FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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WHAT ARE THE MUSEUM HOURS?
Sunday & Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to  6 p.m.

WHAT UPDATES HAVE YOU MADE FOR REOPENING?
The Discovery Center has made quite a few updates in order to reopen safely. To learn more about our updated procedures, please visit our COVID-19 FAQs.

HOW MUCH IS ADMISSION? DO I HAVE TO PAY EXTRA TO SEE SPECIAL EXHIBITS?
All activities and exhibits are included with admission.

• $15 per person ages 1+
• $14 for seniors 65 and up
• Free for children under one and Members

CAN I DROP OFF MY CHILD FOR THE DAY AND LEAVE, OR DO I HAVE TO BE WITH MY CHILD ALL THE TIME?
Our exhibits and programs are designed for children and adults to enjoy together. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

AS AN ADULT, CAN I VISIT WITHOUT A CHILD?
No. Children younger than 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. For the safety of our young visitors, adults unaccompanied by children will not be allowed admission into the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center. 

WHY ARE WE CLOSED ON SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS?
Children’s Museum Houston operated for two summers in Sugar Land Town Square to learn how to best serve Fort Bend families. We found Sundays attendance to be extremely low. In fact, on some Sundays our staff were the only ones in the museum. On Mondays, we implement new programming and perform maintenance. 

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT THE MUSEUM?
We change our programming weekly, so any day is worth a visit. Usually, the least busy time to visit  is between 2 and 5 p.m. Tuesday is our least busy day. 

HOW DO I PURCHASE A FORT BEND CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY CENTER MEMBERSHIP? 
Memberships may be purchased online or onsite Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To learn about different membership levels, please visit Memberships. 

IS MY MEMBERSHIP STILL ACTIVE? 
If you purchased and/or renewed a membership in 2020, your membership is still active and has already been extended. You may contact the Membership Department at fbmembership@cmhouston.org if you have further questions. 

ARE FORT BEND CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY CENTER MEMBERSHIPS HONORED AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM HOUSTON IN THE MUSEUM DISTRICT?
Yes!

HOW ARE WE KEEPING YOU SAFE? 

• Masks are now optional.  Visitors who prefer to continue to wear masks are welcomed to do so. We remain committed to the safety of children, visitors, and our staff and follow CDC guidelines.
  • Feeling sick? Come back when you feel better.
  • Exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 7 days? Please visit us another day.
• A cleaning crew constantly disinfects surfaces, components and “high touch” areas, like door handles.  
• Deep cleaning with oxychlorine disinfectant (a solution used in childcares, schools and hospitals) takes place every night.  
• All railings and door handles are covered with self-cleaning Nanoseptic® wrapping.  
• Fresh air is circulated frequently in our building throughout the day.  MERV13 filters and UV lights in our air ducts keep our air clean.
• COVID-19 related protocols can be found here.

HOW DO YOU CLEAN TOT*SPOT?

We follow CDC guidelines to ensure the utmost safety of our guests both young and old. Families are isolated in their own exclusive space away from the crowds and don’t have to worry about germs because the exhibit is cleaned every hour. In fact, no shoes are allowed in Tot*Spot, but shoe covers are provided. From the entry pergola, families get a 180-degree view of the exhibit and can spot where they want to start their joyous journey.  If your toddler enjoys Tot* Spot, they will have a blast on our Toddler Trail. The Toddler Trail is a route filled with great activities for you to do with your toddler in every single one of our galleries. Although our Toddler Trail is intended for ages 3-4, younger children may enjoy some of the recommendations as well.

AT WHAT AGE CAN CHILDREN ENJOY THE DISCOVERY CENTER? 
We serve children from birth to age 12 and their families. Each of our exhibits and activities has been designed to engage a broad range of children’s ages and interests. The Tot*Spot exhibit is limited to children younger than 35 months and their care providers to provide a safe environment for the little ones.

WHAT IS THERE TO DO FOR OLDER CHILDREN?

All of our exhibits and weekly updated activities are interactive experiences that cater to children of all ages.  These are developed with the Texas Essential Knowledge Skills (TEKS), STEM, and national education standards in mind, which means children will be learning just by exploring all the Museum has to offer!

Each of our exhibits is aligned to Texas school standards (Texas Essential Knowledge Skills) for Kindergarten through 5th grades, with several linkages for what kids are studying in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. Let us give you some ideas:

• Personal Financial Literacy – Visit Kidtropolis Wells Fargo Bank and determine where to put your savings. If you save $10 each month, will you earn more by using a piggy bank or a savings account with 5% interest? Can you calculate the difference for 5 years? 10 years?  
• Scientific Investigation and Reasoning – At Science Station in How Does it Work, use the scientific inquiry method to complete an experiment. Be sure to ask questions, make inferences, and analyze patterns to arrive at your conclusion. 
• Cultural Exploration – At Cum Yah Gullah, explore and appreciate a cultural understanding of Gullah traditions, explore the geography and ecosystems of the Sea Islands and develop an appreciation for one’s own culture and background. Gullah is a West African culture that survived the hardships of slavery and remained almost unscathed until the 1950’s when the Sea Islands were connected to mainstream America through bridges.
• Economics and Citizenship – Get a job, such as a Veterinarian, Loan Services Manager, Forensics Expert, Sales Manager, Math Specialist or Reporter at one of our Kidtropolis businesses. 
• Government – Listen to different arguments about the bully bill, sugar free candy, and wage increase at City Hall, and cast your vote for one or all three issues. 
• Creativity – Create an artistic composition using mixed media and principles of design at Junktion or Art Academy.

WHERE DO I PARK?
Parking is available in the Imperial Market lot adjacent to the silos, and on Kempner Street. All parking is free.

MAY I BRING IN OUTSIDE FOOD? IS FOOD AVAILABLE AT THE MUSEUM?
No outside food is allowed, however light refreshments such as snacks and drinks are for sale.

WHEN IS THE OUTDOOR PLAY AREA OPENING?
Stay tuned for updates on an outdoor area. Currently, the City of Sugar Land requires that space should the need for emergency vehicles arise as the Imperial Market development continues expansion in the upcoming years.  

WHY DOESN’T THE DISCOVERY CENTER USE WRISTBANDS TO IDENTIFY CHILDREN? 
For the safety of our young visitors, we require parent supervision and involvement at all times.  Wristbands cannot provide the same level of safety.

ARE YOU ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR GROUPS? 
We are currently accepting reservations for visits. Please contact our Reservations Coordinator, Lydia Dungus 713.535.7238, e-mail: ldungus@cmhouston.org

I'M COMING AS A CHAPERONE WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW? 
Chaperones must remain with the children for which they are responsible for the entire time. We ask all of our chaperones to be active participants with their children.

DO YOU PROVIDE DISCOUNTS FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES? 
Please note,  limited number of walk-up tickets are available. Online reservations are strongly encouraged. 

Lone Star Card admission program allows general free admission for up to 6 individuals receiving TANF, SNAP and WIC benefits. Card holders must present their award letter for the current month or, the app on their phone with their expiration date, a recent receipt that shows that they are using their cards.  The Lone Star Card holder of record must be present to gain admission  WIC recipients may show their current shopping list or a store receipt that shows the date within the month that they’re visiting.  

*Excludes school field trips and special events. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

I WORK OR (VOLUNTEER) AT A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. HOW CAN THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDE THEM ACCESS  TO THE FORT BEND CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY CENTER? 

The organization staff can apply to have access through the Open Doors Program, that works with non-profit organizations which serve low-income families to ensure everyone can visit the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center at their convenience. There is no charge to become an Open Doors Partner. 

For more information, please contact Tiffany Espinosa via email or at (713) 535-7234.