IN PICTURES: New interactive children’s area opens at Ballymoney Museum

This vibrant new space has been thoughtfully redesigned to provide a moreninteractive and engaging experience for young visitors, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and learning through play.

Originally developed by museum staff in 2022, the children’s area has been a popular and well-used space for visiting families.

This recent transformation has been made possible thanks to funding from the Local Museums Small Capital Grant Fund 2025/26, awarded by the Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC).

A key inspiration behind the redesign is an early years book co-created last year through a NIMC project, which saw the Museum collaborate with Ballymoney Playgroup, Kerrie Illustrates and Tale Time.

The book was developed based on the children’s own experiences and ideas following their visit to the museum.

Their ideas and creativity have directly influenced the updated design and theme of the children’s area, as well as the accompanying activity sheets, ensuring the space reflects the voices and imaginations of its young audience.

The refreshed area now features a wide range of hands-on and imaginative play opportunities, including a tactile magnetic wall, a dress-up station, a train track table, colouring and reading spaces, puzzles, sensory toys, and an interactive tactile wall display.

Ballymoney Museum is open Monday to Saturday 9.30am-4.30pm (closed 1-1.30 for lunch).