Family workshops
No plans for the school holidays? Join professional artists and makers for our inspiring family workshops exploring sculpture, fashion, animation and illustration.
Try something exciting and out of the ordinary, whether building a huge collective structure or making a tiny individual creation in dynamic sessions inspired by the Museum’s story.
Our workshops are open to all families with children aged 5-12 years.
Brilliantly designed task… the workshop leader was the best I have experienced.
Foundling Libraries
Join us for creative, fun and free art and music workshops in local London libraries. There’s no need to book, just drop-in on the day.
Hetty Feather trail
If you are a Hetty Feather fan, then this is the place for you. Pick up our Hetty trail and wander around the Museum using her story as a guide. Ask at the front desk for details.
Art trolley
Operated by one of our brilliant Artist Assistants, our art trolley offers free creative activities for children, inspired by the story of the Foundling Hospital. You can go solo or get the help from one of our Assistants to create a work of art in response to our intriguing collection! You can next find the trolley in the Museum on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 October.
Digital family activities
Test out your creative skills at home with our range of digital art activities, designed especially for families to do together. From printmaking to games, there is lots to discover. Videos guide you through the steps, whilst each activity only needs a few materials. Get creative, let your imagination run wild and most importantly, have fun!
When you’ve built a boat or cooked a cookie, take a photograph of what you’ve made and share it with us on Instagram or Twitter by tagging @foundlingmuseum
Animal Riot – Make your own woodland creatures in this fun family activity
Boat Building – Imagine you are a sailor on the high seas, then learn how to make a boat to sail away in
Emoji Badges – Make some fun and colourful fluorescent emoji badges
Emoji Cookies – Bake and decorate some fun emoji cookies
Boat Building – Imagine you are a sailor on the high seas, then how to make a boat to sail away in
Explorer Binoculars – Make a set of binoculars then go on a safari to spot the animals in your local area
Everyday Achievement Medals – Make your own medal to celebrate something you are proud of
Fantastical Figureheads – Explore mythological creatures and create your own mythical sculpture inspired by a ship’s figurehead
Gratitude Paper Chains – Brighten up your home with colourful paper chains
Guerrilla Gardening with Seed Tokens – Spread some garden cheer with these seed tokens
Let’s Write a Letter – Share special memories with friends and loved ones in our latest activity
Letters with a Cause – Watch this video by Emma Crouch about the powerful impact of letter writing
Lockdown Diaries – Make your own diary to record your time in lockdown
Magnet Compass – Navigate your way home with your own handcrafted compass
Message on a Biscuit – Make a biscuit then decorate it with a message to give to someone special
Nature Rave – Get dancing and create friends to rave with, made from items found in nature
Paper Pulp Names – Create a 3D version of your name in this simple art activity
Pinecone Birdfeeder – Create a feast for the birds in your garden by making your own bird feeder
Sailor’s Telescope – Make a telescope so you never get lost
Skittles – Make your own set of skittles for playing at home
Sun Prints – Use the power of the sun and nature to make prints
The Wishing Jar – Explore children’s wishes for the future
The Adventure Jar – Explore your surroundings and store your memories in this activity for young adventurers
Time Capsule – Create your own time capsule to be discovered by your future self
Token Thaumatropes – Make a traditional 19th-century optical toy
Treacherous Treasure Map – Make a map and go on a treasure hunt!
Whirly Beasts – Have fun crafting your own insect-inspired windmill and watch it whirl
Wind Vane – Discover which way the wind blows with your very own wind vane
Christmas Crackers – Have a cracking good time this Christmas by sharing these crackers with your family or friends
Christmas Wreath – Learn how to make a festive wreath to hang on your front door this Christmas
Chocolate Easter Nests – Learn how to make chocolate Easter nests to share with your family this Easter holiday
Easter Egg Bunting – Brighten up your home with this beautiful bunting
Gingerbread Boats – Learn how to make ginger bread boats to eat this Christmas or hang on your tree
Paper Lanterns – Create a paper lantern to spread some joy this Christmas holiday
Spring Chickens – Make your own spring chicken friend for Easter
Spring Pompoms – Bring the cheer of spring to your friends, family and beyond by making pompoms full of love
Christmas Clutter Monsters – Create weird, wonky, wonderful clutter monsters with your family over the Christmas holidays
Comic Cookies – What do superheroes eat? Comic cookies of course!
Comic Cupcakes – Make super tasty cupcakes, and ice them with superhero designs
Comic Strip – Learn how to create your own comic strip
Comic Strip Jubilee Bunting – Create Jubilee bunting with a difference – covered in superheroes!
Comic Plant Pot – Super powers or super flowers!? Decorate a plant pot with comic designs for your plant to grow supersized in!
Marvellous Masks – Make a mask and turn into your favourite flying superhero
Noisy Badges – Make fun badges inspired by comic book sound effects
Superhero Cape – Make a cape to turn yourself into your favourite flying superhero
Superhero Shadow Puppets – Make your own shadow puppet superheroes
Superhero T-Shirts – Design your very own superhero t-shirt
Super Power Props – Transform yourself into a superhero using super power props!
Musical Storytelling: An Artist Called William – This fun musical story introduces young children to the artist William Hogarth, who was a supporter of the Foundling Hospital
Musical Storytelling: Thomas & The King’s Soldiers – This fun musical story introduces young children to Thomas Coram, who set up the Foundling Hospital
Musical Storytelling: Food at the Foundling Hospital – Discover the food the foundling children ate at the Foundling Hospital in this musical storytelling session with artist Paul Rubinstein.
Bedtime stories
Our friends read their favourite children’s stories, including contributions from Dame Prue Leith and Lauren Child. Bedtime Stories was part of our ‘Lauren Child Curates’ series of events, all curated by children’s author and illustrator, Lauren Child CBE.
Cockatoos – Read by Dame Prue Leith, illustrated and written by Quentin Blake, and published by Red Fox
Goodnight Moon – Read by graduate of the Foundling Museum Tracing Our Tales traineeship Sofia Oliviera, written by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd, and published by Two Hoots
John Patrick Norman McHennessy, the boy who was always late – Read by Former Pupil John Caldicot, illustrated and written by John Burningham, and published by Red Fox
Not Now Bernard – Read by Visitor Engagement Manager Tabitha Paterson, written and illustrated by David McKee, and published by Andersen Press
Oh No George – Read by author and broadcaster Lemn Sissay OBE, written and illustrated by Chris Haughton, and published by Walker Books
Tales for the Perfect Child – Read by children’s author and illustrator Lauren Child CBE, written by Florence Parry Heide, illustrated by Victoria Chess, and published by Magnet