Southern California Children’s Museum’s Story & Craft Program Marks 10 Years of Cultural Education

Southern California Children’s Museum (known as SCCM is celebrating a decade of making early childhood education accessible while fostering cultural understanding through its signature Story & Craft program. The twice-weekly sessions have helped the Pasadena-based institution serve nearly 23,000 people in 2022, exemplifying its commitment to hands-on learning and cultural inclusivity for children aged 0-7.

“Our biggest mission is always teaching children to learn to play. And through story and craft, we encourage them to read, to do something with their hands and kind of get messy. We very much want them to kind of get off their screens and onto their iPads or an easel or a book or a pen and paper,” says Museum Manager Kathie Espinoza.

The program, which runs every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., features interactive storytelling and cultural crafts at the museum’s 459 E. Colorado Blvd. location.

Activities include bilingual elements and special celebrations for heritage months, reflecting Southern California’s diverse community.

Recent programming featured celebrations of Day of the Dead, Diwali, and Native American Heritage Appreciation Month, including creative activities like chai-scented Play-Doh. December’s schedule includes Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza celebrations, along with special events like National Cocoa Day.

“Especially now, there’s so many different languages and foods and celebrations and cultures and people in Southern California. It’s such a diverse community,” Espinoza notes, highlighting the museum’s role in cultural education.

Southern California Children’s Museum maintains its position as among the most affordable nonprofit children’s museum in the region through various pricing options. Regular admission is $10 per person over age one, with military and senior discounts at $9. Through the Museums for All program, Electronic Benefits Transfer recipients can visit for $3 per person. These options are promoted through social media, local school outreach, and community partnerships.

“What that does is it provides discounted admission to families who receive EBT, and it brings your admission down to $3 per person… It makes it so much more accessible for people who can’t afford it, especially bigger families,” explains Espinoza.

The museum has expanded its cultural partnerships, collaborating with local Black, Indigenous and People of Color authors and organizations from the San Gabriel area. Recent initiatives included a book launch with Harry Shum Jr. and Shelby Rabra, and an Obon Week celebration supported by Japan Foundation LA. The facility features permanent exhibits including Wild California and an Art Studio.

Founded in 2013 by parents who identified a need for public early childhood education, Southern California Children’s Museum now offers comprehensive weekly programming. This includes Mindful Mondays, Messy Play Tuesdays, Bilingual Circle Time Thursdays, Wild California Explorers Fridays, Saturday Sing-Along, and Sustainability Sundays.

“There’s also a lot of people who are second or third generation who come from parents from two different cultural backgrounds who sometimes don’t know too much about their own culture. It’s really kind of an honor for us to be able to help lead them in the right direction and foster that knowledge for presenting for their children,” Espinoza adds.

For more information about Southern California Children’s Museum programs, call (626) 657-0357 or visit https://socalkids.org/.