Families and children

The National Museum presents family programs about Australian history, culture and society to inspire your children.

For up to date information check out What's On at the National Museum.

The National Museum is easy to get around with a pram.

• Watch out for our touch trolleys in the National Museum, where visitors of all ages can handle items relating to special topic and talk with one of our Visitor Services Hosts.
• Visitors are welcomed to the Gallery of First Australians with an interactive pressure sensitive dance floor, complete with contemporary Indigenous dancers and music.
• Buy your lunch at Cuiseum or bring your own and relax in the National Museum's Hall, or if it's sunny take lunch out on the deck, watch the seagulls and take a look at the paddle steamer Enterprise, moored on Lake Burley Griffin.

The National Museum also holds musical performances and other activities for younger children. Check out What's On regularly for the most up to date information on programs for visitors with toddlers.

The National Museum has lots to offer children who are primary school aged including:

• Kspace — this is a unique hands-on experience where kids imagine what the future might be like. Kids design vehicles and buildings in a futuristic Australian world, with their creations coming alive in a sophisticated 3D virtual reality theatre complemented by a vibrant soundtrack.
• Keep an eye out for our touch trolleys in the National Museum, where visitors of all ages can handle items relating to special topics and talk with one of our Visitors Services Hosts.
• Get some fresh air and let off some steam by checking out the National Museum's paddle steamer Enterprise, moored on Lake Burley Griffin. It is one of the oldest steam-powered vessels afloat in the world.

For up to date information check out What's On at the National Museum.

The National Museum offers a number of facilities for visitors with young children:

• A comfortable and fully equipped parenting room is available for visitors with small children. Facilities include private and comfortable seating, changing and washing facilities and a microwave.
• The parenting room includes a comfortable place for breastfeeding, however breastfeeding is welcome in all areas of the National Museum.
• Baby-changing facilities are also available in disabled toilets located throughout the National Museum.
• Free stroller loans are available from cloakroom. Suitable for babies and young children up to 17kg. You will need to provide and leave identification when borrowing this item. Numbers are limited.
  Reservations
  Tel +61 2 6208 5001
• The National Museum has lifts throughout the building for easy accessibility within the galleries.
• Highchairs are available in the spacious eating area in the Hall.

To help us protect our displays and exhibitions from damage, we ask visitors to observe the following conditions of entry to the National Museum:

• Items where any one side is larger than 30cm such as bags, backpacks, umbrellas, tripods and monopods are not permitted in the exhibition areas. Free storage is available in the Hall cloakroom.
• Food and drink are not permitted in exhibition areas.
• The National Museum building is smoke-free. A Visitor Services Host can direct you to the closest designated smoking area if required.
• Photography is permitted in permanent exhibitions for private purposes only, using hand-held equipment. Photography and filming of objects on loan and temporary exhibitions is not allowed. Labels state whether an object is from the National Museum of Australia's collection or elsewhere.
• Trained, registered and visibly identifiable guide, hearing and other assistance dogs are welcome to visit the Museum when accompanied by their handler.

Visitors can purchase fresh food and drinks from our café and restaurant or bring their own food and drinks to our spacious eating area in the Hall. Highchairs are also available.

In addition to the National Museum's café, there are ample areas for visitors to eat lunch including the outside decking area and the lake foreshore.

The National Museum Shop carries a range of educational and engaging children's books, activities and games.

After your visit, come back to the Kids section of the website for fun interactive and educational games.

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