As the children's museum movement matures, it's taking on more civic responsibility.

At this year's annual convention of the Association of Youth Museums, the theme was "creativity in civil society." Much attention was placed on exploring opportunities to partner with other organizations, from housing projects to libraries to YMCAs, in order to build social capital.

One example of community building involves the under-construction children's museum in Lowell, Mass., where residents of a neighboring seniors complex will be given the run of the facility on designated nights.

In Seattle, the Children's Museum provides after-school programs in conjunction with the Seattle Housing Authority. It also has...