Worldwide Day of Play in Wilmington, NC: Why Play Matters

Somewhere between the school pickup line and the dinner dishes, play tends to become the thing that happens if there is time left over. On Saturday, September 26, children's museums around the world flipped that around for a day.

The Children's Museum of Wilmington was proud to take part in Our World: Worldwide Day of Play, a global celebration of joyful learning presented by Nickelodeon and the Association of Children's Museums. From 9am to 5pm, pop-up programming and extra invitations to play filled the museum, all included with regular admission. It was a reminder of something we believe every day: play is how children learn, connect, and grow.

Here is what the day was all about, why play deserves a spot on every family's calendar, and how to keep that spirit going at home. The good news is that every day is a play day here, and you can plan your next visit on our hours and admission page.

Quick Answer: What Is Worldwide Day of Play?

Our World: Worldwide Day of Play is a single day dedicated to getting children and families up, out, and playing. The details from this year's celebration:

• It took place Saturday, September 26, 2026

• CMoW celebrated from 9am to 5pm with pop-up programming throughout the museum

• No special event tickets were needed

• It was presented by Nickelodeon and the Association of Children's Museums, which represents more than 470 member museums in all 50 states and 19 countries

The Association of Children's Museums describes Worldwide Day of Play as a day dedicated to experiencing joyful learning through play, with a focus on getting children and their families active.

Why a Day Built Around Play Matters

Play is how young children do their most important work. It is where they practice planning, test ideas, sort out big feelings, and figure out how to get along with the person sharing the block bin. A tower that falls teaches persistence. A pretend restaurant teaches taking turns and trying out new words. A game of chase teaches a body what it can do.

A day like this is also a reminder for the grown-ups. Children do not need elaborate setups or the newest toy to get the benefit of play. What helps most is a caregiver who is nearby, paying attention, and willing to be handed a pretend cup of soup. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that play can improve children's abilities to plan, organize, get along with others, and regulate their emotions.

What Play Looked Like at CMoW

On September 26, pop-up programming appeared across the building, with extra invitations to play folded into the exhibits families already love. The same exhibits are open every day the museum is:

• Come aboard the research vessel to play scientist or go below to hear the sounds of ocean mammals

• Explore how the water cycle filters water at Wonders of Water

• Visit a kid-sized version of the NC Ports at Port CMOW and learn about the Cape Fear River

• Climb, crawl, and slide through the Toddler Treehouse, built for learners 4 and younger

Anna Harris, Program Coordinator at the museum, put it this way: "While we celebrate play daily, we are excited to participate in a global celebration highlighting that play transcends culture, language, and borders."

You can preview the spaces your family will explore on our current exhibits page.

Keeping the Play Going at Home

The best part of a day like this is how easy it is to carry home. Here are some low-lift ways to play:

• Hand over a stack of cardboard boxes and let the building plan be theirs

• Turn a walk on the Riverwalk into a scavenger hunt for five things that are round

• Let a story become a puppet show with whatever stuffed animals are within reach

• Say what you see out loud while your child plays, which grows vocabulary without a single flash card

• Say yes to ten minutes of their game before you ask them to join yours

None of these need to be perfect or planned. The goal is simply to leave time during  the day when play gets to take the lead.

Play Is Not the Extra Credit

It is easy to think of play as the reward that comes after the real work is done. For young children, play is the real work. It is where they practice the skills that school, friendships, and everyday life will ask of them later, like waiting their turn, explaining an idea, or trying again after a mistake.

That is why children's museums exist, and it is why a global day of play matters. When families, museums, and communities all say that play is worth protecting, children get more room to grow in the way that comes most naturally to them.

Eek! Week Member Tickets Are on Sale Now

Worldwide Day of Play was also the day EEK! Week Festival member tickets went on sale. Special events like EEK! Week Festival are another way the Museum encourages growth through play, giving families new opportunities to explore, celebrate, and make memories together. Members pay $5 for the October 31 Halloween festival and get a head start before general admission tickets open October 3 at $15.

A membership brings free daily programs, early access to events like Eek! Week Festival, and unlimited play all year. You can compare membership levels here.

Keep the Celebration Going All Year

Play transcends culture, language, and borders, and it also transcends a rainy Saturday, a long week, and a house full of restless energy. Thank you to every family who played with us on September 26. We would love to keep playing alongside you all year.