Children and Families

Children, young people and families are able to explore the Foundling Museum through Trail of the Month, audio trails, story books, creative drop-in sessions and special events.

Family Fun

Drop-in sessions for families

Family Fun Days allow children accompanied by parents or carers to explore the Museum's collections in creative ways. Drop-in sessions are usually based on the current Trail of the Month with is always available for free on request at Reception. Family Fun sessions usually occur on the first Saturday of each month and during school holidays (Camden dates) on Tuesdays and Thursdays, details below.  Activities are suitable for children aged 3 – 12 years old, younger children may need some adult help.  Drop-in sessions run from 1pm - 4pm on Saturdays and 10.30am – 12.30pm and 2pm – 4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays unless otherwise specified.  Please arrive early to ensure a place!

Admission to the Museum during all these activities is FREE for adults accompanying children.

Thursday 28 August & Tuesday 2 September

10.30am-12.30pm & 2-4pm

Finish the Portrait

Take an unfinished work of art and complete it in your own style.

Saturday 6 September             

1pm - 4pm        

Hands on Hands

Look at some of the hands in our collection and create your own masterpiece. You can use your hands to make a picture or make pictures on your hands.

Saturday 27 September

10.30am – 4pm

Storytelling Day: All around the world

Join us for a day of storytelling and other activities as part of the Festival of Storytelling celebrating the launch of the Cultural Olympiad. Formal Storytelling Sessions at 11am and 2pm will be attended by British Sign Language interpreters. Informal storytelling, trails and craft activities at other times.

Saturday 4 October

1pm - 4pm                           

Tokens

Come and see an exhibition by artist Sheila Dainow, inspired by the tokens that mothers left with their babies. Draw or make your own token to give to someone.

Tuesday 28 & Thursday 30 October

10.30am-12.30pm & 2pm – 4pm

Half term Family Fun: Put Yourself in the Picture

Back due to overwhelming demand! Join artist Kasia Howard to put yourself into one of our archive photos or paintings. We will email the results or print a copy. These sessions are very popular so please arrive early and be prepared to wait for your turn. Art activities and trails are provided while you wait.

Saturday 1 November

1pm – 4pm      

How to make Striped Paint

Join artist John Kindness to look at his installation in the Exhibition Gallery and learn the fascinating technique of Indian Kalighat wall painting. Suitable for all members of the family and all abilities.

Saturday 6 December

1pm – 4pm

A Victorian Foundling Christmas

Make a simple Victorian toy, card or decoration.

Saturday 3 January

1pm – 4pm        

What Is It?

Come and explore some unusual objects from our collections. Use our object detective sheets and get some inspiration for your own invention.

Trail of the Month

Available for free at Reception, the Trail of the Month changes at least once a month in correspondence with the Family Fun drop-in sessions and offers children a different way to explore the collections on display in the form of an engaging and fun treasure hunt.  Suitable for 3 – 12 year olds.

Current trail: Finish the Portrait: Take an unfinished work of art and complete it in your own style.

Audio Trails

Developed by young visitors to the Foundling Museum these audio trails consist of dramatic performances and creative writing. These audio resouces are available to the public for free by downloading the MP3 files here>>

Activity Backpacks

We are pleased to introduce 2 new Activity Backpacks for 5-8 year olds. These are called ‘Music’ and ‘Transport in the Past’.

Activity backpacks help young visitors to explore the collections in creative ways. Each pack contains activities and games based on a central theme. Our full range of packs is now:

 Recommended for 3-5 years

The Sea

Animals

Costume

Food

Time

Soldiers

Recommended for 5-8 years

Meet the Foundlings

Time with the Foundlings

Transport

Music

They are available free of charge from reception during normal opening hours.

During drop-ins there is a Baby Pack, full of toys, available to amuse our very youngest visitors. This is kept in the drop-in for families use while older children join in the activities.

Children’s guide book

Find out about Thomas Coram and trace the life of a foundling in Thomas Coram, the Man who Saved Children, our children’s guide to the Foundling Museum.  More >>

Coram's Fields

The Foundling Museum overlooks Coram’s Fields, one of the largest open spaces in London between the City and Regent’s Park. Coram’s Fields is one of London’s best-loved children’s parks, which includes an animal enclosure and playground. The space is enclosed by the surviving colonnades of the original Foundling Hospital, and adults are admitted only if accompanied by a child.