Big Dreams Start with Play

Tuesday, April 28 | 3 PM – 6 PM

Join Thinkery and AVANCE-Austin for Children’s Day, a free community celebration filled with hands-on STEAM activities, storytelling, and creative experiences designed to help children imagine who they want to be when they grow up. 

Throughout the museum, families will explore activities that spark curiosity, creativity, and confidence, including art and coding, collaborative storytelling, and building challenges. Each experience invites children to dream big while discovering the skills and passions that can shape their future. 

This joyful community celebration is made possible through partnerships with organizations across Austin that believe play builds confidence, identity, and healthy habits, and that joyful learning should be available to every family.

Community Partners & Activations

AVANCE-Austin

Career Hats 
Children create headbands or hats representing who they want to become when they grow up. Through playful crafting and imagination, kids explore future possibilities and celebrate the many paths their dreams could take. 

Community Vision Board 
Families contribute to a large community art collage representing hopes and dreams for the future. Through drawing, writing, and creative expressions, families will add their voice to a shared vision of possibility. 

Mobile Photo Booth 
Families can capture a fun snapshot celebrating their future aspirations and the power of dreaming big together. 

Austin FC

Player Meet-and-Greet at 4 PM
You will have the chance to meet an Austin FC player during a special meet-and-greet session! Stop by to say hello, snap a photo, and celebrate teamwork, perseverance, and the joy of the game.

H-E-B

Meet H-E-Buddy + Book Drive
You will get to meet the famous H-E-Buddy as he helps celebrate Children’s Day at Thinkery! Stop by for a high-five, a photo, and a free children’s book to help inspire a love of reading and learning at home.

Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center  

Explore Sabores en Latinoamérica by decorating your own apron, tasting fruits from across Latin America, and creating a refreshing tizana while discovering how STEAM shows up in everyday cooking

Thinkery – Led by Thinkery Educators

Bee-Bot Soccer Coders  
Guests will program Bee-Bot robots to move and score in a tabletop soccer challenge! By entering a sequence of steps and turns, kids explore the basics of coding while learning to guide their robot to the goal. Through trial, testing, and teamwork, you will learn that coding is really about planning, problem-solving, and thinking a few moves ahead.  

Self-Portrait Parade Puppets  
Kids will celebrate what makes them uniquely them by designing self-portrait puppets using cardboard and colorful materials. After crafting their puppet likeness, guests can join a playful “parade” to bring their creations to life through movement and storytelling. This activity encourages self-expression, creativity, and the joy of seeing yourself represented in art.  

LEGO Challenge: Build the Change  
What kind of future would you like to create? In this open-ended challenge, kids respond to a big idea like cleaner cities, kinder communities, or exciting inventions and build their vision using LEGO bricks. Through imaginative design and storytelling, participants explore how small ideas and big creativity can help shape the world around them.  

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Thank you to our Children’s Day Sponsors!