Thank you for coming to the museum. If you're looking for interactive activities, I'd suggest you give our daily programs a try. They're included with the cost of admission and are more complicated and hands-on than the passive activities (building materials, the paint wall, clay play, lego wall) that are available all the time. You can see the full schedule of upcoming programs on our website: https://madisonchildrensmuseum.org/events/ We also have monthly "theme days" with even more special activities that might appeal to your eight-year-old. I hope you'll give us another try when you're in town.

Thanks for coming to Madison Children's Museum and I'm so glad you had a great time at the museum. I hope you and your son can visit again soon. Like you said he could have played all day, and we're always adding new little things and doing different programs so each visit it's just a little bit different. I'll pass your feedback about the cafe onto our partners at the Roman Candle who run it. But yes, you can bring outside food in, and there are a lot of great places to choose from nearby. I personally really like the corned beef at Gotham Bagles right around the block. And of course, there's the Great Dane a few blocks north, which is one of the best kid-friendly sit-down restaurants downtown. Come again soon and tell us what you think!