You’re stuck at home. Whatever your plans were for the day have changed. Doesn’t matter whose fault it was or why, all that matters is that you’re at home and have no game plan. With your young and energetic child – or children.
What to do? You want something fun but educational, not too far a drive but close enough that you know your way around.
Every parent has had a day – weekend, holiday, or summer day – like that. Here’s the place to go to solve your worries.
The non-profit Cayton Children’s Museum in Santa Monica is all that – and so much more. It’s a unique shared space for families dedicated to the power of play. The Cayton offers 21,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits, from a real-life helicopter to a miniature marketplace, reactive VR and more. With adaptable community spaces, art studios and a state-of-the-art theater, you and your child can feel welcomed and accommodated, experiencing the Cayton differently every time.
“We strive to nurture children of all backgrounds and abilities to become engaged citizens of the world by facilitating collaborative, experiential learning and creative expression, both in our museum space and community programs,” says Annie Sinzinger, Vice President of Marketing.
More than 157,000 people visit the Cayton each year, yet more than 1.7 million children in Los Angeles County have limited access to play. Without access to safe playgrounds and public spaces dedicated to unstructured play, children in these underserved communities are denied the physical, social and emotional benefits of play. So, the Cayton’s leadership team is on a mission to ensure that the museum is available to all families, and your support can make a significant difference in this mission.
With your help, the Cayton is undertaking an ambitious campaign through the end of 2024 to raise money and ensure a child’s life is filled with learning, discovering and exploring through play at the Cayton this holiday season.
How can you help? It’s simple. You can make a difference in three easy ways:
- Gift a donation to support Los Angeles Community children through its PLAY4ALL initiative.
- Gift a membership for a year of play.
- Purchase a gift from the Cayton Museum Store.
“Our PLAY4ALL programs provide the Cayton experience for Title I schools to reach children with limited access to the museum,” says Hannah Heimbaugh, Sr. Program Manager. “These experiences, which celebrate the creative, performance, science, math and visual arts, are offered throughout the year at no cost to these organizations that serve parts of Los Angeles County where opportunities for creative, safe, purposeful and free play are needed most.”
Every donation, big or small, that is part of this campaign will help the Cayton serve its community in these ways:
- Field Trips for Title 1 schools throughout L.A. County. This means no cost for these schools and up to $400 in travel stipend for qualifying transportation needs (while funds remain available). The Cayton has hosted more than 70 schools for field trips in 2024.
- PLAY4ALL passes for families facing financial hardship. Households receiving Medi-Cal/Medicaid, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), CalWorks (TANF) or CalFresh (Food Stamps) are eligible. In 2024, the Cayton has provided over 3,000 families access to play at its facility.
- Sensory initiatives for children with disabilities. The Cayton’s weekly Sensory-Friendly Play is designed for community organizations that support families with children of diverse abilities and special needs. “We also invite families to the museum for custom events that cater to sensory sensitivity and other needs to make the museum a more inclusive experience for all,” says Teonna Garcia, Senior Program Manager.
Finally, you can gift a world of discovery this season at the Cayton. With a membership, kids can explore, create and learn each time they visit, letting their curiosity run free in a safe, inspiring space. Or let them take a piece of the Cayton home with gifts from the museum store, carefully selected to foster creativity and wonder.
If you’re looking to make a meaningful impact in our community, consider playing it forward with a donation that extends the Cayton’s mission to bring joyful, transformative play experiences to children across Los Angeles. However you choose to give, every gift makes a difference and celebrates the joy of childhood.
You can find the Cayton Children’s Museum in Downtown Santa Monica on the third level of Santa Monica Place off 4th Street & Broadway. The address is 395 Santa Monica Place, #374, Santa Monica, 90401.Bookmark https://www.caytonmuseum.org/. Remember where it is because it’s your problem solved card – and a door opener to good times for so many families.
