Finding exciting things to do in Phoenix with kids becomes even more magical in December, especially as families look for ways to celebrate the season together. The Children’s Museum of Phoenix fills the season with playful energy, offering hands-on exhibits, creative experiences, and winter-themed fun. With so much happening this month, your search for memorable things to do in Phoenix with kids leads naturally to a place designed for imagination, warmth, and discovery.
Winter Camp
Winter Camp at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix brings the joy of exploration to life on December 22, 23, 26, 29, 30, and 31, continuing into January 2. Each camp day invites children to dive into creativity through guided projects, imaginative play, and engaging activities that help build confidence and curiosity. It’s an opportunity for children to spend their winter break experiencing meaningful hands-on learning in a lively, supportive environment.
These experiences go beyond fun by offering developmental benefits grounded in research. The Children’s Museum of Phoenix creates spaces aligned with what experts identify as the foundations of early learning, helping children grow socially, emotionally, and cognitively.
Sock Skating
Sock Skating returns to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix from December 2 through 28, transforming the Museum’s Atrium into a bright, whimsical skating-inspired space. Children and adults glide across a smooth surface reminiscent of ice—no skates required—making it accessible and fun for visitors of all ages. It’s one of the Museum’s most joyful seasonal traditions, offering families a winter experience without the cold.
This playful activity also encourages balance, body awareness, and coordination in a lighthearted setting. The Children’s Museum of Phoenix embraces movement-based learning as a core part of childhood growth, supported by insights from child-health organizations that highlight the benefits of active physical play in early childhood for developing strong motor skills and confidence.
BlockMania
BlockMania at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix gives children the tools and freedom to build with blocks of all shapes, colors, and sizes. This hands-on exhibit, located near the Museum’s iconic Climber, encourages problem-solving, experimentation, and creative expression. Whether working on a collaborative construction or a personal design, BlockMania helps children strengthen spatial understanding and balance in a way screens cannot replicate.
Educators consistently highlight block play as one of the most powerful learning experiences for young children. It builds early math thinking, patience, coordination, and planning. This thoughtful look at how block play shapes early childhood development offers deeper insight into why BlockMania remains a core part of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix experience:
Texture Café
Texture Café invites children to step into the roles of chef, server, or eager guest as they design imaginative meals using colorful textiles. This beloved space inside the Children’s Museum of Phoenix encourages storytelling, creativity, and sensory exploration. Children sift through velvet, silk, felt, and patterned fabrics to create dishes from their imagination, building confidence and communication skills through pretend play.
Role-play environments like Texture Café are known to help children understand social dynamics and develop emotional intelligence. The Children’s Museum of Phoenix provides these opportunities intentionally, recognizing how imaginative activities build cognitive flexibility and social awareness. December visits often include families gathering here to share pretend meals and joyful moments inspired entirely by creativity.
The Park
The Park, a vibrant climbing area inside the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, invites young adventurers to move, climb, crawl, and explore. Tunnels, portholes, and playful structures encourage children to stretch their abilities as they navigate paths that spark curiosity and courage. The physical challenges offered here support whole-body development while giving children a safe space to take healthy risks.
Movement-rich play areas like The Park help children sharpen motor skills, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving abilities. These benefits unfold naturally as children climb over, under, and through imaginative spaces designed for exploration. Families visiting in December often find The Park to be the perfect place for little ones to burn off energy while enjoying a winter outing full of discovery.
December at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is filled with opportunities for joyful learning, seasonal play, and hands-on imagination. From Winter Camp and Sock Skating to BlockMania, Texture Café, and The Park, families experience a month rich with things to do in phoenix with kids that bring laughter, connection, and creativity to every visit. If you have additional questions or would like help planning more things to do in phoenix with kids this season, contact the Children’s Museum of Phoenix—our team is always happy to guide your winter adventures.
