Families join our Educator for two stories and a song inside the Train Shed.
Every other Wednesday the Northwest Railway Museum greets our youngest visitors and their caregivers for Story Time. Story Time has been chugging along since 2021 and currently runs from January through June and August through December. The typical format is two stories with a song break in between, and then a craft and sensory bin activity in the Classroom. The Education Department picks out the stories ahead of time before determining a theme of the stories and for the follow-up activities.
So far in 2025, the NRM has held 6 Story Time sessions. The themes have been Winter, Lunar New Year, Kindness, Inventions, Rainbows, and Taking a Train Ride. Guaranteed for every Story Time is at least one train story, no matter the theme! For example, the Museum has read The Coal Thief, Trains Don’t Sleep, and Mr. Complain Takes the Train alongside books like Ada Twist, Scientist, The Snowy Day, and Bringing in the New Year.
Following the story, families have a chance to explore the Train Shed as well as take part in a craft inside the Classroom.
What are the importance of story time programs at a museum? Story Times, no matter the location, introduce young children to key skills that benefit them as they age. Skills such as sitting, listening, following directions, playing with others, sharing toys, and becoming comfortable with people besides their close family. There is an added bonus for caregivers that come. Not only are the children in a safe environment to play and learn, adults can have their own social time!
Sensory bin activities are also provided to help our young visitors improve their motor skills and stimulate their senses.
The Northwest Railway Museum’s Story Time is free and introduces new and returning families to the museum space. Not only are families allowed time in the Train Shed Exhibit Hall to explore and play, they can learn something new every time.
Check out the schedule for the first half of 2025!
If you have a young train fan in your life, consider joining NRM for our future dates. There are fun days planned ahead like Dinos & Animals, Friends, Clouds, and Spring Cleaning.
