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Cayton Children's Museum is partnering with Connections for Children to bring weekly Parent Cafés and Family Math Workshops to Santa Monica — a new Wednesday evening series designed to support parents and caregivers of children ages 2–5, launching February 18.

Located in Downtown Santa Monica just blocks from the Pacific Ocean, the Cayton Childrens' Museum offers 21,000 square feet of discovery-based exhibits and immersive play. CMS Core Values Everyone Belongs Here Every child and family is welcome here—across cultures, languages, and abilities—treated with dignity, care, and respect. Play Brings Us Together Play helps children connect, cooperate, and understand one another, building relationships grounded in care and empathy. Discovering What’s Right Play gives children the space to explore right and wrong, shaping honesty, courage, and respect in how they act and relate to others. Caring For The Community We foster fairness and shared responsibility, helping children see that their actions matter beyond themselves. Exploring What’s Possible Children are invited to ask questions, imagine possibilities, and think for themselves as they make sense of the world around them. Understanding Ourselves We support emotional understanding, balance, and moments of rest & renewal that help children build resilience over time. Respecting Nature We encourage children to care for nature, understand shared responsibility, and recognize how today’s choices shape tomorrow. Learning Together Children learn best when trusted adults explore alongside them—sharing curiosity, asking questions, and discovering together. Our Vision for 2026 Hands-On Exhibits We aim to create immersive, hands-on exhibits that invite children and families to explore ideas through play, curiosity, and open-ended discovery, supporting joyful and self-directed learning. LEARN MORE Interactive Programs We intend to design interactive programs that bring children together through guided play, creative expression, and shared experiences, helping them practice communication, collaboration, and emotional growth. LEARN MORE Community Connections We aspire to foster community connections that extend play beyond the museum, strengthening relationships among families and linking shared experiences to the broader civic and cultural life around us. LEARN MORE Our History LEARN MORE A Legacy Built Through Play The Cayton’s story spans decades of imagination, learning, and community—from its early beginnings to the Zimmer Children’s Museum, and today’s Cayton. Each chapter reflects a deep belief in the power of play to shape kinder, more connected generations.

Your preschooler will thrill at the age-appropriate, fun projects we offer at the Cayton. Each project begins with a captivating story to set the stage, followed by a process-based art activity designed to enhance their skills in alignment with the California Preschool Foundations. preschool (3-5 years) PEFORMING ARTS VISUAL ARTS SCIENCE FINE PRINT FAQ Your preschoolers will thrill at the age-appropriate, fun projects we offer at the Cayton. Each project begins with a captivating story to set the stage, followed by a process-based art activity designed to enhance their skills in alignment with the California Preschool Foundations. Field Trip Reservations for 2026 are now open. REGISTER PEFORMING GARTS PERFORMING ARTS Art Is For Everyone Children will dive into the world of Gerald the Giraffe in Giraffes Can't Dance by Andreae and Parker-Rees, a tale of determination and rhythm. After the story, they'll bring their creative vision to life by crafting their very own dancing jungle animal. For those eager to explore further, there's an optional performance art collaboration where they can showcase how their animal might move, celebrating the joy of storytelling and artistry. S-E Domain: Self, Social Interaction; Language Domain: Listening & Speaking, Reading; English-Language Development: Listening, Speaking, Reading; Visual & Performing Arts; Physical development Domain VISUAL ARTS VISUAL ARTS Taco Tummy Trouble Students will enjoy the story Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin followed by a fun open art project. They'll explore the magic of color mixing while creating and naming their very own unique potions designed to soothe a dragon's upset tummy. S-E Domain: Self-regulation, Social & Emotional understanding, empathy and caring, group participation; Language Domain: Concept about print, vocabulary; Math Domain: Number sense, Algebra, Measurement, Geometry, Mathematical Reasoning; Visual & Performing Arts: Artistic Perception, Creative Expression SCIENCE SCIENCE Loving Lava Prepare for excitement as we delve into Harry and the Hot Lava by Chris Robertson. After the thrilling story, get ready to explore the world of sensory science as we concoct our very own slime creations. S-E Domain: Self-Awareness, Self-regulation, Social & Emotional understanding empathy and caring, initiative in learning, group participation, cooperation, responsibility ; Language Domain: Language use and conventions, vocabulary, grammar Concept about print, phonological awareness, alphabetics and word/print recognition, comprehension and analysis of age appropriate text, literacy interest and response; History Domain: Sense of time; Science Domain: Scientific Inquiry, physical sciences; earth sciences; Visual & Performing Arts: Artistic Perception, Creative Expression Fine Print Fine Print Actual field trip schedules may vary depending on the arrival of groups. Los Angeles traffic is unpredictable! Please allow ample time for your drive to the museum. If you are late, we CANNOT extend your field trip time, and museum playtime may be shortened. Memberships, discounts and promotions do not apply to Field Trips NO REFUNDS will be granted for groups that cancel within two weeks of the scheduled visit NO REFUNDS will be granted for any child or adult chaperone that has prepaid, but does not attend on the day of visit Any excess funds that cannot be refunded will be considered a museum donation FAQ Frequently Asked Questions Check out the FAQ page HERE

At the Cayton, we specialize in offering fun and age-appropriate activities designed specifically for your youngest students. infant-toddler (0-2 years) PERFORMING ARTS VISUAL ARTS LITERACY SCIENCE MATH SOCIAL SCIENCE FINE PRINT FAQ At the Cayton, we specialize in offering fun and age-appropriate activities designed specifically for your youngest students. We wholeheartedly embrace and celebrate infants and toddlers through engaging programs. For our youngest field trip visitors, we kindly request a 3:1 ratio, with a maximum of 20 students, ensuring a safe and immersive experience for these budding explorers. Field Trip Reservations for 2026 are now open. REGISTER PEFORMING GARTS PERFORMING ARTS Dance, Baby, Dance Craft Musical Memories! Infants and toddlers will enjoy a heartwarming storytime featuring Babies Around the World Dancing by Tamara Barker and Violet Lamay, exploring the joy of dance across cultures. Following the story, little ones will decorate their personal noise makers in a supported open art activity, igniting their creativity and rhythmic spirit. California Infant Toddler Learning & Development Foundations S-E Domain: Interactions with Adults, Interactions with Peers, Recognition of Ability, Identity of Self in Relation to Others, Expression of emotion, social understanding; Language Domain: Communication Skills and knowledge, Interest in print; Cognitive Development: Cause and Effect, Imitation, Attention Maintenance; Physical Development: Perceptual, Gross Motor, Fine Motor VISUAL ARTS VISUAL ARTS Color Mixing Magic Experience the wonder of colors! Children will delight in the timeless tale of Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh. After the story, they'll have the chance to unleash their creativity by mixing colors using our sensory, magical dough. It's a hands-on adventure in the art of color blending! California Infant Toddler Learning & Development Foundations S-E Domain: Interactions with Adults, Interactions with Peers, Recognition of Ability, Impulse Control; Language Domain: Communication Skills and knowledge, interest in print; Cognitive Development: Cause and Effect, Imitation, Classification, Attention Maintenance, Personal Care Routines Literacy LITERACY Little Feelings, Monster Feelings Join us as children explore their emotions through the beloved book The Color Monster by Anna Llenas. Afterward, they'll collaborate to craft a vibrant emotion quilt, inspired by Rothko's art, learning how to express their feelings through colors in a creative and heartwarming project. California Infant Toddler Learning & Development Foundations S-E Domain: Identity of Self in Relation to Others, Expression of Emotion, Emotion Regulation, Impulse Control, Social Understanding; Language Domain: Communication Skills and knowledge, Interest in print; Cognitive Development: Attention Maintenance; Physical Development: Perceptual, Gross Motor, Fine Motor SCIENCE SCIENCE Paper Party Embark on a windy adventure inspired by Carol Thompson's book, Wind (Whatever the Weather) . Children will dive into the enchanting world of wind and weather through a captivating story and an open-ended exploration of paper and wind, by using fans to bring their imaginative paper creations to life. California Infant Toddler Learning & Development Foundations S-E Domain: Impulse Control, Social Understanding, Relationships with Peers, Recognition of Ability; Language Domain: Communication Skills and knowledge, Interest in print; Cognitive Development: Cause and Effect, Spatial Relationships, Problem Solving, Attention Maintenance; Physical Development: Perceptual, Gross Motor Math MATH Get In, Shape In this engaging session, children will be captivated by the delightful story This is a Book of Shapes by Kenneth Kraegel. After the story, they'll team up with an adult to craft sensory bottles, choosing from a variety of shapes and colors, adding a tactile and visually stimulating dimension to their exploration of shapes. California Infant Toddler Learning & Development Foundations S-E Domain: Interactions with Adults, Emotion Regulation, Impulse Control, Social Understanding; Language Domain: Communication Skills and knowledge, Interest in print; Cognitive Development: Cause and Effect, Number Sense, Problem Solving, Spatial relationships, Attention Maintenance; Physical Development: Perceptual, Gross Motor, Fine Motor Social Science SOCIAL SCIENCE Community Counts Discover the cherished tale of Counting on Community by Inosanto Nagara, where young readers embark on a duck-filled adventure on every page. After our story session, children will dive into a creative adventure. They'll express themselves through handprint and heart art, letting their imaginations and emotions flow onto paper in a beautiful display of artistic exploration. California Infant Toddler Learning & Development Foundations S-E Domain: Identity of Self in Relation to Others, Expression of Emotion, Emotion Regulation, Impulse Control, Social Understanding, Relationships with Peers, Recognition of Ability; Language Domain: Communication Skills and knowledge, Interest in print; Cognitive Development: Memory, Cause and Effect, Spatial Relationships, Attention Maintenance, Personal Care Routines; Physical Development: Perceptual, Gross Motor FINE PRINT Fine Print Actual field trip schedules may vary depending on the arrival of groups. Los Angeles traffic is unpredictable! Please allow ample time for your drive to the museum. If you are late, we CANNOT extend your field trip time, and museum playtime may be shortened. Memberships, discounts and promotions do not apply to Field Trips NO REFUNDS will be granted for groups that cancel within two weeks of the scheduled visit NO REFUNDS will be granted for any child or adult chaperone that has prepaid, but does not attend on the day of visit Any excess funds that cannot be refunded will be considered a museum donation FAQ Frequently Asked Questions Check out the FAQ page HERE