15 Sensory-Friendly Activities for Kids & Families in Wichita

Finding sensory-friendly activities for kids in Wichita can feel overwhelming! Here are our favorite spots for family fun. Did we miss one? Email [email protected] with details to be added.

You can find more local information for your family in our Wichita Mom Guide to Autism Resources and Wichita Mom Guide to Special Needs Resources.

And don’t miss our guides to Splash Pads in Wichita, the Best Parks in Wichita, and our favorite spots for hiking and waterfalls.

Sensory-Friendly Activities for Kids & Families in Wichita KS

AMC Northrock 14 Theater

Cost: $6-8

Location:
3151 Penstemon St.
Wichita, KS 67226

AMC Theatres offer sensory-friendly films 4 times per month (some for kids, some for adults). Click here for more deatils and current features.

Storytime at MOXI Junction

Cost: FREE

Location:
319 S Park Ave
Maize, KS

MOXI Junction is a coffee shop in Maize which “strives to be a safe, understanding place for when you are not at home”. Not only do they employ young adults with special needs, but they have a weekly storytime every Tuesday at 10:30.
Kansas Wildlife Exhibit at Central Riverside Park (photo copyright WichitaMom.com)

Feeding Time at the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit in Riverside Park

Cost: FREE

Location:
720 N Nims
Wichita, KS 67203

This program is offered every day at noon for free! Guests of all ages can help feed the animals at Riverside Park as well as enjoy the inside exhibit which has a few hands-on artifacts. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy the playground, splash pad, and walking paths, too!

PBS Kansas Children’s Education & Discovery Center

Cost: FREE
 
Location:
8710 E. 32nd Street North
Wichita, KS 67226
 
The PBS Kansas Children’s Education & Discovery Center helps children develop skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, so they can discover their own possibilities. It’s targeted for children 2-10 years old – but we guarantee the whole family will enjoy this FREE center that is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Recognized as Austim-Friendly by Heartspring!
 
PBS Kansas Cochener-Garvey Children’s Education & Discovery Center

Exploration Place

Cost: $15 for kids, $20 for adults – definitely worth a family membership

Location:
300 N. McLean Blvd.
Wichita, Kansas 67203

Exploration Place is an incredible science museum for Wichita kids. With varying permanent & traveling exhibits, kids are free to roam, play, and explore! Call them to ask about their least busy times (especially during the summer).

The newly renovated PLAY space at the Wichita Art Museum includes a Book Nook, Toddler Space, and Art Lab that big kids will love. (photo copyright Wichita Mom)

Wichita Art Museum

Cost: FREE (closed on Monday & Tuesday)

Location:
1400 Museum Blvd.
Wichita KS

Wichita Art Museum is a delightfully quiet spot for kids & families looking for less hustle & bustle. Sensory bags are available for checkout at the front desk, and camps & storytimes are offered throughout the year. And don’t miss PLAY on the lower level. It’s an area designed specifically for kids with toys, books, and art supplies.

Advanced Learning Library in Wichita KS (photo copyright Wichita Mom)

Advanced Learning Library

Cost: FREE

Location:
711 W. 2nd St.
Wichita, KS 67203

This branch of the Wichita Public Library is now a Family Place Library, offering special toys, books, and resources for families. The childrens section also offers computers with educational games, as well as an outdoor play space (pictured above).

Splash Pad at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard KS

For Animal Lovers

Sedgwick County Zoo

Cost: $18-23

Location:
5555 W Zoo Blvd.
Wichita, KS 67212

Sedgwick County Zoo offers sensory bags for check-out at the admission gate. Exhibits are designed so guests are immersed in the animal’s world for an empathetic learning experience. Exhibits provide maximum opportunity for the animals’ natural behaviors. Most areas include components in which visitors walk freely among plants and animals. SCZ also offers weekly educational programs. 

Tanganyika Wildlife Park

Cost: $35-60 dor day passes (feeder passes cost more)

Location:
1000 S. Hawkins Ln.
Goddard KS

Tanganyika Wildlife Park is smaller (read: more easily walkable) and offers a variety of animal encounters allowing kids to feed lemurs, turtles, bunnies, birds, and more! They also have a huge playground and splash pad (included in the price of admission).

Horseback Riding in Wichita

Several stables in & around Wichita offer lessons and trail rides! Perfect for kids who love horses and enjoy the outdoors.

Field Station: DInsosaurs in Derby KS

For Dinosaur Lovers

Field Station: Dinosaurs

Cost: 2 & under FREE; $13.75-16.75

Location:
2999 N Rock Rd.
Derby, KS 67037

Enjoy 10 acres of walking paths, live shows and over 40 life-sized dinos! Day passes include mini-golf.

Museum of World Treasures

Cost: Ages 3 & under FREE; $7.95-8>95

Location:
835 E 1st St N
Wichita, KS 67202

History comes alive as you travel from the time of dinosaurs, to the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. From shrunken heads and mummies to an extensive World War II collection, Wichita’s Museum of World Treasures is a gem for all ages.

Botanica in WIchita KS (photo copyright Wichita Mom)

For Nature Lovers

Botanica

Cost: $8-10 (2 & under free)

Location:
701 Amidon St.
Wichita, KS 67203

Botanica is a local fave for Wichita families and shouldn’t be missed if you’re visiting in season. Nestled on 17 acres in heart of central Wichita, their gardensevents, and children’s activities offer something for everyone. 

Pro tip: Don’t skip the carousel!

ICT River Rides

Cost: $5 per person

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from 5-10pm (May1-October1). Take a calm 15 minute cruise on the Arkansas River! They play music on the boat, so bring headphones if your kids are sensitive to noise.

Great Plains Nature Center

Cost: FREE

Location:
6232 E. 29th Street N.
Wichita KS

GPNC works closely with local organizations to make sure they offer an inclusive, sensory-friendly environment for visitors. Feed the turtles, learn about honeybees, and walk the nature trails! They also have kids programming and storytimes.

Wichita Wild Habitats

Cost: Free

Did you know Wichita is home to 12 protected Wild Habitat areas? With hiking and biking paths, playgrounds, and tons of wildlife, it’s a great way to experience nature right here in the city.

B-29 Doc hangar & Museum in Wichita KS

For Those Who Loves Trains & Planes

Great Plains Transportation Museum

Cost: Ages 3 & under FREE; ages 4-12 $4; Adults $7

Location:
700 East Douglas
Wichita, KS 67202

The Great Plains Transportation Museum displays a wide assortment of railroad equipment. 
Their two largest displays are Santa Fe steam locomotive #3768 and Santa Fe FP45 diesel #93. Indoor exhibits include railroad prints, signs, lanterns, tools, and other artifacts including a mock-up mechanical stoker used for training steam locomotive personnel.

B-29 Doc Hangar, Education & Visitor Center

Cost: $10 per person; $20 per family

Location:
1788 S Airport Rd.
Wichita, KS 67209

The B-29 Doc Hangar, Education and Visitors Center provides a unique and one-of-a-kind look into aviation history. Located in Wichita, Kan., at Eisenhower National Airport, the 42,000 sq. ft. facility is an interactive experience for all ages.

Pro tip: Best for ages 5+ (there’s not a lot for little ones, but if they are obsessed with planes, they’ll get a kick out of Doc!)

HONORABLE MENTION:

Sensory Salon ICT

512 N. Expedition, Suite D
Wichita KS 67203

Offering hair services for the neurodivergent community in Wichits who struggle with sensory issues at typicla salons!

 

Erin Bartel
Erin has been on the Wichita Mom team since 2014, serving as its Content Director. She also works as a private marketing consultant in Wichita KS, helping businesses and non-profits navigate the ever-changing waters of digital & local marketing. A mother of 2, happily married to her college sweetheart, Erin's hobbies include bribing herself to exercise, traveling with (and without) her family, and trying to remember where she hid the chocolate.