admission of free. The Academy is located at ~~500 Fifth Street NW~~ 2101 Constitution Ave NW.

Wednesday – Play the day away at Anacostia Park. The locale stretching along the Anacostia River in SE DC is full of opportunities for recreation with a pirate-themed playground; two other playgrounds; a skating pavilion; a nature center; tennis courts; and fields for playing ball or tossing a Frisbee. Plus, you can walk, run, or bike along the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail or just find a table or nice spot in the grass to relax, have a picnic, and take in the views. Hours are dawn to dusk, 11am – 5:45pm for skating, and 10am – 2pm at the Education Center. Admission is free.

Thursday –Let Arts on the Horizon entertain little ones with Nutt and Bolt, a new production about robot rivals who realize that by working together the world becomes full of possibilities. Showtime is 10:30am. Tickets are $9 (free for 12 months and under). The show runs from March 8-25 at The Lab at Convergence located at 1819 N. Quaker Lane in Alexandria, VA.

Friday – Roam around the lovely grounds, view wildlife in the ponds, visit the Korean Bell Garden, and check out exhibits in the Visitor Center at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. Hours are 10am – 6pm. Admission is $5/adults, $2.50/ages 7-17 and seniors, free for ages 6 and under.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: February 27 – March 3

It’s a jungle in there at the U.S. Botanic Garden

Monday – Let imaginations run wild with pretend play at the Playseum in Bethesda. Little ones can visit the pet shop, bake in the kitchen, dress up in costumes, enjoy story time, and do some art projects — all possibilities in the many themed rooms and crafts areas. Hours are 10am – 5pm. Admission is $9/person.

Tuesday – Cruise over to the U.S. Navy Museum, where there will be a special program about sailors’ lives aboard ship during World War II from 11am – 1pm. You can also see the museum’s amazing collection of model ships, peer into a real periscope, sit in the gun seats of old fighter planes, view naval artifacts hundreds of years old, and much more. Hours are 9am – 5pm. Admission is free. Be sure to note requirements for access to the base and museum.

Wednesday – Drop in for an open play session at SkillZone, a brand new children’s activity center in the heart of Capitol Hill. Welcoming little ones from babies up through 6 years old, the space includes slides, towers, racing ramps, and water play with a section just for toddlers. Hours are 10am – 6pm (M/W/Th/F & 11am – 4:30pm Sat/Sun). Admission is $20/1st child, $15/siblings, free for infants.

Later on… Do you think BIG thinks? And dream BIG dreams? Do you LOVE Dr. Seuss? If so, join Northeast Neighborhood Library from 3:30-5:00pm for an afternoon of crazy crafts, silly snacks, and goofy games! There will also be music, giveaways, a reader’s theater, and birthday cake in honor of the man who loved words, rhyming, and imagination. RSVP is required! Stop by the Children’s Desk on the second floor or call 202.698.0183 to RSVP.

Thursday – If you can’t make it to the Wednesday event, celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday on the actual day by visiting your local library. There are special programs at many of them — story times, crafts, and more — that pay tribute to the beloved children’s book author. This post has background on our early experiences at and links to area libraries.

Friday – Visit the U.S. Botanic Garden, where there’s plenty to enjoy both indoors and out. Walk amid tropical rainforest, desert, and woodland flora, and see the beautiful collection of orchids in the annual exhibit. If weather permits, take a stroll through the National Garden outside, too. Hours are 10am – 5pm. Admission is free. Read more about the USBG here and here. Hours are 10am – 5pm. Admission is free.