There’s a lot of rules adults sometimes have trouble following on the upper floors of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Downstairs it’s a different story. The 81st Street Studio, which occupies 3,500-square feet in the Ruth and Harold D. Urus Center for Education, encourages kids to touch, handle and explore a range of stations and activities that bring art, science and play into one dynamic space.

There was lots of activity to witness on a recent summer Saturday afternoon. Kids were building structures with oversized blocks, working on digital woodblock prints, testing out musical instruments, and examining artifacts and other materials through a high-resolution microscope. Some children wandered from station to station, others were deeply engrossed in a single activity. The point of the studio, which charges no admission, is to let kids choose their own path.

Geared to children ages 3-11 and their caregivers, The 81st Street Studio is a great first or last stop on your next visit to The Met. Or drop by when you’re in desperate need of something to do. If your child is age 7 or older, ask about the 81st Street Studio Family Field Guide to help navigate the galleries. Kids can collect stickers and earn a Met Field Scientist button by using the guide.

Studio hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday-Sunday, 10am-5pm. Entry is on a first-come, first served basis. All children need to be accompanied by an adult. Expect to sign up for a time slot during high demand periods, however, even when the studio receives a lot of visitors, most families can be accommodated in half-hour time slots. You can reach the studio by entering the ground floor of The Met at the 81st Street and Fifth Avenue entrance, to the left of the main steps.