This Sunday, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan will host its first family benefit in almost a decade at Pier 60 at Chelsea Piers. The day includes a hole smorgasbord of fun activities for families and kids up to age 12, including everything from a performance by Dan Zanes and Friends to an obstacle course for babies!
To learn more about the day’s event, we caught up with Shannon Bauer Aronson, a local mom and Sunday Funday Benefit Committee Member.
Could you tell us a little bit about how the idea for Sunday Funday 2015 came about?
Back in the early 2000’s, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) was famous for its spectacular family benefits, held at huge offsite venues such as Chelsea Piers and the Javits Center. For the first time since 2006, CMOM has brought the family benefit back to life in grand style, inspired by the theme of a spring field day: sports, games and workshops for all ages and a giant indoor picnic complete with park benches, lamp posts and an astroturf lawn!
What do you think are some of the day’s can’t-miss events?
Bouncy castles and mechanical rides; dress-up in our CMOM Character Photo Booth, design a birdhouse, backpack, or frisbee to take home; hop on-board our play train at the train depot; face painters and roaming performers, launch a parachute with the Brooklyn Robot Foundry, vintage games, including potato sack races and tug ‘o’ war; play “ice” hockey on our indoor sock skating rink; Tots Soft Play Area, Baby Ball Pit and Baby Obstacle Course; giant origami workshop; yummy snacks from Happy Family Brands; giant chess, giant Connect 4, and giant Jenga; CMOM Arts and Crafts Workshops for all ages; make your own Tic-Tac-Toe set with pop-up learning; compete in the “wacky Olympics.”
What age group is the event geared towards? What’s some of the programming that is targeted toward younger kids and some that is targeted toward older kids?
The event is perfect for babies right through to 12 year olds. Little ones can enjoy a baby obstacle course and ball pit, parachute play, mechanical rides, pinwheel craft and CMOM Circle Time Corner with storytelling and songs. Older children will enjoy kicking field goals and shooting hoops with sports celebrities; arts, craft,s and robotics workshops including supersize origami, not to mention bouncy castles, face painting, indoor sock-skating and live performances on the Main Stage.
How can parents participate in the day’s fun?
Parents are invited to take part in all activities with their children, from setting up an indoor picnic in front of the Main Stage to designing backpacks and Frisbees at the craft workshops. Abigail Kirsch Catering does a wonderful job coming up with yummy, creative dishes that both children and parents will love–and it’s all included in the cost of admission!
What do you hope families take away from this special event?
We hope that they will learn more about the important role that the Children’s Museum of Manhattan plays in the lives of young NYC families, and the important role that families play in the running of the Museum.
As a benefit committee member, you’re clearly passionate about supporting CMOM. Can you tell us what you most love about the museum?
As a mom, any place I can take my kids to run, play and create–but also learn–gets a thumbs-up in my book. However, CMOM plays such an important part in the community overall, providing access and programs to those in need. We experienced the far reach of CMOM first-hand after my daughter was diagnosed with cancer at age 3. She spent almost a year undergoing chemotherapy at Memorial-Sloan Kettering. The weekly art therapy that CMOM provides to the hospital brought some of our happiest memories during treatment. CMOM’s impact reaches so many families in the community, and I feel lucky to support such a wonderful cause.
Anything else you’d like our readers to know about Sunday Funday 2015?
Tickets are still on sale through Saturday April 18, and all proceeds go towards running our non-profit Museum for New York City families. Come support a great cause and have an amazing day out with the family while you do so!
To learn more about the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and Sunday Funday, visit cmom.org/funday!
