Looking for creative, educational things to do with kids in the Hamptons, New York? Beyond the beaches and summer crowds, the East End of Long Island is filled with sculpture gardens, artist studios, hands-on workshops, and family-friendly museums in East Hampton and Southampton, all just minutes apart.
If your kids love to draw, paint, explore, and ask questions, this is one of the most unexpectedly inspiring places you can spend a day together.
Visit the LongHouse Reserve Sculpture Garden
Tucked into the winding roads of East Hampton, this outdoor sculpture garden feels like stepping into a secret world designed for curious kids. You’ll wander through:
- A life-size white chess set
- Whimsical, larger-than-life sculptures
- A peaceful lily pond
- Bright tropical gardens filled with color and texture
Kids don’t feel like they’re in a “museum” here they feel like they’re exploring. Plan to stroll slowly and let them discover pieces at their own pace. Open mid-April through October.
Paint Like an Artist at the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center
This is where art history becomes hands-on.
At the former home of Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner, kids can try drip painting in the very place Pollock created his famous works. It’s messy, creative, and unforgettable.
You can also:
- Tour the home and studio
- See historic photos
- Watch rare footage of Pollock painting outside
Drip painting sessions run on select Saturdays in summer and fall.
Kids Workshops at Guild Hall (KIDSFEST)
The Guild Hall of East Hampton offers an opportunity to get your child involved in the arts by hosting KIDSFEST. These events are offered on Wednesdays during the months of July and August. They offer hands-on arts and crafts workshops ranging from cookie decorating to creating unique theater posters. After the art activities, families can attend child-friendly performances in their theater. The art projects are formatted to match the theme of that day’s theater performance, including interactive pirate, big bubble and science shows that gets the crowd up out of their seats and laughing along.
Family Art Time at the Parrish Art Museum
You can’t miss the Parrish Art Museum just off of Montauk Highway in Southampton. The museum first opened in 1898 and has showcased American art ever since. The museum finished a massive renovation in November of 2012, resulting in a 12,000 sky-lit exhibit space that will awe-inspire your kids. The Parrish programs include open studio times, gallery talks and workshops. The open art studio is a delightful place for families to create art together through hands-on activities, with each month featuring a different theme and a variety of art materials inspired by the artwork within the galleries. Permanent collections at the museum encompass work by modern American artists with a focus on art that highlights the aesthetics of the East End of Long Island. Dennis Oppenheim’s exhibit called “Splash Buildings” contains magnificent cylindrical sculptures with distinct planets and moons bursting above the works of art. Oppenheim established his studio in East Hampton back in the mid 1980s.
Parks Where Kids Can Run Free After Museums
In between artistic adventures, let your child release their energy at the many parks and playgrounds spread across the Hamptons. Herrick Park, with its own tennis courts, baseball field, a gazebo and a full playground, is located in the center of the East Hampton village. Another nearby park is Agawam Park in Southampton, with a partially fenced duck pond, and a playground combining a unique climbing design with soft flooring for kids to run and jump on. There are great family-friendly eateries including Bay Burger in Sag Harbor that has its own private eating area for kids with comfortable seats and a flat screen television, and the old-fashioned style Scoop du Jour in the heart of the East Hampton village that offers freshly made cinnamon donuts, ice cream with dozens of tempting toppings and the famous New York City Crumbs cupcakes.
Why This Makes the Perfect Hamptons Family Day
What surprises most families is how close everything is. Within a short drive, you can go from sculpture gardens to art studios to playgrounds to ice cream without ever feeling rushed.
It’s a side of the Hamptons many visitors never see, and one kids remember long after the beach day is over.
