What’s New This Month

May Playtime

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month
Throughout the month of May in our Studio in the Park, we will practice faux-flower Ikebana, which in Japanese literally means “to give life  to flowers” and is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. Guests will be invited to give life to flowers by creating their own flower art with paper, recycled materials, and a variety of media. Origami, the art of folding paper, is another Japanese artform that we love to explore in our studio along with paper flower creations. April showers bring May Flowers, and we love seeing a variety of paper blooms come to life through the green thumbs of our young artists!

During our daily story times, we will read books that highlight Asian American and Jewish American authors and stories and/or that share different Asian and Jewish cultures around the world and here in New Orleans. This May, we will also focus on Health and Wellness with programming focusing on physical and emotional health for kids and their caregivers.

Thursday, May 1 & 15, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Sensory-Friendly Playtime
At LCM, we are committed to building stronger, more connected communities through active engagement. We welcome all families and children of all backgrounds and circumstances. We offer a playtime for families that provides a low-sensory experience where children with sensory-specific needs can explore the Museum without the noise, crowds, and stimulation of typical open hours. We limit the number of families who can attend, turn down sounds and lights, and provide adaptive equipment such as noise-reducing headphones and weighted vests. When available, specialists will be on hand to help facilitate activities and provide resources. If you would like to participate in this event, please register.

Friday, May 2, 16, & 30, 3:00 p.m. – 4 p.m.: Food Science Friday
Join us in Follow That Food for fun kitchen experiments. These projects will teach concepts in various learning areas like science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and art. Guests will get to engage with food in an all-new way. This month, Food Science Fridays will focus on the science of heathy eating and nutrition.

Saturday, May 3 at 2:00 p.m.: Habibullah Saleem “The Language King”
Join Habibullah Saleem, “The Language King,” for a fun and interactive presentation that explores language-learning and self-esteem building games. Come rap and clap and sing along with us in the Talk & Play Center. With a career filled with experience as an educator, Habibullah takes the “Ice Cream Parlor Approach” to learning – “There’s a flavor for everybody.” Experience the variety of fun with learning in this afternoon session with Habibullah Saleem.

Saturday, May 3, 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. & Sunday, May 4, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Spring Flower Fest in the Edible Garden
Join us to explore spring and flowers at our first Spring Flower Fest. We will plant seeds and learn about all that grows in our Edible Garden. Create a flower, design floral chalk art, and enjoy refreshments. This event is a culminating project for two teen interns from KidsmART in partnership with Bloomberg Arts Internship, and we couldn’t be more excited for their ideas, creativity, and dedication to our LCM families.

Saturday, May 10, at 3 p.m.: LCM Closes Early due to a Private Event

Saturday, May 10, 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: A BEARy Literary Celebration
We can’t BEAR to be Without Books! Mark your calenBEARS for Mother’s Day weekend because on Saturday, May 10, we will be joined by a community of Very Important Bears to celebrate the joy of reading with the BEARy special women in our lives. Children and caregivers are invited to bring their own lovies to visit with celeBEARties like William ShakesBEAR, Kareem Abdul-JaBEAR, and the Statue of LiBEARty and to listen to special BEAR stories during our 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. storytimes. Our Talk & Play Center will be open in between for families to share some cozy time together and take photographs with our VIB’s. The first 50 families will also have a chance to create their own signature tea blend to enjoy later at home. Let’s celeBEARte the joy of reading together.

Sunday, May 11: Mother’s Day
Come celebrate Mother’s Day at LCM! Visit our arts table to design and build a lovely necklace to give to the special mother or mother figure in your life and stop by our holiday photo booth to snap a selfie of you and your crew. We will also have a special story time Saturday and Sunday in our Talk & Play Center with books such as A Chair for my Mother by Vera Williams, Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman, Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina Lacour, The Family Book by Todd Parr and so many more.

Sunday, May 11 at 2:00 p.m.: “A Tale of Two Boots” Italy to Louisiana: Southern Italian Folk Music Exploration
Join us in making connections between Italy and Louisiana with “A Tale of Two Boots: An Exploration of Southern Italian Folk Music.” Enjoy listening to the songs, learning about the instruments, and trying your hand at some traditional rhythms of the tamburello. We will also display a table of cultural connections. Come get a lucky fava bean and celebrate spring in the way of the Creole-Italians.

Saturday, May 17 at 10:00 a.m.: Master Naturalist Nature Walk
Join a Louisiana Master Naturalist on Saturday, May 11 to explore nature in LCM’s Big Backyard! You’ll see and learn about the many flowers and trees that adorn LCM’s 8.5 acres. Who knows? You might even spot an alligator.

Saturday, May 17, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Dragon Boat Tales: A Cultural Celebration 
Join us for a fun story time about the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival presented by Xavier University’s Chinese Program. Explore the festival’s rich traditions, followed by an interactive exploration of Taiwanese culture at our cultural booth display. Engage in activities, savor authentic snacks, and explore Taiwan’s heritage. Don’t miss out on experiencing the magic of cultural exchange.

Saturday, May 17, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: Memory Jar Art and Writing Workshop with We Scribblin’ and Whole Village Art Therapy
Join us for this free interactive workshop in the LCM Talk & Play Center. Community partners We Scribblin’ and Whole Village Art Therapy will guide participants through a fun and interactive activity using the picture book Memory Jars by Vera Brosgol. This will aid children and caregivers in emotional recognition and expression surrounding the ending of the school year. Please dress comfortably in clothes you don’t mind getting messy. Registration is required.

Saturday, May 24

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Origami Lucky Stars with Krewe of PhantAsia

Mardi Gras is for everyone! Drop by for an interactive workshop with Krewe of PhantAsia and learn about the pan-Asian marching krewe as we celebrate AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Heritage Month. Make one of their signature throws from this year’s parade and take home your own origami lucky star. If you’re feeling ambitious, see how many we can work together to create and add to our community Jar of Stars— according to legend, if you make 999 stars, you’ll have everlasting love!

2:00 p.m.: David Buchbinder and the River of Jewish Music – a Special Interactive Performance

For millennia Jews have lived in almost every region of the planet, with the longest residency in the lands of Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Join David for a journey down the richly complex river of music created by his folks, with a focus on the music of the Ashkenazim and Sepharadim, as he weaves the history and sound of the people and music into an interactive tapestry of Jewish culture.

Monday, May 26: Memorial Day – LCM is OPEN!

Tuesday, May 27: LCM Summer Camps Begin

Thursday, May 29, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Virtual Sensory-friendly Playtime Caregiver Connection Peer Support Group
Parents and caregivers of children with sensory needs are invited to join our peer support group session that will take place the fourth Thursday of each month via Zoom. Please contact dcampo@lcm.org with questions.

Saturday, May 31, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Fitness Fair
Join us as we end Health & Wellness month for the LCM Fitness Fair! We will be joined by community partners who specialize in keeping kids active and healthy. Join in with physical exercise games and wellness activities on the event lawn. Yoga with Nola Fleaux starts at 11:00 a.m., and at 12:00 p.m. , Soccer Shots kicks off the fun! At 1:00 p.m. join us for Run Cajun Run, and again at at 2:00. Caregivers can find resources on topics, including sleep, mental performance coaching, and other ways to do fitness as a family.