For children with sensory sensitivities, autism or other types of neurodivergence, attractions usually thought of as fun can be overwhelming. Places like amusement parks and indoor playgrounds can be too loud, there may be too many people or there can be other factors preventing these children from having as much fun as they can.
But there are still plenty of options for them that aren’t as overstimulating. From attractions designed for kids with neurodivergence to museums and parks that hold special events meant to be more sensory-friendly, here are some of the best options in the DMV for kids with sensory sensitivities.
Montgomery County
- Imagination Stage — Bethesda
- Holds sensory-friendly and ASL-interpreted performances, as well as theater classes for all ability levels
- The Puppet Co. — Glen Echo (Open 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday)
- Offers ASL-interpreted and sensory-friendly performances of its puppet shows
- We Rock the Spectrum — Gaithersburg (Open 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday)
- Autism-inclusive indoor playground and gym
Prince George’s County
- Watkins Regional Park — Upper Marlboro
- Has a sensory-friendly playground
- College Park Aviation Museum — College Park (Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday)
- Holds sensory-friendly museum hours on the first Sunday of every month
- South Bowie Community Center — Bowie (Open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday)
- Has Maryland’s first dedicated Therapeutic Sensory Room
- Mall at Prince George’s — Hyattsville (Open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday)
- Has sensory-friendly hours on the first Tuesday of every month
Washington, D.C.
- The Kennedy Center
- Holds sensory-friendly performances
- National Children’s Museum (Open 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday)
- Holds sensory-friendly hours with fewer visitors and reduced stimuli
- Morning at the Museum at the Smithsonian Museums
- Certain Smithsonian museums will open for sensory-friendly hours on weekends.
- Dopamine Land (Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday)
- Interactive exhibit focused on stimulating the senses; offers accommodations for visitors with disabilities. The exhibit includes strobe lights, so visitors should alert an employee if this is an issue.
Northern Virginia
- Scramble Indoor Play – Alexandria (Open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday)
- ADA-accessible indoor playground; occasionally opens early for sensory-friendly hours and also has a second location in Falls Church
- Chessie’s Big Backyard – Alexandria (Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday)
- Large, accessible playground with a splash pad and carousel
- Hidden Oaks Nature Center – Annandale (Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday)
- Nature museum with live animals; has a sensory-friendly garden
