Pretend City Children’s Museum
Pretend City Children’s Museum is a uniquely interactive learning space where children engage in purposeful play to explore the world around them. Designed as a child-sized city, the museum features a variety of interconnected learning spaces that mirror real-life settings—such as a grocery store, construction site, farm, café, post office, and more—encouraging hands-on exploration and early developmental growth through imaginative role play.
With a focus on whole-child development, Pretend City integrates school readiness, social-emotional learning, and early literacy into every experience. Children are invited to problem-solve, communicate, and create while discovering how a community works together. Each space is carefully crafted to support milestones for children from birth through age 8, making it an ideal destination for families seeking enriching, screen-free fun.
Beyond everyday play, Pretend City is known for its commitment to supporting families with programs rooted in child development research. Standout initiatives include free monthly neurodivergent family nights that offer a sensory-friendly museum experience, as well as developmental screenings through the museum’s Good to Go initiative. These screenings help parents track developmental progress and access early intervention resources if needed.
Cultural programming is another highlight, celebrating the diversity of Southern California’s communities. From Lunar New Year and Hispanic Heritage Month to family Cooking in the City workshops and cultural storytimes, the museum fosters connection and inclusion through joyful learning experiences.
Whether it’s a baby’s first storytime, a toddler’s first pretend job, or a young child’s first lesson in empathy and cooperation, Pretend City provides a nurturing environment that sparks curiosity and builds foundational skills for lifelong learning.
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