Des Moines Children's Museum

Des Moines Children's Museum We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization recognizing our goal of opening the first children's museum in the Des Moines metro. Come out and play!!
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We started as a "museum without walls" bringing fun to the community with temporary and traveling exhibits. We now have a museum WITH walls featuring many fun permanent exhibits! We are located on the lower level of Valley West Mall in West Des Moines, Iowa! Our mission is to build the foundation of lifelong learning by promoting the power of play.

Yaro Dance Company will be at the Museum on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. for a Dance Sampler: An Introduction to Dance.Try som...
06/17/2026

Yaro Dance Company will be at the Museum on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. for a Dance Sampler: An Introduction to Dance.

Try some basic moves from different dance styles, learn a little history behind dance, and watch short performances. Dancers from Yaro Dance Company will be there to show off their shoes and costumes and talk about their love of dance! Presentation led by Ami Yaro from Iowa Ballet Academy.

Intended audience: Kindergartners - fourth graders and their family members

Length of program: 25-35 minutes

Included in regular admission fees. Open to everyone in the museum.

Every Tuesday throughout the summer, our friends from Everybody Wins! Iowa will be at the Museum for a special story tim...
06/16/2026

Every Tuesday throughout the summer, our friends from Everybody Wins! Iowa will be at the Museum for a special story time at 10:30 a.m. Even more special, they will be handing out FREE books for kids.

"We are thrilled to partner with Everybody Wins! Iowa to help inspire a love of reading in the kids and families we serve," said Ashlen Sheaffer, Programs and Events Director. "Books spark imagination, curiosity, ad learning long after a visit to the Museum ends."

Join us tomorrow, and each Tuesday until August 18th, for a fun story and a free book in a wonderful way to encourage literacy all summer long. No registration is required.

We're having a fantastic start to the summer. This week, Everybody Wins! Iowa will be here for a special story time at 1...
06/15/2026

We're having a fantastic start to the summer. This week, Everybody Wins! Iowa will be here for a special story time at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday and to hand out free books! On Thursday morning, Iowa Ballet Academy will be in the party room with a special performance. Here's a look at the other activities for the week:

Monday: Spray paint
Tuesday: Craft stick building challenge
Wednesday: Museum Babies (8:45-9:45 AM), story time (10:30 a.m.), Little Learners - Mosiac chameleon
Thursday: Father's Day cards
Friday: Friendship bracelets
Saturday: Hungry Caterpillar sensory bin

A Little Birdie told us there is still time to donate to Des Moines Children's Museum!Des Moines Children's Museum is pa...
06/12/2026

A Little Birdie told us there is still time to donate to Des Moines Children's Museum!
Des Moines Children's Museum is participating in the 2026 Birdies for Charity program through the Principal Charity Classic. Through Birdies for Charity, every dollar donated gets a matching boost plus an extra 10% on top. Donate to the Children’s Museum today and have your gift matched. This gives us the opportunity to earn up to $10,000 in guaranteed matching funds!

Want to help support our charity and have fun at the same time? Get out to Wakonda Club for the Principal Charity Classic, any day from June 10 - June 14, 2026 and visit the Family Zone where we'll be with fun activities. $20 for tickets, kids 15 and under are free with a paying adult.

All funds raised at the Principal Charity Classic go to Iowa Children’s Charities, including ours!

Thank you to the West Des Moines Public Library for having us out last week! We got to explore things that fly - scarf c...
06/11/2026

Thank you to the West Des Moines Public Library for having us out last week! We got to explore things that fly - scarf cannons, paper airplanes, parachute, butterflies, birds, and Magnatiles birdhouses. We had a great time!

Tomorrow (Wednesday June 9) is our monthly Generations of Love program where grandparents play free with a paying child....
06/09/2026

Tomorrow (Wednesday June 9) is our monthly Generations of Love program where grandparents play free with a paying child. On the second Wednesday of each month, we focus on a special activity that all generations can participate in together, creating meaningful memories and experiences that can be passed down to future generations.

This program was directly inspired by our floor staff, who recognized the important role grandparents play in the lives of so many of the children who visit the Museum. Week after week, we see grandparents serving as caregivers, teachers, and role models. Generations of Love gives those grandparents and grandkids a space to further connect and learn together.

This month’s activity will be cardboard looms

** Members are always free and encouraged to bring along a grandparent (or two, or more!) on the second Wednesday of each month for Generations of Love **

A Little Birdie told us there is still time to donate to Des Moines Children's Museum!Des Moines Children's Museum is pa...
06/09/2026

A Little Birdie told us there is still time to donate to Des Moines Children's Museum!

Des Moines Children's Museum is participating in the 2026 Birdies for Charity program through the Principal Charity Classic. Through Birdies for Charity, every dollar donated gets a matching boost plus an extra 10% on top. Donate to the Children’s Museum today and have your gift matched. This gives us the opportunity to earn up to $10,000 in guaranteed matching funds!

Want to help support our charity and have fun at the same time? Get out to Wakonda Club for the Principal Charity Classic, any day from June 10 - June 14, 2026 and visit the Family Zone where we'll be with fun activities.
All funds raised at the Principal Charity Classic go to Iowa Children’s Charities, including ours!

Stop into the Museum this week to play!Monday: Easel paintingTuesday: Magnet sensoy binWednesday: Museum Babies (8:45-9:...
06/08/2026

Stop into the Museum this week to play!

Monday: Easel painting
Tuesday: Magnet sensoy bin
Wednesday: Museum Babies (8:45-9:45 AM), story time (10:30 AM), Little Learners - pride flags
Thursday: Wikki sticks and rocks
Friday: Rock painting
Saturday: Slime

Our June programming calendar is out now!
06/04/2026

Our June programming calendar is out now!

Address

1551 Valley West Drive #108
West Des Moines, IA
50266

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 6:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+15152188344

Website

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