Habitot Children's Museum

Habitot provides an amazing educational opportunity for toddlers and young children. They provide opportunities for children to explore, play and learn at their temporary location and in the community at several local parks. Unfortunately they are in need of a permanent location. My child benefitted from them when he was little and my grandchild does now.

I had a wonderful experience at habitot. It’s a great space for kids. I have a one year and three year old and it was great for both. There was a dedicated space for kiddos who weren’t walking yet. My three year old enjoyed crafting at the various stations as well as the little town exhibit. Habitot is a thoughtfully curated space that allows kids to play and explore independently in a safe and welcoming environment.

Love their mobile events - bringing joy and learning to kids all over the bay! And their location in emeryville is so much fun. My 3 year old has been enjoying their spaces and events since we found out about Habitot last year!

I have been coming to habitot for many years as a caregiver and I absolutely love it! There is nothing like this in Oakland and it’s an absolute gem. To the staff to the themes and activities. If you have little ones and need a fun day out, I would definitely recommend!

This amazing organization is changing lives one child at a time in the San Francisco Bay Area. We enjoy the kind and dedicated staff at Habitot, the amazing facilities and programs that ignite an interest and affinity for STEAM in children. Habitot is showing children how science is fun, approachable, relatable and ubiquitous.

Children's Museums make an important contribution to the development of young children. Habitot Children's Museum is among the best in offering developmental play that stimulates the cognitive and social-emotional growth of the children fortunate enough to visit there. It is delightful to observe the surprise and joy that children exhibit when they engage in the activities that spark their creativity, allow them to problem solve or pretend to be whomever they imagine. A testament to the impact of this wonderful museum is the frequency in which I run into parents with children now older who fondly remember the positive experiences they and their children had at Habitot.

Habitot Children's Museum was a wonderful resource to take my children and then my grandchildren. Safe, inviting, stimulating and fun. The kids never wanted to leave!

My childhood was at Habitot. I always loved the water tubes and ocean themed exhibits. They made me into the inquisitive adult I am today by giving me exposure to education and playtime simultaneously. It is a must for every future generation of children in the East Bay Area to experience Habitot. I didnt realize it when i was younger but they allowed my parents some rest and relaxation while staff was so gracious and kind. I still remember it fondly, two decades later.

I'm admittedly depressed to see it in its current state and believe the city should step in and ensure the next generation of parents, including my own, can access this resource.

Lastly, i want to say that Habitot really helped revitalize downtown Berkeley. Back when it used to be a ghost town, Habitot was the few places downtown by parents took me. It deserves to be a part of Berkeley’s future.

Wow, what can I say? I have 3 children, 2 daughters born in the early 80's and 1 son born in the mid-90's.
During the late 80's my daughters attended Washington school located on Martin Luther King Jr Way and Bancroft Way in Berkeley. Some of their field trips during school hours were walks to Habitot, including after-school childcare.

They ALWAYS enjoyed playing and learning so much from the Habitot staff and the other children who were there from other schools.

Although Habitot was located in "the basement ", I and so many others always felt safe. I always thought it was a cute little hideaway just for kids to be safe and have free fun.

Later on when my son attended Habitot, he also had lots of fun, just like his older sisters.

I failed to mention that I was a divorced single mother in the 80's, so the type of interactions my girls had helped make them the successful women they today. I can also say the same for my son who is also very successful.

Habitot is a NECESSITY FOR ALL CHILDREN.

COME BACK HABITOT!!!

My niece and nephew love these exhibits! The concept is also just so wonderful to me, to be able to bring hands on, interactive learning to kids, and for families to contribute what they can afford. I'm happy to support this wonderful mission and resource.

Brought my 2 year old to Orinda Community park, and he loved all the exhibits, especially the rocket launcher! We had a great time and look forward to visiting again.

As a parent, educator and arts administrator and Alameda County Arts Commissioner
— I believe that Habitot Children’s Museum offers a wonderful opportunity for play, art-making, and social learning. All of its spaces are designed to be child-centered and I have seen first hand how positive an environment it is for kids and their caregivers. Fantastic place.

Habitot Children's Museum is a vital asset in our community, and Pogo Park is proud to partner with them. Habitot's commitment to early childhood learning through play is commendable. They provide an invaluable resource for parents and caregivers, fostering creativity, curiosity, and confidence in young children aged 0-5.

At Pogo Park, we greatly appreciate Habitot's thoughtful childhood programs focused on early childhood learning through play. The event they put on at Elm Playlot in the Iron Triangle has been very successful. Their dedication to supporting preschool arts and fostering parenting education is making a significant impact on our community.

Habitot Children's Museum is a beacon of community engagement and support, reaching out to vulnerable populations with dedicated programs. We are privileged to have them as partners, contributing to the development and well-being of the children we serve.

Habitot Museum is an absolute treasure of the Bay Area. I have frequented this place for decades now. As a mother of three I used to bring my children to Habitot. They loved to explore the place which was so well tailored to stimulate their minds, their creativity and create a sense of wonder. The hands on activities thrilled them and they never wanted to leave. As an early childhood educator it was a favorite spot for my students to take field trips and as a grandmother now, it is a place of joy for my 1 year old grandaughter. This museum is very dear to me. This place has always been welcoming to all members of the community and has offered my family so much learning and positive experiences that live in the memories of my now grown children.

Habitot is an incredible organization that has done wonders to make science and learning accessible. Their Mobile Museums bring these things to folks who may not otherwise have the resources to experience a children's museum, and foster creativity and passion for learning for all. I am thankful that we have Habitot in the Bay!

This wonderful nonprofit with a wealth of experience and a ton of heart has demonstrated tremendous resilience. It serves a wide array of Bay Area youth and their families, across geographies and demographics. It's looking for a new permanent home in the East Bay, but while it does, it has creatively done pop-ups all over the East Bay, drawing hundreds of children.

We absolutely love Habitot Children's Museum!

The exhibits are incredibly interactive, educational, and, most importantly - fun! The museum's commitment to STEM activities is impactful and meaningful, and the hands-on exhibits keep children engaged and curious.

The staff is warm and caring. They put a lot of thought into designing spaces that allow kids to freely explore, create, and learn through play. You can tell their top priority is nurturing children's natural curiosity.

Habitot is a fantastic community resource that both entertains and educates.

My children used to be regulars at the Berkeley location prepandemic, so it was great for them to be able to enjoy the outdoor activities at Jean Sweeney Park. They’re older now and yet continue to enjoy the wonderful activities provided at the pop-up. My son loved building the boats with flag signals, while my daughter enjoyed that and the create a rocket to launch. They were able to float their creations downstream on the water tables and launch their rockets, which reinforced their confidence and made them proud of their successful projects. thank you Habitot volunteers/employees for your patient guidance!

This is a great little interactive experience for young children. The staff are super. We spent one and a half hours in the mobile museum and it was a highlight of the children's day.

It was great to find out this organization when they had their pop up event in Alameda! My kid enjoyed much about balls pool and all different activities there! It was great opportunity for him to learn more and to interact with other kids.

My family had such a good time playing at Habitot. We didn't realize until the pandemic how good it felt to be out with other families! We're looking forward to a time when we can come to Habitot again.

We LOVE these mobile Habitot events! We have an almost 6yo and a 2.5yo and there is plenty for both to play and enjoy. Even my husband looks forward to these events! He had so much fun building a rocket for our daughter and playing with the foam pieces. I also very much appreciate that masks are still required and there are time slots to avoid crowding. Please continue sharing these amazing events with the community!

We loved Habitot pre-COVID with our eldest and loved their pop-up event at a local park just as much with our preschooler added to the crew! Thank you, Habitot, for keeping play and experiences available for all!

My child had a very great time playing with Habitot. They try their best to bring the fun to kids. I hope they can offer more pop up events in the park in the future. Little ones are the ones most affected by Covid. Most facilities open now when the situation gets better, but those programs for little ones are the most careful one, only a few are open and the little ones have no where to go.

My sons loved learning about how to make a rocket and a boat and putting them into practice in the rocket launcher and WaterWorks exhibit. It was such a joy to watch them laugh and play, while learning and experimenting.

My daughter and nephew went and it was so much fun! They enjoyed the building and sensory play. The staff were super friendly and helpful!

Great open park location where our kids got to enjoy each station and play in the sun while building robots, making boats, playing in the water and paint using good colors. Fun times for a young family with a great setup to get out on a sunday!

The stations were thoughtful and evoked good play and STEM learning for our kids.

There are so many reasons to love Habitot, and our family has had so much fun there over the years! The exhibits really bring out imaginative play, and I've gotten so many ideas for how to interact with my son in an engaging and educational way. I also love that they have subsidized or free admission for unhoused families, special needs kids, and other members of the community who can't afford full price. Definitely one of the best nonprofits in the East Bay!

Habitot has worked so diligently to stay engaged and serve its target audience throughout the last 1.5 years when all childrens museums have been effectively shut down. The joy they continue to bring to families in need that would otherwise not have access to much at all, has been inspiring. Keep up the good work!

My family and I love Habitot! They have great exhibits and activities that my kids both enjoy, even though they're different ages. The staff are knowledgeable, patient, and engaging - they always have great suggestions!

I've been a board member of Habitot for several years. The last 18 months, operating through the pandemic, have been extremely difficult for the museum, but with careful organizational management we stayed afloat and recently launched new pop-up museum experiences! I volunteered at one of Habitot's pop-up events in Berkeley. I spent four hours witnessing dozens of children and their caregivers learn, play, experiment, create and have fun. It felt great to be a part of this wonderful organization that, in times of such darkness, can bring so much joy and positivity to the community!

I strongly believe in Habitot's mission and love the work they do so much that I've continued donating to Habitot well beyond when our son aged out (he's 13 now). All children should have access to the materials, exhibits, and tools that Habitot provides.

My family had such a good time playing at Habitot's Pop-Up. It felt really good to be outside & both of my children loved the paint wall, the home made play-dough, & playing with water at the WaterWorks exhibit. What a lot of joy something so simple can give.

My child loved learning about what floats and how water works on an incline at the Habitot Pop-Up WaterWorks exhibit. They were soaked when we left, but it was well worth it because they were laughing and learning.

It was so nice after the pandemic to bring my child to the Pop-Up where they could interact in positive ways with new people. We played with waterways, which our toddler loved and doesn't get to do in our home since we don't have a backyard.

Habitot's pop-up event was such a wonderful way to explore something new with my toddler (2 years). The water play and the painting were the two favorites, particularly because he was free to explore on his own. They created such a safe space for creativity - amazing!

As an intern without any formal childcare experience, I am grateful to Habitot for teaching me so much about how to talk and play with children to cultivate a space for fun and growth. I witnessed first-hand the care and dedication Habitot puts into planning their camp curriculum and art and science activities. In both the museum and camp settings, it was clear that parents and children alike were able to engage in positive free play and interact with the exhibits in many versatile ways. For instance, at the art studio, I learned how Habitot embraces open-ended art projects, encouraging the process of a child's art, rather than the result. There was always an emphasis on facilitating imaginative play for the children, which I know had a lasting impact even after the children went home. The inclusive community Habitot has built is impressive! It was great to see staff build relationships with families through museum visits and other events, and see these families return regularly even during the short time I was an intern. I loved how Habitot had a multitude of instructional resources for parents and visitors scattered around the museum--these pamphlets, sheets were especially helpful to me as a first-time childcare worker. Without Habitot, I wouldn't have all the tools I have now to best nurture a child's development through play.

Our Early Intervention Services program at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland has been fortunate to be a community partner with Habitot. As a community partner, we have been fortunate to offer our families free passes to Habitot. Many of our families have limited resources and are unable to afford to take their families to Habitot. After their visits, many parents commented about the friendliness of the staff, cleanliness of the site, informative handouts about development and having a safe place to play. Quite often, their children were not ready to leave.
We, also, work with many families who are involved in the child welfare system. I have given passes to parents who are working on reunifying with their children. Quite often during their weekly visits they go to a park, shopping mall or a fast food establishment. My families were very grateful to have a fun, safe place to take their children.
Our department, also, works with children with special needs or behavioral challenges. Many of the parents are reluctant to take their children to public places (parks, in-door play centers) because of their children's behaviors or developmental delays. I and several of my colleagues have accompanied these families to Habitot to support them during their first visit. One of my families commented that she was worried other parents or children would misinterpret her child's behavior and think he was "mean" and appreciated the positive interactions from parents and staff. In addition, to how much fun her child had and opportunities for social interaction.
Every year Habitot recognizes teachers for their wonderful work. I was fortunate to have two of my nominees selected. I attended the celebration and was quite impressed by the effort put into creating the celebratory event. Both of the teachers I nominated, had their families present and commented that it was such an honor to be recognized and appreciated for their work.
Habitot provides monthly birthday parties for families who are homeless or in transitional housing. One of my families was fortunate to benefit from this act of generosity for the child's first birthday party. This meant so much to the parent to have a beautiful and fun venue to celebrate the momentous occasion. Habitot provided a pizza lunch, birthday cake, goodie bags for the children and gift for her daughter.
Habitot is a wonderful gift for the community. It is a happy, fun and safe place with much to do and discover. They continue to give back to the community in many ways. Since sheltering in place, they have created activity bags for families. Our organization was fortunate to receive these bags on two occasions. Our families were very happy to receive them because there were activities they could do with their children and the children were excited to see what was in the bag. All supplies were included and they were easy to do without causing frustration or stress.
Habitot has always been my go to resource for families. I look forward to visiting them at their new location.

Habitot is a wonderful place for any and every growing and developing child. I used to take my daughter there every week and she absolutely loved the art studio. Also, the staff there is excellent and was able to foster her artistic growth from the variety of art projects and materials that are available on a weekly basis. While my 4 year old is having a blast in in the art studio, I can watch my 1 year old baby play in the infant/crawler area or explore freely in the grocery cart area and space station exhibition. There is always so much fun at Habitot and so much creativity and thought that goes into every exhibit. Ever since the pandemic, Habitot has been closed and my children and I miss it so dearly. I am so looking forward to its re-opening and will be one of the first to jump into a membership again.

Having Habitot in my children’s lives has been such a blessing. I started taking my children there since before they learned to walk. They have learned to let their imaginations and creativity run wild while painting, playing with play dough, slime, glitter, glue, watercolors and a myriad of other messy art activities that change daily. They have learned to form friendships through pretend play at the ever changing and imaginative exhibits such as the rocket ship exhibit, farm, recycling center, fire truck, car wash, veterinary clinic, pretend store and restaurant and other exhibits. My daughters have so much freedom to explore and be creative at Habitot and when they come away with faces painted like panda bears or shirts soaked from water play, I know they’ve had a good day. The staff at Habitot are warm, caring and very attentive and are eager to get to know and help each child that visits. Habitot is truly a magical place for toddlers. I cannot say enough good things about it and I hope it reopens soon!

I have an in home daycare and was hoping to liven the environment up a bit, to keep kids entertained during these crazy times and I contacted habitot about a sale they were having. I went and was able to get a bunch of new activities and games for the kids. Thanks habitot!
Cecy

My now 20 year old daughter spent many happy hours at Habitot when she was a toddler and preschooler. I also brought my preschool class to Habitot several times. It really is a magical place for play and discovery. Thank you Habitot!

Habitot has been extremely proactive in making sure the children in our program at the Women’s Daytime Drop-In Center have the learning supplies and creative tools to remain engaged throughout this pandemic! We are so grateful for their continual support and are excited to foster this partnership.

Habitot serves a vital role in the East Bay community. The organization does significant outreach work for low income families, and provides access to hands-on learning for young children that many would not have access to at home. Habitot also provides other services like a toy lending library, which is great for families who can't afford to purchase new toys, and birthday parties for homeless children, which enforce the principal that all people are valued members of the community. This is one of the few organizations where children from all backgrounds learn and play together.

The organization's founder, Gina, has always found a way to help those in need, even when they are unable to pay. She's really quite amazing and inspirational. Donors help to bridge the gap between what the community needs and what people can afford to pay.

Habitot was a fantastic place for my boys to spend afternoons, particularly from ages 2-5, exploring the interactive play experiences that Habitot offers, spending time playing their grandparents, parents, and babysitters, and learning so much from that fun time. Habitot is a treasure for the Bay Area.

The initial concept for starting a children's museum "Habitot" was for Gina's children. Believe me, my sister could have chosen anything to do and it would have been as great as Habitot is. We have been able to visit a few times, because we live out of state, and all the imaginative areas that were set up were always so fun, the grocery store, the doctor's office, the fire truck (especially for my son), the wind tunnel, and the amazing water world area. There is so much more that Habitot has and has done over the years. Gina has put her whole heart into building such a wonderful children's museum. Her care for the improvement of children's lives goes far beyond her museum. I am so proud of all the work she has done for her community over these past few decades.

Habitot has meant so much to our family (currently with three littles ages 3, 2, and 1). I pushed this place to the bottom of my list for a long time because of the word "museum" but then got the opportunity to attend a birthday party here and was immediately hooked and purchased a membership. For around the cost of bringing the four of us once a month I was able to purchase a membership that allows us unlimited entry, and since then we have been here 2-3 times a week. It's basically our preschool. Where do I even begin?

The space is just big enough that my toddlers can run around and have freedom without ever feeling unsafe or like they can't find me. The staff is consistent and friendly so that our girls have gotten to know them in the same way they might know teachers.

A few highlights:

The art room. Nora is the art teacher we normally see, and she is so kind and welcoming with my three girls. Kids are allowed to get as messy as they like and touch whatever they like. It's incredibly tactile, There is a giant painting wall, and once the children have filled it up Nora wipes it down (the water goes into a cleverly placed trough at the base) and they start again. My girls have learned so much by exploring the daily art projects, and my oldest is always so proud to show me which pieces on the drying rack are hers.

The water room is decorated with fabulous shimmering strips of fabric so that you feel you're in a little sea cave. Once inside kids can safely play with the very shallow water troughs and get as wet as they like with bubbles, chutes that wind through the room and make little waterfalls (and teach about gravity and uphill vs downhill), and marine life toys. Best of all, any spilled water drops to the floor which is entirely made of grates.

The wind tunnel is my baby's favorite spot. Once the yellow button is pressed the wind begins to blow and you can toss leaves or flower petals into the air and watch the wind dance with them.

There is a grocery store with child-sized carts, and a little diner where they can "cook," and sell things on the cash register, and serve food.

In the building-room they can construct surprisingly big castles with the giant foam blocks.

There is a small, and very safely contained three-level climbing wall.

There is a small infant-toddler garden room with toys for the youngest babies and a spot where fake carrots are growing and the kids can pull them up out of the ground and look at them. It's just so cleverly designed and brilliant.

There are two giant make-up mirrors with very easy-to-clean facepaint crayons where kids can do their own make-up creations.

Some sections of Habitot are occasionally updated, so I don't know how permanent these sections are, but there is currently a firetruck the kids can climb with buttons they can press to make things happen, and a whole recycling center with hand-crank conveyer-belts, and (our favorite) an animal hospital with an x-ray viewer that lights up and all kinds of (stuffed) animal creatures that can be petted, fed, and healed.

There are occasionally extra events for which there is never an extra charge. We've been shown worms from composting (and been able to take a tiny cup-composter home), and seen a dragon puppet show teaching about fire safety, just to name two. Every Wednesday (again, for no extra charge), a wonderful music teacher from Jamaroo comes and leads the kids for 30 minutes of singing, dancing, and storytelling. It's just the best.

Getting here can be tricky in terms of parking, navigating the building, dealing with trucks blocking the alleyway, or with elevators being broken, but once you are here it is just so worth it.

Above all else, I feel like Habitot staff members and leadership truly cares about families, and keeping the Habitot experience child-driven, and you can see that in everything they do, from the way that they intentionally don't offer wifi (because they want you engaging with the kids), to the way they don't reprimand kids for "mixing" the displays in creative play, to the encouraging and educational signs that are posted everywhere. The environment is so warm, and I have made one very good friend by coming and striking up conversations with other mothers. Habitot is a truly remarkable place, and for people like us (middle class—making too much to get assistance but not enough to afford preschool) it has been an irreplaceable blessing.

Habitot provides a great space for my almost two year old to explore, be creative, socialize, and play. The water area, imaginary restaurant/store, painting wall, and fire truck are his favorites. The staff is kind, helpful, and patient.

Habitot offers a fun and educational environment for kids up to about 1st grade. They have a nice variety of activities to keep kids interested, from a climbing structure to a fire truck to a fantastic water feature to an amazing art section. They even have a toy 'library' where you can borrow activities to do at home. We were able to go on a day designated for families who have children with special needs, and it was great to be able to play without the stress of worrying about how our daughter's behaviors might be perceived. She had a great time and loved the water especially.

Much needed opportunity for children to play as they see fit including in a very loud voice, or collecting more than one of a desired object like shopping carts. one child poured buckets of water into a filled container repeatedly to watch in all seriousness the overflow. Most other places he would have been corrected rather than allowed the experience

They do great work for kids with special needs and their families

Habitot is a magical place! Our toddlers love running around and experiencing all that the space has to offer. I have been bringing my daughter to Habitot since she was 1 year old and have never been disappointed. The exhibit with the fan and the fairy butterflies is wonderful for the little ones along with the closed-off area for the babies to play. Now that my daughter is 2.5 I just stand back and let her discover what she wants as she is ready! We are thrilled to have this as one of our local spots!

Habitot Children’s Museum is a marvelous community resource. For years I have taken my grandchildren there, as toddlers and also up to five years old. They love the diversity of activities available: art, face painting, train sets, water play and much, much more. And I love how Habitot reaches out to all parts of the community.

Habitot is a wonderful museum for children. It has many interactive stations and encourages parent / child interaction. The stations change so there is always something new to foster creativity and play time. I really appreciate their foster night and homeless birthday parties. It is encouraging to see an organization focus on these under served but deserving families.

Not only does Habitot provide a fun, educational space for kids under age 5, their mission extends to a number of programs for under-served and at-risk populations including children of refugees, incarcerated parents and the like. The programming ranges from sustainability to inclusivity and is always child-focused and child led.

Habitot is an amazing place for young children to learn and play. The exhibits are engaging and fun. It’s interesting to see how children of different ages interact with the exhibits differently. Habitot also works hard to be open to all children in the community and deliberately fosters activities to bring in children from groups that may be marginalized. It is a true community resource.

Habitot Children's Museum is a wonderful organization that meets and exceeds its mission to help children thrive and grow with play-based education vital to their early childhood development. As a nonprofit, they host extraordinary events for all communities within the East Bay in order to expand their reach and allow parents/caregivers access to resources and educational information that they otherwise would not be able to access or afford. For example, they host birthday parties for homeless families, free admission days for families facing financial difficulties, and events that exclusively close down the museum for kids with special needs, to name a few. Habitot's staff is passionate about helping families and children in their community and it truly shows through their long-standing efforts and exceptional events they work so hard to provide.

Habitot is a great place for children to play. My kids love the art studio, water play area, and the changing exhibits and always seem to find a new playmate while crawling around in the wiggle wall. In addition to enjoying the museum with my family, I have been volunteering with Habitot for over two years. As an Architect, I work with board members on the museum's goals to expand its exhibit space and educational programming. Making a new space a reality will allow Habitot to continue to serve the community for many years to come.

We have an awesome story of our son with special needs being able to bond with his typically developing peer at the habitot special needs day. It really does feel like a special time that we don't need to worry about what other parents or children are thinking or even answer questions. We can just enjoy ourselves. Wish this special needs time could be more frequent!

My first experience with this children's museum was when I was told about a free event they were sponsoring for families of kids with special needs. I had heard of the museum and wanted to go and that was the perfect opportunity to do so. I was initially surprised at how small the museum is, but that actually turned out to be a blessing, because I could relax more there than in bigger children's museums where I am constantly worried about my kids getting out of my sight. Because Habitot is small, I knew my two kids were always close, even if I couldn't see them. Plus there was only one way for them to get out and there was always a staff member watching that door. My kids had a blast and we stayed all afternoon. I was happily surprised that in addition to giving us free admission for the afternoon, there were also snacks provided during this special event. That was such a nice, welcoming touch and it was good so that families could connect when they were taking a break and getting the kids snacks. There were also volunteers that engaged my kids, one who stayed colored with my son for about 30 minutes. This was nice because it game me a chance to spend quality time just with my daughter. Finally, when we were leaving, each child was allowed to pick a book to take home. The book we found for my son was a song book that he absolutely loved and has become one of our most-read books. So the experience was a very nice, complete, satisfying one that lives on each time we read that book. Since then, we have gone back a few times on another special event day and with a group.

Habitot has been incredibly welcoming to my ASD toddler. We've had fun at the museum on days reserved for special needs families (he loves the painting white board that you can squeegee) and he had so much fun at the two summer camp sessions we signed him up for. The teachers were so welcoming and friendly - he developed trust with them right away and came home every day with evidence of creative endeavors and fun (glitter in hair!). Thank you, Habitot, for being a safe and welcoming place for every toddler to explore and be creative.

This place is so amazing. There special needs kids afternoons have been wonderful for my family. My kids get to play in a safe, enclosed environment with lots of Staff helpers around to help them engage and I get to meet and connect with other parents who really know what it’s like to raise a non nuerotyoical child.

We have been going to Habitot a lot this summer. My 3.5 year old son loves it and asks to go almost daily. He always finds something new to do even though we go there a couple of times a week. He loves the grocery area, the trains, the water area and he loves to yell into the wind tunnel. I enjoy watching him play, the staff are incredibly nice and supportive and it’s been nice meeting other families. I appreciate habitot and their programs so much

My little one loves Habitot, and I am deeply grateful for the special needs playdates. Having such a wonderful space with great staff at a time that's dedicated to our kiddos means they can explore without the usual tons of kids. Having that special time to gently broaden her horizons has been wonderful. Please keep it up! I also learned a ton from a workshop they held about IEPs, so thanks for that as well!

Such a wonderful place!! I was able to introduce my son to this space with only a few kids around since it was for a special event. My son takes a little time getting used to new spaces but he quickly took a liking to this place. There were so many things for him to do and explore that we weren't able to see it all in one go. The space is very clean and well kept. I would highly suggest bringing your little ones here. We will definitely be back to explore more of the spaces we didn't really get to on our first visit.

This museum is very sweet. It is quite small, but every ounce of space is used for something creative. My daughter's loved playing in the shopping area and cafe, swinging on the farm bench, and painting and playing with slime in the art room. The workers are kind and helpful. We hope to be back soon!

Our preschooler as learned so much at Habitot from the art room, to the water area and make believe cafe. The size is perfect to let my toddler room with my newborn in my arms. We have loved going!

Upon my first visit to Habitot, it was love at first sight both with the facilities and the staff. It is a fantastic creative, safe and unassuming place where your child can let go of their inhibitions and reach beyond. The entire space is thoughtfully designed with the children’s perspective in mind making it an even more inviting space. I am honored to be part of the board and look forward to seeing Habitot grow!

I interned at Habitot Children's Museum for a three-month period earlier this year, and throughout my internship I was constantly impressed by the staff and director's enthusiasm and dedication to supporting the museum's mission, providing resources as well as a safe, creative learning space for Bay Area families. Habitot is a unique organization in its steadfast commitment to its function as a community resource, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work directly with its staff and director.

Habitot is an organization that I donate to happily, knowing that the money will be utilized to the fullest extent and to support those most in need. Habitot has a powerful mission and does meaningful work in our community. I'm thrilled to support them!

Habitot is a community treasure in the Bay Area! It provides a wonderful space for young children & their caregivers to enjoy imaginative play and explorative learning. I’m a disabled grandma, yet have been able to care for my grandchildren by including Habitot as one of our “adventures” on a weekly basis for years. Now my “kiddos” feel at home there, familiar yet always surprised and entertained by their exhibits and activities. The staff are committed and caring, focused on celebrating diversity. We feel welcome. I’m truly grateful to have the joyful memories of helping my grandchildren bloom because Habitot has been so engaging with an incredible variety of things to do! Arts & crafts including a huge paint wall. Water play with tables, toys, cascading stream. Grocery store & cafe filled with foods, dishes, registers and tables to be served the latest yummy treat. Wind tunnel to delight airborne leaves & petals & snow in season. A special exhibit that changes, a full fire engine, hoses, gear & chance to learn “stop, drop & roll”... formerly a full rocket & space station, and a veterinary and hospital with animals & dolls. Face painting station. Climbing wall. Even quiet spaces for reading & relaxing. A garden for very young ones to climb, stand & play. Train tables & lunchroom. Now we have boxes of artwork and thousands of photos, and chance for them to “make a friend”. Habitot has made all the difference for me, enabling me to be the kind of “Grammy” I hoped for my loved ones. I sincerely recommend Habitot to share and enjoy with your family too!

We absolutely adore Habitot. We've been taking my son almost monthly since he was 2, and now my daughter. They both love the exhibits, and they are entertained for hours. It's our favorite rainy-day activity in the Bay Area. It certainly feels good to support the organization considering their incredible generosity towards disadvantaged groups.

Habitot is a fun and joyful place that fills a critical need in the East Bay by providing a safe and affirming place for all young children in our community to play and learn.

The Executive Director, Gina Moreland, and the great staff have focused on fostered a welcoming environment for all kids and their parents. This is reflected not just in the inviting physical space they have created, but also in the inclusive programming they have developed. Creating spaces that meet the specific needs of children experiencing homelessness, recent immigrant and refugee children, those with disabilities, and other groups of kids who can often be left out of the fun of play, are all enthusiastically welcomed at Habitot, and treated with dignity and love (as are their parents).

As a resident of Berkeley, although I'm not a parent, it's an honor to be able to support an organization so dedicated to helping all of our community's kids to learn and grow.

I run a summer camp and coming to Habitot has been great for our older campers. They spent a half-day volunteering- helping prepare the activities for the museum as well as had a tour and talked about Early Childhood Development (these are all 13/14 year-olds who are hoping to become counselors next year!). It was a fun and informative way for our oldest campers to learn some leadership and child development in a light-hearted and exciting way!

I have lived in the Bay Area for a long time and would often hear people talk about Habitot. Once I had kids I realized why it had such an amazing reputation. My two girls love visiting the museum and could play and learn for hours in end. They even had birthday parties there. As we continued to visit I learned about Habitot’s numerous inclusion programs for new parents, caregivers, and families with special needs. It’s not just a space to play, but also learn, and more importantly a safe space for the community to gather. It truly is a community resource. After meeting the founder, Gina Moreland, the mission to provide the community a safe space to help people explore their curiosity, creativity, and confidence really stood out. I happily joined the board and have been a proud supporter ever since!

I went to Habitot as a child and have so many fond memories of playing there. From playing with windmills in the wind tunnel to crawling like an earthworm in the fun crawl wall to painting my face in all sorts of ways, I always looked forward to birthday parties and outings at Habitot.
I was so happy to hear about a group of teens from a summer camp I work at going to volunteer at Habitot this summer as it brought back so many fond memories of my childhood.
Habitot is such a wonderful part of our community and I can't wait to bring my children here. Thank you so much for the wonderful memories :)

I have been taking my children to Habitot for over 10 years! Both my children have developmental disabilities and a number of challenges including anxiety and delays. Outings are extremely difficult for us and in fact there are very few places I can take both my children to together. One of our top goals is to have our kids socialize in a safe and fun environment. Habitot has been a safe haven for my family in this sense.
My son is now 12 but still loves playing at the museum. For my daughter who is 8, Habitot is the only place, I can let her play and explore freely, without worrying about her safety. Another great benefit of the museum has been connecting with other families. It can be very isolating to be a new mom. Add to that, being a mom of a special needs child! I hope to be able to take my children to the museum for more years to come. My son has even expressed interest in volunteering there when he is older, to give back.

Hello Gina Moreland, Executive Director,

I writing to share some pictures of my daughter AnnaBella Vaca. She spent many afternoons and late Thursday time at Habitot as a young child. I firmly believe that the play spaces helped to expose her to more pretend play and creativity.

This was the first place where she could paint on the wall! She begged for years to paint the walls in our home. As you can see this wall that was painted by AnnaBella at the age of 12 makes us all so very happy!

Bella is currently an 8th grade visual artist at Oakland School for the Arts.

Thanks for showing her more ways to pretend. Thanks for all of the goop and slime. And thanks most of all for an entire wall to paint on!!

Sincerely,
Christy & Ignacio Vaca

Pics at Habitot as well as Bella's art:


https://goo.gl/photos/C2AwSWbt8WMSvmfW7

Habitot is a wonderfully conceived educational and play-filled universe for my one year old. From the parenting handouts to the art studio to the toy lending library to the water area and rocketship, every square inch is dedicated to something enriching for children and families. We both love that he can practice interacting with other children there. It truly is a little learning laboratory. They also have parenting education programs, child classes, and outreach programs for underrserved communities. Habitot is a thoughtful community resource that is for ALL kids and families and keeps itself accessible through affordable admission and free programs. I know we will enjoy many years of learning through play at Habitot!

Habitot is amazing. The museum provides my baby with a safe, nurturing environment to learn while helping to inform me as a parent. The provide parenting articles, support groups, classes for parents and kids. A true resource for a new family.

Habitot is truly an unique and special space for families. I have seen diverse crowds over the years share laughs, get messy and develop their outlook on the world through exploring hands-on imaginative play which ties in real world experiences. The crowd attracts families of all shapes, sizes and makes-- allowing for an everlasting family memories.

As a visitor to the museum, one may hear families speaking a number of different languages and may see people from across the world, while this is true families of all walks benefit from the space's ability to hone child development skills and lose themselves in the fun of doing what is not expected. From shopping for a basket of fruits and veggies for a Habitot cooked meal to creating baby's first wall painting using recycled materials in the art studio, Habitot allows staff expertise, cultural sensitivity and appreciation for the beauty in the simple things shape the family visit.

The museum plans events for Chinese New Year, Black History Month, Christmas and also finds time to offer free and subsidized visits for households of families who are homeless, incarcerated, or teen-parents. This is a gem to the diverse atmosphere of the Bay Area and allows a safe space for the positive growth of our kids-- or The Future as I like to call them- through play and cultural awareness. We need this place!

Habitot is the go-to for me and my daughter. She's 2 1/2 now and we've been going for close to two years. In the beginning, it was the toddler section that was her favorite but now it's ... well, everything. From playing with the water to discovering her inner van Gogh to pretending to be an astronaut (or a car driver - I'm not sure) she has so much to choose from that she is constantly discovering. Every time when it's just her and me I ask, "Do you want to go to Habitot?" and she responds with a loud "PO!" (which is 'yes' in albanian). Is Habitot one of those hidden gems in the bay area? Po!

We love Habitot! I take my granddaughter to Habitot twice a week because its a place that she can play with her peers, fully use her imagination, and explore water, wind, and make amazing art projects. The staff are friendly and really enjoy being around children. On Fridays they have pizza for the price of $1.00 and my granddaughter really looks forward to the treat. What I so appreciate is that unlike other kid friendly places it is racially diverse and they have an affordable summer rate which makes the world of difference in our ability to visit. You will not be disappointment! I was talking with a family who came all the way from Modesto (80 miles) to Habitot and they were not disappointed!

One of the first places we discovered when we moved to Berkeley. Both of my children 1 & 3 love it! The staff is extraordinary. The wonderful lady in the art studio helped my son (1yr) paint for the first time by getting him a highchair and helped me with paint and a clean brush. This place is amazing!

My son had his two year old birthday party at Habitot and he was super delighted with all the exhibits at the museum!!! His favorite included the Waterworks exhibit, the Wind Tunnel , and the Wiggle wall!!! My nine year old daughter also had great fun doing face painting!!! Habitot is a great place for the entire family!!!

I began taking my kids to Habitot when my oldest was becoming a toddler over one; she is now 9. I have watched my girls grow with the museum and learn to explore that greater side of themselves. Whether it's through the fire truck exhibit or the water play, they joy I see in their eyes when at Habitot excites. Habitot reminds me of the importance to connect with your creativity and innovation. It has been an important part of my life as a parent and what fueled me to become more involved in the organization.

My almost 4 year old daughter and I love Habitot. We go there almost weekly. The staff is great there and they use their small space very well. Our favorite area is the art studio. My daughter can focus there for over an hour doing one creative project or another. Thank you Habitot!

My 1st visit to Habitot was in 2002 when my daughters were 2 & 3 (now 15 & 17). We fell in love with this place! They played pretend Dr. - dressed in white lab coats, partnered to exam a baby girl, and even read xrays! The pictures priceless! They then moved on to the painting area and made these poster size paintings which I still have hung up as art work! I loved the idea and the results so it became mandatory for my children to make a poster painting for my keepsake. I've returned today with my 7-year-old son who in 2010 made his 1st poster painting and had his priceless firefighter photo shoot! Today, he painted his 2nd and my almost 2-year-old (on June 19) made her 1st poster painting. I've been coming to Habitot for 14 years and this place never gets old. My Family & I will forever LOVE HABITOT!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HABITOT for all Families! Your children will get to explore, learn, and enjoy this museum. I'm sure I'll return with my grandchildren!

Habitot is one of the most unique and special children's museum. They make sure that ALL families, regardless of their income, ability, ethnicity, or background, are able to experience learning through play. I was so inspired by their campaign to give birthday parties to kids experiencing homelessness too. Habitot is raising money right now for children without a home to call their own, so that they may enjoy a private birthday party all to themselves . Please check it out and share what you can: http://igg.me/at/BirthdayPartiesforHomelessKids/x

I see families and children engaging in play, learning, discovering, and taking advantage of the free family bonding classes, and parenting education workshops too. Children with special needs, especially in the autism spectrum, are able to enjoy the entire museum with other families just like theirs in the "Special Times for Special Families program too. I really can't say enough about how incredible this place is for young children and their families.

I couldn't even believe that Habitot has been able to stay strong as a Berkeley institution for almost 18 years, having an impact on over 1,000,000 children and families.

Every time I come here with my little girl, we have such a good time, we make new friends, and we always get a treat across the street at Cafe Clem!

Thank you Berkeley for giving us such an amazing place!

Habitot is the perfect place for babies and toddlers to explore their new and changing abilities.

My grandson has a wonderful time learning about paint and colors - painting with big brushes on the big paint wall, dropping drops of paint on coffee filters and seeing the colors meld into new colors, stretching and pressing clay forms. The face painting area is a particular favorite place to make funny faces on himself and on me!
So many things that catch his attention!
The Train table with many trains to move around - being cooperative with other kids who want to play.
The ambulance with two steering wheels and a big bench seat for kids to pretend to drive fast to help the injured.
The Veterinary corner with all the dogs in cages and a pet washing area (sans water - thank goodness!)
The nursery area for babydolls to be clothed and bottle fed and examined by the pretend doctors.
The wind tunnel with flowers to toss in the air so they scatter about - plenty of brooms and dustbins to practice sweeping up.
Lots of big toys to climb into and out of and push. Police cars, fire engines, taxi cabs.

At least until recently when it changed to a big block area, our favorite area was the water play zone and car wash. Splashing encouraged! Playing with water to see which direction it runs when you pour it down tubes, into cups and pumps.

And so many toys to take home from their lending library - wow! We would never be able to buy all they toys he has check out. And his taste in toys changes so fast - the lending library is a great asset to our family.

The staff seem very well versed in the REI concepts - treating your young one like a whole person and letting them learn by "doing themselves" rather than taking away their fun and showing them "what is the right way". Ha! Like there is only one right way - not!

The hours work great for us (mornings and all day on Friday) - we try to stop soon enough to get home in time for nap...but it isn't easy leaving such a fun place.

My daughter love it habitot, we enjoys days for parents with special needs.

As a volunteer with the American Red Cross I had pleasure of hosting a table about Emergency Preparedness for five years in a row. For the last few, there were a total of six organizations. All representing an aspect of safety.

The staff were telling the parents about the information. The enthusiasm of the parents and the kids was very exciting.

Arranging for this event every year far exceeds expectations in my view.

We've been happy visitors to Habitot for a couple of years now. It's not the most flashy of places, but my 2yo and 4yo can't get enough- they would play there every day if they could. The activities are so age-appropriate, and it's contained enough that I can manage taking both kids there by myself (a surprisingly short list of places in this category). I also feel good about supporting them knowing that they strive for equal access for homeless and low-income families, foster kids, etc. In short, I don't think it's too dramatic to say that Habitot really improves my family's quality of life.

I'm very grateful to Habitot for organizing free events for special needs children. My son has autism and gets overwhelmed in crowded environments. In order to serve all children, Habitot has a recurring special needs day for just this reason so my son can enjoy being a little boy. Thank you!

My four year old daughter has enjoyed hours and hours at Habitot! I have brought a lot of the great ideas home to continue her fun and learning. She isn't in preschool or day care yet so it has been a great place to interact with others. The staff is so friendly. Everything is clean! We never brought illness home with us just fond memories. Thank you for this delightful imaginative place to play. I feel like a kid again when visiting! My teens have enjoyed playing with their little sister there. Many "injuries" have been fixed playing doctor. Love the gak! Face paint crayons! wind tunnel with flower petals!! We love Habitot. Thank you!

I picked up a groupon for an outing w/my 4yr old nephew. In sharing the experience w/friends I found myself describing this place as "a dump, w/a run down, dirty feel, & small; but my nephew seemed to enjoy the different "stations" of play & activity.

Way over priced for what you get & the condition of the place. It wasn't as painful as full price would've been w/o the Groupon.

This place really just needs a good cleaning & painting.

Habitot provides my tot with a fun learning experience. Play is so important to young minds.

Lots of individual play spaces stimulate kids' imaginations. My little ones (ages 2 and 3 ½) had a fantastic time!

Habitot is a wonderful resource for new parents. They provide hands on learning, imaginative play and arts and crafts for children ages 1-5. The many cultural and educational events make Habitit a real jewel for the whole community.

Habitot has helped my child embrace her creativity and has given me a sense of community. They do so much for so many people and we really appreciate the fun and support we get there.

I have been taking my daughter to Habitot since she was 10 months old. She feels so at home in the space, and the real life installations have helped her learn so many things. The staff is so nurturing and remember her by name which makes her experiences there extra special. We love Habitot!

A fantastic place for our toddlers! We started coming when our first child was under one year old. That was six years ago and we have now been to Habitot countless times, usually coming tiwce or three times a week. It has been a wonderful place for both our children to be able to play-pretend, paint, make collages, play with water, play-doh and gak. All in a safe environment. Our only regret: we win't be able to come now our kids have entered the school system! Maybe we should have a third? ;)

My 13 month old loved our time at Habitot! And I loved all the educational exhibits. The veterinary clinic was a favorite since my son loves animals and he also enjoyed playing in the grocery store. I can't wait to take him back.

Excellent play-based learning nonprofit for young children!

I was delighted that my experience at Habitot lived up to my fond memories of it from when I was a kid. I was babysitting a three and a half year old who loved exploring the wiggle wall, spaceship, and reading room. I especially enjoyed the personal touches of comfortable pillows to read on and dress up spacesuits and helmets for the children to try on. The staff is friendly and helpful. I hope to be coming back soon!

I have been enthusiastically involved with Habitot since the beginning. I agree with all comments posted plus add a few additional aspects. It has been a great success in engaging children and parents in play which is the primary way preschoolers learn. Everyone benefits from this unique, safe and nurturing play environment. It offers a fun, stimulating place to play and also provides community services like toy library, gift shop, special exhibits and reaching out to families. I am pleased to continue in my role as professional advisor on play and toys. I observed how important Habitot was to my grandson as i saw how much he enjoyed exploring and discovering.

Whenever we get anywhere near downtown Berkeley, my two-year-old asks if we are going to Habitot. I love taking her there because the content is educationally enriching, the space is clean, the staff are engaging and kind, and there is quiet for me to feed my baby too. Everyone is happy when we visit Habitot!

My 4 and 2-year-olds love our visits to Habitot. We've been visiting the museum for over 3 years. They love, love, love the grocery store, wind tunnel, and water room. Everyone naps well after a morning at Habitot! I joined the board of Habitot as I feel very strongly about it's mission to provide a wonderful space for kids in our community to play, learn and explore. Habitot does fantastic outreach to make the museum accessible to all children. And it plays an extremely important role in supporting parents. I am very thankful for Habitot!

It's been a wonderful experience volunteering here. Everyone is dedicated to the wellness of the community and the families. Being an artist myself, I believe Habitot is a great creative hub for young learners. Very inspirational space!

Wonderful spot for my son. A safe place for freedom and exploration

I have taken my 18 month child to Habitot since he was 10 months old and its been an amazing place for him to explore. I know its a safe, clean place for him to play from the infant area where he was tumbling as he learned how to walk to the water area, we've loved being around so many amazing families.

Habitot Childrens Museum is an amazing place for children and parents.
Families are given empowerment through education and hands on activities that are easily translated for home use. Children are supported at every developmental stage and the museum is laid out thoughtfully and expertly. Some exhibits are ever changing but most are predictable reflecting the need for stability in environment which facilitates the comfort level needed for expanded learning through play.

I'm a proud Habitot Board member and believe tremendously in its mission. Not only does Habitot provide a safe, clean, stimulating environment for little ones, but it also does significant and meaningful community outreach. Events such as birthdays for homeless children and dedicated time for LGBTQ families means that all families and children feel welcome and accepted. Habitot is extremely deliberate and thoughtful in its design of exhibits - all of which keep the imaginations of kids alive and create genuine space for them to explore, test, and learn in a safe environment. It's really a magical place!

I found Habitot through my daughter. What she discovered is a world of exploring, imagining and creating whether it is in the art studio, piloting the rocket ship, catching leaves in the wind tunnel or running the restaurant. She has enjoyed hours and hours of fun and learning at Habitot and even after 4 years continues to love going there every week!

What I discovered is there is no other place in the bay area that serves pre-school children and their parents like Habitot! Serving on the Board of Habitot has opened my eyes to what a crucial role Habitot plays in the bay area community. Habitot through its services and programs impacts tens of thousands of children and families and reaches out to the most vulnerable including teen parents, homeless and foster families, formerly incarcerated parents, children with special needs, LGBT and low income families.

Habitot is a truly special place that bring kids alive, what ever their circumstance, and inspires them to learn through hands on play and provides the support parents and caregivers need to help give kids the bright future they deserve.

Habitot is welcoming and my daughter loves it! They change the activities on a regular basis, and my daughter is always engaged. We are so grateful to have a resource for our family.

We follow Habitot Children's Museum on their Facebook page regular. We are always impressed with the events they produce and the online presence they maintain. In today's world, having an effective, personable and engaging online presence is essential. We are located in Minneapolis making following Habitot online is how we stay informed. Regardless, we encourage our associates, clients, family and friends with children to be sure and visit them when in California.

I just love this place and everything it stands for. Our young girls love it too! It's creative, safe, friendly. Thank you so much for all you do.

Habitot remains the one place that whenever my 3 and 5 year old visit, they leave with a smile. That puts a smile on my face too. No matter the season, no matter their mood or their parents mood, my children and I always find just what we are looking for at Habitot. It is a place my children can be active, climbing and playing. It is a place they can be peaceful, enjoying books with their parents. It is a place they can explore on 'their own' to help develop and foster their own sense of self. it is also a place where they can play with mom and dad - especially at the train table. BTW the train table is the place to learn about sharing. Habitot is a place for dramatic play and for letting the imagination grow. There is so much to Habitot, so many activities that vary by the season, all under one roof. Our family is very thankful for Habitot.

An outstanding place to play and connect with the little people. Both of my kids loved spending time at Habitot and when I look around their bedroom the artwork and crafts that we've kept are mostly from Habitot. The art classes are superb utilizing high quality materials and expert hands-on instruction. The play space in the museum is so enriching and engaging for young children; they literally don't stop moving and exploring and creating from the minute they walk through the doors.

Staff are super friendly and helpful. As the name suggests it's a sanctuary for little ones and for young parents a guaranteed hit when you're looking for a special place to take your kids.

Both of my boys, who are now 5 and 7, spent many mornings and weekends when they were toddlers and preschoolers playing and learning at Habitot. They enjoyed the African drumming lessons, painting on the art wall, dressing up as fire fighters, veterinarians, and astronauts, washing cars in the car wash and running boats down the water slide, shopping for pretend groceries, climbing through the wall tunnel, and so much more. Habitot was a place for them, their grandparents, their nanny, and me and my husband to play and grow together as a family. In fact, they still love visiting Habitot, even though they're onto their elementary school worlds now too. Habitot is a wonderfully creative and safe venue for young children and their families to explore together. When I joined the Board of Habitot a few years ago, I learned about many of the other wonderful contributions that Habitot makes to the community too. These are after-hours programs that much of the public does not see. Habitot opens its doors for gatherings of children with special needs; provides a safe place for parents who are recently out of incarcerated to reunite and play with their children; provides a welcoming space for GLBT families; and works with homeless families as well, and so much more. Habitot is a rare and wonderful place for all types of families in the Bay Area, and it serves a critical socal function as well. It also couldn't have a better leader than its founder and executive officer extraordinaire, Gina Moreland.

My son has been going to Habitot for three years and I have been impressed with Habitot from the beginning! My son loves to go there and I feel safe taking him to camps and other activities. My only wish is that it had the funds to expand so that it could meet the needs of more children and families in the area. The exhibits and activities are developmentally appropriate, and the staff are kind, trained, respectful and courteous! My son is five years old and he still loves going there!

I would love for Habitot to be able to expand, as I am confident they could then work with some elementary early grade students as well. Habitot is the best place for preschool children in Berkeley!

Habitot is a wonderful "indoor play/discovery center. It is an extremely parent and child friendly environment. Whenever I have accompanied families I work with to Habitot, I have found all of the staff, from the front desk person who greets you to the volunteers, to be friendly and helpful. The parents have loved having a safe and fun-filled environment for their children. In addition, they loved the handouts available for parents regarding parenting and child development. The children delight in all there is to do there. Particular favorites are the water play area, art room, and the "store." I love that the vehicles to sit in and explore change, as well as the "climbing wall."

Habitot is a wonderful institution for 0-5 year old children and their families. The types of educational opportunities that they provide to this group are wonderful. They also provide a lot of programs for undeserved and at-risk communities who may not be able to afford museums. The impact they are creating in the East Bay community is very admirable and inspiring

Habitot Children's Museum is an excellent place to give your child an immersive educational experience. As an educator, I often refer families with young children here and receive rave reviews afterwards. Keep it up Habitot!

As a grandmother of two small children aged 2 and 4, Habitot is a lifesaver. The kids always have a great time. The space is always clean with lots of choices of activities from a train table, water fun, and of course, pretend food for shopping and cooking (a family favorite).

What a Spectacular Place! Perfect for me - a grandmother with 2 year old twins and their 3 year old sister. We open the door and they are off for morning of discovery and we adults just stand back and watch. No matter how corded it is they seem to figure out how to interact without adults getting involved. It is a very unique place. There are so few places designed for preschoolers. I just learned about their outreach programs for mothers and their children on the fringe. I am going to become a member and support this very worthy local endeavor - definitely an important asset in our very diverse community,

I have been an employee for Habitot about a year now and I still can't get enough of it. It's the cutest place I've ever been and all the children love it. The only downside is their crying when Habitot closes. I recall one girl last week screaming "I WANNA STAY AT HABITOT FOREVERR!" Habitot is a great non-profit that any kid would be lucky to experience. I plan on bringing my new baby cousin very soon =].

Habitot is a great resource for parents. It's a wonderful location for entertaining children of multiple age levels and interests, giving us moms time to take a breath and even get a conversation in while the kids engage with art and creativity activities.

For my 2 year old grandson and I, Thursday is "Habitot Day!" We have been regulars since Anthony turned one-- and we just renewed our membership! On the way there, Anthony tells me what he will do first and what he will do next. Although he originally bee-lined for the train table, he is now quite the devotee of Elise's and Nora's art projects. (I am amazed at the clever ways these ladies engage the children in art-- from salt painting to chalk and water on contour maps!) My grandson has certain children he has come to be friends with; they squeal in delight when they see each other! Whether it is the water room or the wiggly wall or spaceship or pillow and reading room, Anthony has really grown both socially and intellectually with this program. I can remember the little guy who toddled from one activity to another; now he is much more sustained in the processes! I am so thankful for this rather amazing and creative place to come and have fun in a stimulating, safe and educational way. The exhibits change periodically so there is always a new twist on what is presented, along with the oldies. We are all so fortunate to have this creative play place with its amazing and supportive staff. As a teacher in public schools for thirty years, I would say I am pretty clear on an engaging environment for children; Habitot is definitely that! I have used the parenting book library as a good source of ideas and the toy lending library is a kick! What fun to try out a new toy or game for several weeks. Come on by if you haven't done so. You will certainly leave with a smile!

As a volunteer at Habitot's Family Resource Center, I maintain the museum's collection of books for parents and caregivers. Currently I'm working on developing the collection to include titles of interest to families with young children: sleep, discipline, education, siblings, recreation, single parenting, etc. I'm a recent graduate from San Jose's MLIS program and volunteering at Habitot has given me real-life experience in cataloging and collection development, as well as insight into how an organization on a tight budget operates.

Habitot offers great programming to help support me as a parent aswell as being a great welcoming space for my child.

I've taken my preschoolers here a few times and they always enjoy the space. I love all of the different areas they offer. The face painting and rotating dramatic play area are always big hits! I love the kitchen/ store area and the climbing wall. The space is a decent size and entertains a wide range of developmental ages. If I could choose one thing to improve it would be the air circulation, it always feels a bit stuffy (but of course the kids are always too busy playing to notice!). A final note, the volunteers and staff are always friendly and greet us with giant smiles. As a preschool teacher, I appreciate them making us feel so welcome!

As an early childhood educator and mom, this is one of my favorites! My daughter always leaves exhausted because she has been so filled with excitement, good people and great experiences. EVERYTHING is hands-on and inviting. Some areas are predictable (i.e., quieter reading area, snack area, infant space, resource library), and others are often new and exciting (i.e., art area, rotating exhibits). It's intimate, with great staff, and I know my daughter is safe (even if I lose sight of her for a moment). They also have numerous programs to benefit the community (Parents Night Out, Days for children with Special Needs, Free Days for Families in Need, etc.)! What more could you want for a young child!

I'm a Vision Impairment Specialist with Blind Babies Foundation and I have found Habitot to be a perfect play space for the little ones I serve. Their exhibits are so thoughtful , experiential and age appropriate. The staff is always warm & welcoming.

My daughter loves this place and so do I. Some of her first words were "Go painting again?" The staff is amazing. They manage to keep the place clean and organized. After our first visit we became members.

I am a creativity expert. I write and lecture on creativity and the creative process and am one who helps other understand and embody creativity as a way of being. And I have a two year old daughter who by far is my biggest teacher. As children, all of us are naturally creative. We observe, we experiment, we aren't worried about what others think nor afraid of failure. As we more towards adulthood our natural creativity tends to take a back seat to our need to fit in. Some of this is good. But too much of this robs us of the best part of our being human, the ability to imagine, to wonder, to flow, and to love, all of which are core aspects of the experience of creating. Fortunately for Bay Area residents, Habitot present an inspiring, stimulating environment that is a hoot for kids and parents alike. Side by side, by watching my daughter break all the rules, using her hands instead of the paint brush, pouring water on her own shoe, and being unabashed in everything she does, I get to reclaim my own innate, full body creative potential. Habitot also is filled with pith reminders about the natural creativity of children and how to encourage their natural desire to explore and play. The staff is friendly and maintains the sense of compassion, even when we parents catch ourselves trying to get our child to do the project "the right way." I love going there and following my daughter around, knowing that she is safe and can watch and learn from other kids. I wish all cities has a place as inspirational and kid friendly as Habitot. Undoubtedly, with a strong sense of these young one's creative capacities firmly established, the world will indeed be a better place!

I will try to express how grateful we are to have Habitot in our area. I truly wish every city had a place for parents and children like this to go to. First, the price is more than reasonable. Second, they consistently change the themes so creativity is running wild that rubs off not only onto the kids but onto the parents as well. Third, I'm so happy my daughter can play in the water area and get wet without me having to clean up after as well as do so-called messy projects there with paint and glue and again, i do not need to spend my time cleaning up after. Most of the staff (volunteers?) are exceptional. And the only thing I wish is that this place was open longer hours. We love you Habitot! We refer so many people to you!

Habitot offers a wonderful learning and play environment for young children. Both my 5 year old and 20 month old daughters absolutely love playing at Habitot. From dressing up as astronauts and playing in the rocket ship to splashing about in the water room, there is always something fun to keep their bodies and imaginations active. We are yet to partake in any of the classes offered (due to a clash with pre-school times) however we plan to join in over the Summer. You can find photos and a write up about our first visit to Habitot at the following link: http://littlehiccups.blogspot.com/2012/02/habitot-childrens-museum.html

My children and I love Habitot! As the mother of a child with special needs and a typical toddler there are few safe, fun places that I can take both of them to. Habitot is definitely one of them. There is so much great sensory play, including the water exhibit, the wind tunnel, and the art studio. The fun we have had together in the art studio is unlike anything we have ever experienced, and I didn't have to clean up after it! :) I also enjoy reading things from the Parenting Cart. I have learned a lot that way.

Such a fun and magical place for kids. Love that there's always a new few crafts to try and the main area changes themes but the train table stays the same. My son will experiment with all of the exhibits but core time is spent there.

Habitot is an amazing place for children. They provide an exciting, clean, and safe environment in which children can paint, play, imagine, create, and learn. For members they have a toy library (which is a fabulous idea) and they have all sorts of programming and interactions with the community. I have attended a parenting lecture there which was very helpful and my daughter has gone to several of their class, which were wonderful. They change a couple of their major exhibits every 6 months, some of the other ones more frequently, and have different things in the art room every day. We could come here every day and my daughter would be ecstatic. When she started school they mentioned that she seemed very comfortable from the beginning and I think this is in large part thanks to Habitot, where she interacts with a range of children in a safe environment. It is also an amazing place to watch your child grow up in, as they play with the toys in different ways at different ages.

This was the first Bay Area place for kids we visited once we decided to move here. It is a great place for babies on up, and it is so fun to see kids grow with the place and place grow with the kids. We love the innovative new exhibits like the rocket ship and doctor's office, and that there are a lot of constants like the water area and tot garden. It's a great place for ungs kids on various ages in the same family to play together. Love it!!

We took our two year old daughter few months ago and she had a blast there, especially in the space area in astronaut dress and the water fun area. I highly recommend Habitot to any parents with toddler or school age kids.

Went there with my 2-yr-old and 3-month-old a couple months ago. I love the products in the museum store--it's a one-stop shop for encouraging my toddler to learn through play. Every time I go to Habitot I walk away with something--that day with 5 items! Wish I knew they had such a nice raincoat and rain boots selection before I settled for Target's only display model, which was more expensive than what Habitot had there!

Previously, when I brought my toddler, he could not keep away from the water table. This last time, he went everywhere and it was just a joy to see him enjoy himself. Going to Habitot gave me so many more ideas about indoor play to start having at home. The price of admission, when compared to the bountiful ideas that I got when I attended, was minimal. I also appreciate they have a resource library and that was how I read the latest copy of the East Bay Moms newsletter.

Although they have a toy lending library, which I wish I could make the most use of, I do not trust my toddler with them at the moment. It would have been useful to know about this library before we had invested in all these look-good toys that only held my toddler's interest for a couple days or weeks at most. Looking back, if we had invested in a year's family membership, we would have actually SAVED toy money!

Plus, they actually promote play, not all the academics that I keep seeing when visiting preschools. I felt for the first time that it was a permissive space and I could let my toddler wander from space to space within the museum.

Best of all, it is in downtown Berkeley, very walkable and commutable for a mom who does not drive. I am so grateful for such a precious resource in our local community! Yes, it's not Disneyland or Six Flags, but at least I can be sure my active toddler is enclosed in a safe space and cannot run too far from me to catch him (very important when you've got an infant strapped to your front as the sole daytime caretaker).

Habitot Children's Museum has meant a great deal to my family - especially to my two daughters. Hardly a week goes by where the older one does not ask to go to Habitot. The younger one, well she cannot talk yet, but I see how big her smile is when she is there. We have been to Habitot so many times over the past few years to take classes, for our daughter to attend camp, for birthday parties, for parent's night out, and to attend the museum. After each and every single visit we have walked away glad we came. We say this not just because our kids have fun there. Habitot is more than just a fun place to play. We say that because Habitot has helped my children grow, nurtured their curiosity, and stimulated their development. Habitot has also helped my wife and I with all of the wonderful things Habitot provides parents. From parenting literature to the book library to the toy library to parents night out, Habitot supports parents and care givers. I will not forget the time when my then 2 year old daughter had a difficult time sharing at the train table and I looked up and saw the brochure on sharing and taking turns on the wall. Nor will I forget the first time I took our younger daughter in to the area for pre- and new walkers and saw her crawl through a padded obstacle for the first time. Moments like these with our kids are very precious for my wife and I. We thank Habitot for providing so many smiles, and so many lessons.

My family is proud to continue to support Habitot with annual giving! We started going to Habitot 4 years ago - and bought a membership on our very first visit. Habitot is such an amazing gift to our community - and the youngest, most innocent segement of our community - that we wanted to go beyond just being members to show our support. Many small, though meaningful, annual gifts to Habitot help the Museum continue to serve all of the segements of our population, not just those who can afford it.
It is truely amazing to watch my family and others in our community grow and develop a life-long love of learning while exploring, playing, and creating at Habitot. And Parents - Habitot is not just for the children - a big part of their mission is directed at US! I have experienced growth as a parent through their reading materials and (FREE) workshops. Supporting Habitot really does help our community flourish from the ground up. Thank you fellow supporters and thank you Habitot!

I am a nanny of three young boys. Twins ages 4 and the youngest is 9 months old and Habitot provides something fun for each one of them. I've been taking the oldest boys to Habitot before their brother arrived and even today, 2 years later, the excitement of Habitot continues. The exhibit that changes frequently is usually one of their favorite places in the museum because they get to transform into firemen, veterinarians, or another fun, imaginative people or things. The twins have very different interests and its nice to go to Habitot with them because I get to interact with each individually, in a safe environment, doing something THEY love. One loves to play waiter and chef in the kitchen, play trains, and read in the cozy book room, while the other loves to do all things art, water play and face paint. Even though the place is small, we usually find at the end of our time visiting, there were still things we were unable to do because the space is used so well. Every place you turn there is another fun activity/adventure to grab the kids' attention.

With the 9 month old, the toddler/infant area provides a nice place to let the little ones move without needing to be right on their tail. However, I have found that there really isn't any place within Habitot that isn't suited for a little one on the move.

As the adult, my favorite part of Habitot is the grocery/kitchen area. I love this area because I get to play "customer" while all the kids, not just the kids I nanny for, pretend to cook for me, serve me food, and interact with me in such a fun way. In some ways the kids and the adults get to switch roles and I can watch as their brains and imaginations grow.

Habitot provides a safe environment for young kids to interact with others in their community doing imaginative play, art, water play, and even household activities. I believe this organization is a necessary part of the community and I will be taking the kids I nanny for and eventually my own children there for years to come.

My children beg me to take them to Habitot, even my 6-year old. It is a really creative space where kids can play and develop their imaginations. My children love to pretend they are astronauts as they climb aboard the spaceship exhibit wearing space gear and they like to pretend they are running a car wash in the water play area.

Habitot is more than just a children's museum. It is a place for parent education and it helps parents connect with their kids through play. In addition, Habitot has special playtimes for kids who would normally not get to go to a children's museum such as homeless kids, disabled kids and kids of teenage mothers.

Both my 3 year old and my 13 month old very much enjoy what Habitot has to offer. My 3 year old especially enjoys the art. I love the art studio because she gets to express herself artistically and I get to let her do it without worrying about the mess that I would if we were at home. My 13 month old loves crawling and cruising around and is always discovering something new! As a stay at home mom, Habitot is a lifesaver!

As a stay at home mom I need things to do with my 2 year old. Habitot is his favorite place to go. One of his first words was "tot-tot", which he said anytime we were nearby. It is a wonderful place for young children. It has many stimulating activities and it is great place to teach him how to interact appropriately with other children. I love that they have little art projects that encourage him to be creative and get messy. We also frequently check out toys from the toy library. I appreciate that the membership price is very reasonable as we are on a budget.

I have a grandparent membership to this place and it is wonderful. I can bring my grandson (now age 3) and he has a wonderful time in a fabulously stimulating environment. Now he points to Habitot every time we go past it and wants to go inside to play.

We LOVED Habitot on our visit--lots of hands on sensory and art activities and a number of educational exhibits that we haven't seen at any other children's museums--I love the lending library and they make great use of the space that they have, but I would love to see what they would do with a larger space. I removed one star just because the space was a little small (kids LOVE this place) and pricey for my large family--I wish there was a sliding scale/multi-use discount. Hopefully, with more sponsorship they can get a larger facility and may be able to lower the admission cost. It really is a FANTASTIC place.

Habitot is a great museum for the little ones. It is small enough that they don't feel intimidated but large and diverse enough to keep their interest for several hours.

In the safe fun enviroment, Habitot even offers me a moment of reading through their educational hand outs, toy recall info, or simply sipping tea while my child is having a great time playing there.

Daily/weekly art project they offer is also mind-opening, giving parents a new view of using everyday material to make things fun for kids.

Habitot offers Camps and parents night out which my son always has so much fun that it is exciting for both of us to apply.

My 14 month old enjoys the activities at Habitot so much, I wanted to see how I could become more involved to help this great organization thrive and be available for future generations. I recently joined the Board of Directors to help Habitot continue the good work it currently does!

When we first moved to the area two years ago, it wasn't easy to find activities appropriate for a 15-month old so we were thrilled to discover Habitot. It has been fun to watch our son's interests in the museum exhibits evolve over time, but he still has his favorites. What a great place for early childhood play and development!

Amazing atmosphere, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and amazing exhibits for young children. I took my friend's two young children here when babysitting one day and they loved it. There are many opportunities for free admission and involvement such as safety classes and parenting workshops that are beneficial for everyone to know. I have been to the museum about 5 times now and always have had a wonderful experience.

Habitot is such a fantastic place to take young children to. It allows them to explore and play in ways that are not normally available to this age. The art area is warm and welcoming and messes are encouraged. The water play area encourage exploration and experimentation. The changing exhibits are educational and age-appropriate.

I had the opportunity to rent the museum out for my sons 4th birthday. What an amazing experience. The staff was fantastic and the intimate experience of sharing the museum with their friends and family was something we all enjoyed.

This is a special place to introduce young children to - a place that changes the way they see things, and through their eyes how you see learning and growing all over again....

My 2 yr old grand baby LOVES Habitot! It is ideal for his age group, as it provides free choice of a variety of educationally stimulating, creative activities, while engaging in side by side play and beginning sharing and social opportunities for this age group. Parents, grandparents or caregivers shadow their young ones, nurturing them, helping them as needed, and encouraging social skill support as needed. Additionally, the friendly, very helpful and positive staff facilitates the various activities, including art, the inexpensive "store", the toy lending library, the snack area, et. The care that goes into the staff's initiatives is seen in the beautiful choice of colors and textures used in the art activities, the special classes offered in music, cultural celebration, etc., I am so grateful to Gina and all the staff at Habitot for providing such a rich, affordable experience consistently for our very young, most precious toddler population.

Habitot is a wonderful environment for young children to have the opportunity to explore their environment freely and safely. I went with a family whose child typically has a very difficult time with transitions into new environment. Upon arriving at Habitot, he just eased right in, and started exploring each of the play areas on his own - with a BIG smile on his face! Their warm and welcoming, kid-friendly decor made all the difference!

This is a great place for young children and parents. The staff are helpful and attentive to individual needs. I am a case manager for a transitional housing program. Habitot let us bring some of our families for a free day of play and parent child interaction. This was a wonderful opportunity for our children to enjoy new experiences and for the parents to observe their children in new situations and observe and learn some much needed parenting skills.

This is such a worthwhile and engaging experience for both the child and the parents. Their encouragement of hands on exploration and learning for all kids- whether they have special needs or not is extraordinary.

Habitot is a wonderful space for children to explore. There are so many opportunities for children to learn and play with their peers and families. We have had several field trips with the families we work with and their children with special needs. Habitot has a fantastic outreach program for the special needs community and we look forward to our visits every year!

Habitot is a wonderful space for kids. We have taken groups of special needs kids that we serve (ages 0-3) to Habitot, with no admission fee for the families. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and the space is well-organized. There are many activities for the kids.

Habitot is very welcoming to all children and families and has made exemplary efforts to reach out to the special needs community. They have worked with our early intervention agency to set up several free afternoon open playtimes for the children we serve and their families. These events have been an overwhelming success and the families we serve have been so grateful for the opportunity to bring their children to this interactive play environment. Habitot is an exceptional asset for families in the East Bay.

Tell your story here and help others understand this charity Habitot is an amazing safe space for kids to learn and explore... unlike similar places that are for-profit, Habitot welcomes children with all kinds of backgrounds... children with special needs, children of teen parents, diverse families, etc. They also promote community safety through their sessions and the carseat checks they sponsor, sessions on CPR for parents and baby-sitters, bike safety, water safety, etc. An amazing resource for the community!

Habitot is a great place for kids to explore and learn. All the exhibits have a lot of thought put into them and are interactive and fun. Habitot provides an enriching learn and play environment and provides programs for toddlers and young children.

Habitot has a wonderful combination of activities for kids up to age 5. We love the water play room- our son absolutely loves to play in water and this space is set up for group and individual water play. The waterproof smocks really do help them stay a little dry. We also love the painting room and the facepainting. Our son loves to sit in front of the mirror and paint his own face (he is only 20 months old). Of course that is usually after he has spend a long time at the rotating exhibit -fire engine, spaceship...with fun costumes to wear and buttons and phones and wheels and seats that all seem so real and exciting to him. Additionally it is a great space for him to spend time around many other children since he is not in childcare yet. It is also wonderful that there are rooms for quiet time and eating as well. The classes that are offered are a bonus. It is a relatively small space which can feel crowded on rainy weekend days but it is plenty of space for a young child and he can run around without getting lost. The layout makes the space feel bigger than it is!

I found out about Habitot from my Nanny when my son Luke was about 18 months old. We have been "regulars" ever since and he's just turned five. Habitot has a fantastic mix of activities for all sorts of kids - including super active ones like my son! Their "standard" mix of activities, like their train table and play store are well done and well suited to young kids, but it's their "unexpected" activities that really won Luke over - like a whole room dedicated to water play, complete with kid size water proof aprons and the wind tunnel! The pièce de résistance is the Space Ship / astronaut play space, with costumes for the kids and a kid perfect play-inside Space Ship. The Ship's instruments are made out of things like old phones and computer keyboards, so the kids can pick of the pieces and push buttons without too much concern about hurting anything. Luke can and has played in that Ship for hours. Habitot also has a few quite spaces for reading and a peanut-free snack and lunch area. All in all, I would say Habitot is well thought out and well run. I'll be sorry when Luke is too old to go there any more!

I first started visiting Habitot with my niece in 2000 and have been going back again and again ever since with my other niece and now my own daughter. They all love the changing exhibits, the wiggle wall, the water room, the market, the art room, the face paints and the wind tunnel. Not only is it a fun place for the kids, it's a great resource for parents. Just the other day they had a water safety instructor from the YMCA in the water room and we plan to visit their upcoming car seat inspection event.

I'm a father of 3 year old twin boys and have watched their curiousity bloom with Habitot's hands-on activities tailored for their developmental stages of being infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. It's a perfect place for younger children, where they're able to touch everthing and explore on their own, just with your parental supervision. The size of the museum is fairly small, but considering it's focus on ages 0-5 smaller, children can spend enough time at each area without being rushed. The drop in art studio and waterworks exhibits are family favorities! After seeing the impact on my sons directly, I appreciated the importance of the Museum for all young children and applied to join the Board to further expand Habitot's reach.

What a wonderful place for small children to bring their parents. Habitot is not a large museum, but it is large enough to pack in a morning or afternoon of space exploration, a trip to the supermarket, water play, arts and crafts, and much more. The size is actually one of the aspects I like most; I don't have to worry about losing my kids and, with two little ones, it's a constant issue. The exhibits are 100% hands on, which my daughters love and I can rest easy that both girls are safe. It's one of our favorite places to go and they never tire of it.

Habitot is a beautiful indoor space for babies and toddlers to explore in a safe environment. My daughter is a curious 20 month old and we've been going to Habitot for almost a year now. I find her busy splashing water around in the water play area. She carefully picks out fruit for her play cart. She laughs as she dances in the wind tunnel area. She rides the little tractors and laughts at the puppets. This place is grace, although kind of pricey if you don't get a yearly membership.