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Philosophy
MoPA is founded on the belief that more play and creativity will paint a brighter future. Our facilities, exhibits and activities are crafted to provide rich opportunities for play-based learning and creative exploration.
WHAT’S ON?
All the new activities on offer at MoPA are designed by a team of educators with over 220-years collective experience in early learning. In these articles below, our team announce the new activities on offer and share their thoughts and insights to help us parents and educators to be the best we can be.
HEY NORTHSIDERS, GUESS WHAT? MOPA IS COMING TO THOMASTOWN!
When this BEAUTIFUL building became available it was an absolute no-brainer that we secure it for Melbourne’s newest Children’s Museum. Learn more…
CURATING OUR EARTH: June 3 until August 18, 2024
This winter we’re exploring the SMALL things that make a BIG difference. It’s all heaps of FUN, but it can also prompt some impactful conversations. Learn more…
THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON EDUCATION
It’s quite confronting, but enormously exciting, to watch AI transforming early education. In this article, we explore the impact we’re already seeing. Learn more…
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The Perfect Gift
Memberships, Gift Cards, or Books and Toys from the Museum Shop, are all very popular gifts. Not sure what to buy? The Guest Services team will happily help you choose. Call us any time! 1800 00 66 72.
Membership: from $64
Not many gifts last a full year… perhaps that’s why memberships are the most popular MoPA gift!
Gift Cards: From $30
Valid for 3 years, gift cards can be redeemed to play, eat, party or even at the gift shop.
Love MoPA Merch
Browse our gift shop and choose from a carefully curated selection of sensory toys and books.
GET OUR NEWSLETTER
Socials
“OUR EARTH” 🌍 + DOUBLE activities 🎨 = ALL school holidays!! (60% sold out already)
We’re doubling-down on pogromming EVERY DAY of the holidays, so that every session feels like a giant choose-your-own-play-based-learning-adventure!!!
Special thanks to our gorgeous little guests who wanted to show off their “OUR EARTH” craft outcomes in this lil’ vid. This activity, plus SEVEN others, programmed all day every day this school holidays. Let’s get bizzay!!! x
Hey Northsiders, guess what? MoPA is coming to Thomastown!
Over one million Melburnians have access to Thomastown in under 20-minutes, and so when this BEAUTIFUL building at 391 Settlement Road became available it was an absolute no-brainer that we secure it for Melbourne’s newest Children’s Museum.
We love love LOVE that this building is rich in heritage and artful history. It was originally a pottery studio, built in 1923, and home to potters from all over the world for more than 50-years. And now, this beautiful big building will be re-imagined as Melbourne’s newest Children’s Museum, jam-packed with immersive learning experiences, but also dance, theatre, storytelling, craft, art, and more, all designed to support the Early Years Learning Framework and Victorian Curriculum.
Tag your northside BFFs and start planning your playdates, excursions and parties. We expect to be ready to open in mid Spring of 2024 and will keep you posted with progress updates. xx 🌈🎨🧑🎨❤️
Understanding ‘our place in this world’ is a lifelong journey for most. But SO many of the most important lessons are learned early in our lives, at home. To help facilitate the important conversations to have with children, MoPA’s educators have developed a range of new activities called “Our Earth” and this new series starts tomorrow at MoPA. All the new activities run all day, every day. Visit our fancy new website for more detail.
But ALSO, as a reminder of how easy it can be to make a difference, we’ve put together...
🌈 A BIG LIST OF SMALL THINGS (THAT ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE) ☀️…
1. Ride your bike or scooter 2. Plant some veggies 3. Buy second hand or swap with friends 4. Cook at home 5. Eat more vegetables and less meat 6. Organise a community clean up 7. Save water 8. Buy less packaged products 9. Recycle 10. Turn off the lights 11. Use a blanket instead of the heater 12. Clean with natural products 13. But the imperfect produce 14. Mend it instead of replacing it 15. Air dry your washed clothes 16. Compost organic waste 17. Refill water bottles 18. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth 19. Carpool 20. Eat left overs instead of throwing them out 21. Use energy efficient lights 22. Use both sides of the paper 23. Plant a tree 24. Eat seasonal produce 25. Recycle batteries and buy rechargeable 26. Walk more 27. Make a bird feeder 28. Plant flowers for the bees 29. Buy less plastic toys 30. Up-cycle for craft projects 31. Donate old clothes and toys 32. Visit the library instead of buying a book 33. Plant native plants 34. Organise a toy trade with friends 35. Use reusable bags 36. Keep your cat indoors 37. Clean up your favourite park 38. Have a quick shower 39. Use cold water to wash clothes and dishes 40. Water your plants in the morning 41. Use a reusable coffee cup 42. Only run the dishwasher when full 43. Install slow-flow shower heads 44. Use reusable straws 45. Use Beeswax wrap 46. Avoid aerosol cans 47. Use fans instead of aircon 48. Turn off unnecessary electronics 49. Pack lunches in reusable containers 50. Be kind to creatures
What does yellow SMELL like? Ok, but what does it SOUND like? And how does it FEEL?
Asking children abstract questions about simple subject matter is SUCH a fun and fascinating way to unlock creative thinking. The resulting discussions will also probably be the cutest thing you’ll hear all week.
Those that have explored the giant sensory colour wheel at MoPA Sandringham will remember that this exhibit is a huge abstract exploration of colour. And if you’ve perhaps just walked past it in the past, thinking that it sits smack bang in the centre of the Museum just because it’s beautiful - next time we suggest you pause, engage, discuss your colourful ideas with those around you, and soak up your child’s amazing abstract thought exploration…
As we grow older, and then become mothers and fathers ourselves, we start to realise that communicating the depth of our gratitude for Mums is impossible. But we sure can try 🥰 !!
This week at MoPA, we plan to do our BEST to show all our mothers and others just how much we love and appreciate them. Starting Monday 6th we’re kicking off a full week of festivities starting with the most gorgeous crafter-noons (and crafter-mornings!? 😅) making thousands of the lil’ flower cards pictured here in this post.
All our Mumma-focused curriculum will run ALL day EVERY day, right up until Mother’s Day, May 12th.
There ain’t nothin’ like a super-cute puppy post to get us all to paws and reflect... 🐾
One of MoPA’s key partners, MacKillop Family Services, do LOTS of AMAZING work to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe and loving home. One beautiful example [that’s particularly close to home for the team here at MoPA] of their work is the incredible “Paw Pals” program; supporting the placement of therapy dogs with children who have experienced trauma, to help them reconnect with their learning.
Some of the MoPA team actually had the pleasure of meeting one of the program’s participants recently and... WOW. This. Program. Changes. Lives.
And today - 30 April, 2024 - MacKillop’s matching partners are TRIPLING all donations to the annual #pawpalsappeal . So, a $10 donation will become $30; $100 becomes $300, and the $333 donation MoPA has made this morning has become $999 - WOOP!
Head to www.pawpalsappeal.org.au before midnight tonight to TRIPLE your impact ❤️
Uh oh!! The baby whisperer himself, @drgolly, is at it again ❤️🎨🥳
We had an absolute blast hosting the launch party for Dr Daniel Golshevsky’s latest book today.
This new lift-flap-book helps families hear what our lil’ bubba’s are communicating, and understand how we can help. Full of very clever tips - and a SUPER cute read with new older siblings!!
💯% Our new fave (and our gift shops new best seller!).
Fully hosted, cupcaked, ballooned birthday parties are our thang!!
Oh… And personalised exhibits, private rooms, party bags, children’s food packs, all dietaries catered, gourmet adult platters, family dance parties, coffee tabs, bubbles and beers, and SMASHINGS of fun!!!
All parties book out roughly 8-weeks in advance. Give us a buzz if you have any questions!! xx MoPA
To ensure a safe and comfortable capacity is maintained at the Museum, limited tickets are available for each session.
If the session time that you’re trying to book online doesn’t appear in the checkout, it’s because tickets to attend this specific session are already sold out.