Lauren Luneckas is the CEO of The Children’s Museum of the Upstate and mom to one-year-old daughter, Wells.
When you hear “children’s museum,” you may picture a space built for elementary learners, but at TCMU, we know that learning starts well before kindergarten. From crawling babies to curious toddlers, our museum is thoughtfully designed to support even the littlest visitors. With exhibits, programs, and resources created specifically for children ages 0 to 3, TCMU is not just big-kid friendly. It’s early-learner ready.
I’ve seen this firsthand, both as TCMU’s CEO and a new mom.
In both my roles, I see every day that play is powerful, especially for the littlest learners. Play isn’t just fun; it’s foundational. In these earliest years, it’s how children explore, grow, connect, and thrive. But for busy caregivers like me, figuring out meaningful, engaging activities to do with a one-year-old can at times feel overwhelming. So here are a few of my favorites, both from our home routine and from our happy place: TCMU.
Music, Movement & Moments of Joy
Wells has a deep and abiding love for instruments she can shake, bang, or clang- often all at once! At TCMU, we love visiting the Please Play Me piano near the entrance of our Greenville location. It’s perfect for curious little hands to explore cause and effect and experience the joy of creating sound during spontaneous toddler concerts.
At home, we keep the rhythm going with egg shakers, scarves and ribbons for dancing, and a curated toddler music playlist (yes, “Baby Beluga” is on repeat). These musical moments are simple, joyful, and incredible for language and motor skill development.
Farm Fun & First Adventures
A first stop on any visit to TCMU’s Greenville museum is always Grandma Betty’s Farm. Wells loves to hear and watch the rain, ride the tractor, meet barnyard animals, and explore the cozy yellow farmhouse.
With soft surfaces perfect for crawling and climbing, Grandma Betty’s Farm is a safe, engaging space open only to children five and under. It’s always a hit with the infant and toddler crowd and is a great place to meet other caregivers in a similar stage of life.
We’ve also loved participating in TCMU Tots, educational programming in the Farm classroom with themed activities tailor-made for early learners. (If you haven’t joined Tots yet, consider this your official invitation. TCMU Tots happens every Tuesday-Saturday at 10am in Get Up & Grow.)
At home, we sing farm songs and read lots of books about Wells’s favorite animal: the cow that says “moooo.”
Wonderful Water Play
Unsurprisingly, another of Wells’s favorites is something a little splashier – water tables! If you’ve ever tried to redirect a one-year-old from splashing, you know it’s futile. Rather than fight it, I lean into the fun and learning that water play offers.
Greenville’s Lily Pond and Spartanburg’s toddler water table offer rich sensory experiences that I can easily get behind as a parent. At the museum, water play is safe, accessible, and educational. I especially appreciate the built-in seats at the water tables so Wells and her infant friends can join in just like the big kids.
Once we’ve had our fill of splashing, we head just around the corner to SEAsations, an imaginative, under-the-sea sensory exhibit. The immersive sights, sounds, and textures completely captivate Wells, especially the bubble tubes.
At home, water fun continues with a playful bathtime routine that includes two of our favorite TCMU Store finds: the ferry boat and submarine.
Books & Storyburg Adventures
Reading is a daily ritual in our home, and I love seeing that mirrored at TCMU. Each location features a cozy Book Nook, and Spartanburg’s new Storyburg exhibit has quickly become a family favorite, especially the garden where Wells proudly “grows” potatoes. She also can’t get enough of trips down the friendly dragon slide.
We love finding new board books in The TCMU Store to bring home and enjoy together. And the TCMU Book of the Month subscription Wells was gifted at my baby shower brings hand-picked books right to our doorstep. It’s easily been one of our favorite gifts of the year.
TCMU Store Picks for One-Year-Olds
The TCMU Store is one of my secret weapons for thoughtful, developmentally aligned toys and activities for Wells. A few of our tried-and-true picks:
- Busy Boards – Watching the gears turn, both on the board and in her brain, is one of my favorite things to do
- Wooden Puzzles – Chunky pieces are perfect for tiny hands
- Crinkle Books – We’re still learning to be gentle turning pages, and these are virtually indestructible
These are the kinds of toys that grow with her, and I love knowing they’ve been curated with care to prioritize both learning and fun.
Special Events, Forever Memories
Some of my favorite memories as a mom have happened at TCMU events. This past Halloween, Wells was a flamingo at our Trick-or-Treat event, pink feathers and all. In December, she met Santa at Winter Wonderland, and this spring, she saw the Easter Bunny for the first time at Spring & Sprout.
Her grandparents have joined us for these adventures, too. It’s truly a family affair.
Though we’ve snapped a million adorable pictures, these events are so much more than a photo op. They are real memory-makers, offering moments of joy, wonder, and connection that I know we’ll cherish.
A Museum Built for Families
Over this past year, I’ve come to deeply appreciate that TCMU supports not just little ones, but their grownups, too. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, caregiver, or friend, you’ll find practical supports that make museum visits easier:
- Changing tables in all restrooms (men’s, women’s, and family)
- A nursing nook
- Bottle warmers and stroller parking
- Baby- and toddler-exclusive spaces
- A café for snack breaks and regrouping
Ready to explore all that TCMU has to offer your infant or toddler?
Whether you’re singing songs at the piano, splashing at the water table, or “growing” potatoes in Storyburg, there’s no shortage of meaningful ways to learn and play at the museum.
With spaces and experiences designed especially for young children and the caregivers who love them, TCMU supports every step of your parenting journey and your child’s development.
Wells and I can’t wait to see you here soon!
