On a recent visit to the Children’s Museum I overheard the following conversation:
Child: “Mom! I have a joke for you. Why is there a little door and a big door at the Children’s Museum?”
Mom: “I don’t know, why?”
Child: “So everyone can come in.”
I love the jokes children tell. It’s fascinating how a child’s sense of humor changes as they mature. When my sons first started telling jokes it didn’t matter what the joke was about, but what did matter was that it included the words stinky diapers. Whenever stinky diapers was uttered their uncontrollable laughter was sure to follow. Within a year or so they moved on to knock-knock jokes. And not long after they were finding comedy in the playful use of language by taking certain words and swapping them with their phonetic twins. “Why was six afraid of seven?” Answer: “Because seven ATE nine.”
So when I heard the joke about the museum doors it reminded me of those times my sons used humor to find fun in the world around them. Sometimes these jokes ended on silly punchlines obvious to the listener even before they were revealed. And sometimes this obviousness hinted at something more meaningful.
After a while it struck me how insightful this young comedian was. The museum is a place where everyone can come in. There are a variety of programs aimed at lowering any barriers that prevent families from visiting. These programs include Free Family Night and Family Access rates for both daily admission and annual memberships, providing families of all income levels with an opportunity to come through those doors and experience playful learning.
Play brings kids together. When families walk through those doors they enter a space where they can make new connections. From the Wildernest to the Rooftop Ramble, there are always possibilities for interactive and open-ended play. The more opportunities children have to meet and get to know one another, the stronger their social skills become. Through collaboration they learn to better express themselves creatively while becoming empathetic listeners. And these skills are critical for future success.
So the next time you see the little door and big door, take your pick, go inside and experience the benefits of play … and that is no joke.
This summer, Madison Children’s Museum is thrilled to launch a new initiative to give free memberships to first-time parents with a child under 18 months. The First-Time Parent Membership includes two adults and a newborn child, from birth to 18 months. This new membership program is completely free. We want parents to come explore what the museum has to offer for very young learners, and to provide these vital early learning opportunities to everyone in the community.
MCM wants to provide a free membership to ALL first time parents, giving ALL families the tools to thrive. Throughout March and April, MCM will be educating families about our upcoming membership level, launching in summer 2017. This membership is just one branch of MCM’s Access for Everyone programs, which aims to always say yes to play!
The museum is created for families, by families, and in anticipation of launching our new membership program we wanted to better understand what families with young children value about MCM. We spoke to seven families that currently have a membership with a child under 18 months. Their stories and comments emphasized the valuable resource the museum is for early learners, as a place for children to learn and grow while they play. Below is a summary of what we heard.
Exploring the Exhibits
Amanda first visited the museum when her daughter was 6 months old. She was immediately impressed. “I was really drawn to the Wildernest. It was an area that was designated for smaller kids.” The Wildernest is on the first floor of the museum, and is intended for children under 5, where they can freely explore in a safe, age-appropriate environment. There is a sensory play area within the Wildernest intended for the youngest visitors that includes light, texture, movement, and color.
Luba and her son observing the mice in the dollhouse; Keri and her daughter reading in the Wildernest
Sara brought her son on his first birthday and they played mostly in the Wildernest. “He couldn’t even walk yet but he was so excited. I think we spent an hour playing the drums… I was really surprised he could do everything downstairs except for the water room before he was walking. And he still had fun checking the other things out.” She purchased a membership the same day, and she feels good about the time they spend here because the “museum was made with development in mind.”
Jessica started bringing her son regularly, and she appreciates the types of toys available in the Wildernest. “You can play with baby dolls, you can put on dress up clothes, and you can do whatever you want. It’s all given here, and it’s not pink, gendered – it’s not separated.” The Wildernest is built with natural and sustainable materials.
Valuing Unstructured Play
Sara’s son investigating the telescope in Possible-opolis
The museum is designed to encourage unscripted and open-ended play for our visitors, which is highly valued by our members. Melissa believes it’s important to praise her daughter for the effort she puts into an activity rather than for doing an activity correctly, and the museum’s unstructured play philosophy facilitates that. “I want to provide things that she can try and things she’s never done before and those things are what you want to encourage them to do. So that is what I value about MCM.”
Luba sees the same value for her son, and she appreciates the museum because “you can do whatever you want… everybody is curious at this age and the less you distract them the better.” Sara chimed in to say the museum’s activities are flexible enough that she can choose to structure her son’s day, or let him play spontaneously. And with their membership, they have the freedom to come back another time if the day doesn’t go as planned.
Making Learning Fun from the Very Beginning
Many of the parents agreed that the museum provides a space for experiences that will shape the person their child will become. A baby’s first learning experiences deeply affect their future physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. Katie brings her daughter to build her confidence. “I want her to be confident and I want her to know she can do anything. And I think that comes by coming to a place like this and exposing her when she’s young.”
Amanda’s daughter smiling during playgroup; Jessica and her son exploring a toy during playgroup
Keri spoke passionately about “cultivating curiosity” in her daughter. She said, “I personally find learning fun and when learning is fun you can do it anywhere… I want my child to know that she can turn anything into a fun learning experience.”
Amanda agreed that the museum is an important source of unique educational experiences and believes that “being exposed to as many things as possible… makes you open and courageous, and an outgoing person,” which is what she wishes for her daughter.
Connecting with Other Parents
All of the families agreed a key advantage of coming to the museum is the opportunity to connect with other parents. Keri purchased a membership knowing that meeting other parents was a big benefit for her. “A huge part of it is socialization not just for the baby, but for me. I can sit on my own floor and play with my own toys, but I would rather come here and sit in the soft space and play with their toys, and not just because I don’t have to clean them up, but because I’m a talker.” Many of the parents she’s met at the museum have become friends.
Amanda agrees, arguing that it’s important for new parents to be around peers who understand their day-to-day experiences. Becoming a parent isn’t easy, but the museum is a supportive place where “no one is going to judge you.” Being a first-time parent of a young child is a unique experience that makes connecting with other caregivers effortless. Spending time at the museum creates opportunities to bond with other adults and share stories. Jessica also appreciates those moments, because for her, “I’ve just been talking to a baby all day… when I go out and there’s other adults I find that I’m a lot calmer by the end of the day … even if it’s just a passing conversation, it’s still nice to have another adult to talk to.”
The Early Explorers playgroup meets regularly during the school year. Check the website calendar for dates and locations.
MCM has an Early Explorers Playgroup to help forge these connections. A play space is set up for children under 3, where they can engage in activities that support various aspects of child development. Parents and caregivers have the opportunity to connect with one another while their children play. The group meets regularly on Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m., check the website for dates and locations.
MCM as a Teaching Resource
Museum members place a high value on the variety of activities available at the museum. Activities in the museum range from climbing and movement, to imaginative and sensory play, to art, nature, science, music, and literacy. Jessica described some of the activities her son enjoys, “there is music, drums, and puppets, and there are baby dolls, and dress up and water and art and blocks and everything.” When he got a bit older, at about 14 months, “the art room became a fun place.” Jessica explained the pressure she feels like this, “You want them to excel in life… so you constantly have to think of things to engage them.” Amanda agreed that she felt a similar pressure, and that the experiences at the museum, “take that pressure off that we need to find creative things for her to do.”
The First-Time Parent Membership will be funded through the museum’s Access for Everyone program. We are thrilled to invest in the young children of our community, and to build a thriving future for everyone. You can find out more about our Access for Everyone programs on our website. Please consider making a gift to support our access programs, including the First-Time Parent Membership.
“I support MCM because I believe the museum isn’t just nice to have in our community, it is necessary. The future of our community is in the hands of our children. Early childhood education for all leads to better education and a better future for all. Our Access, Diversity and Inclusion program makes that a reality.”
–Peggy Pyle, MCM board chair
Madison Children’s Museum has always aimed to ensure that we are welcoming, accessible, and affordable for all children and families in the community. To create a place that’s reflective and inclusive of our entire community, we believe everyone must have a voice at the table. It’s not always easy, but what we gain through a diverse range of perspectives is always profound.
As associate director of education Sandra Bonnici would say, “It sometimes takes intentional acts of bravery to get us there. But MCM staff and board members are rich in courage, creativity, and leadership. The museum aims to create a space where everyone feels included and valued for the gifts that they bring, and has a voice in the delivery of our mission.”
In 2015, MCM’s board chair, Peggy Pyle, formally led our board to establish an Access, Diversity, and Inclusion board committee. This committee provides high-level oversight in documenting and responding to areas of weakness in our Access initiatives and leverages opportunities or successes. In the world of museums, this is a rare and outstanding example of a museum questioning: What do children’s museums typically do in the community? What could children’s museums aspire to do in the community?
José Madera, MCM’s Access, Diversity and Inclusion committee chair, describes the committee’s efforts, “We are working hard to educate ourselves and learn how our work connects with other organizations, especially schools. Many of our immediate goals include strategic planning and relationship-building efforts, like drafting an equity and diversity statement, meeting with fellow community leaders and champions of diversity, and learning more about how we can better engage communities of color and be more inclusive of everyone. Our results will not be immediate, but we’re slowly and steadily building momentum and we’re excited to keep learning and growing through the process.”
Peggy Pyle and the rest of MCM’s leadership are passionate champions of the museum’s Access for Everyone programs. Pyle explains, “The early education learning that occurs at the museum is vital to children’s long-term educational success. This is especially critical for underserved children, and that is why access to the museum is crucial. Not only are young children learning while playing, but they are learning acceptance of children from different backgrounds.”
MCM board member John Sims agrees: “Children need hands on opportunities for learning and play and MCM is the perfect place for all children and families to learn to play together at a very young age. All children and families, from all backgrounds, deserve access to the museum.”
We know that to be truly inclusive and relevant we must collaborate with and involve our entire community. That includes you too! Please consider giving your time, talent, and treasure to help ensure early learning, fun, and Access for Everyone at MCM.
We all have gifts to share, and it takes all of us!
By Gabriella Gerhardt, Membership Manager
Photos by Patrick Gerhardt
When Sara and Kevin welcomed baby Samuel, their first-born, family and fellow parents had lots of advice: Many recommended visiting Madison Children’s Museum. Sara and Kevin were intrigued and asked for a Family Membership as a gift. At the time, it sounded like something fun to do. But the museum would come to play a vital role in Samuel’s early development.
They started visiting in December 2014. “Samuel loved it from the minute he set foot in it — actually before he even set foot in it, because peering through the front glass from the street he could see everything on the inside,” Sara recalled from their first visit. They quickly realized that the museum “is totally appropriate for little kids – even pretty little kids.”
Samuel was just shy of two at the time. As he discovered new parts of the museum, he found endless opportunities for play. He climbed on a dinosaur, played with water in the Wildernest water dome, made a pizza at Pie in the Sky Diner and chased the chickens on the Rooftop Ramble. He approached other young children and learned to negotiate sharing the play space. He experimented and figured out how to use the building materials on his own.
When Samuel started experiencing speech difficulties, Sarah and Kevin came to understand that play is a fundamental part of early childhood development. Samuel was recommended to participate in the Birth to 3 Program, which qualifies families to purchase a Family Access Membership ($10 for a family). Sara recalls, “When we did Birth to 3, they pushed us by saying, ‘Hey, you should keep your membership. You get access [to the museum] at a great rate. It’s also a good developmental tool for your kids, a complement to the program.’”
Taking a holistic approach, the counselors gave Sara and Kevin a multitude of tools to guide Samuel’s development and progress. Now that Samuel has turned three and approaches his graduation from the Birth to 3 program, “he’s talking like crazy; it’s like we had never went through that phase. I mean if you met him now you’d never think that this child went through a speech delay. But he did.”
Every child can benefit from the type of free play that MCM provides. Family Access memberships are a part of reaching as many children and families as possible. Sara, speaking about why the Access for Everyone program matters, says, “It’s really important to provide access to education for everyone; the more we empower, enrich, and educate our children, the better our society becomes.”
Summing up how their family feels about the museum, especially in light of the birth of their second child, Sara says, “We love going there. Our kids love going there. Even our baby loves going there. It’s a space for all ages.”
What Sara and Kevin value about their membership:
Never feeling rushed. They can go and spend the entire time painting on the Art Studio window. “If it’s an hour or it’s two hours, and if we only do one thing the whole time we’re there, it’s okay, because we can come back another time and do the other parts. To me, that’s been a real value to our family — not feeling rushed to see everything; we know we can come back.”
The museum is accessible for grandparents and those with limited mobility. Samuel’s grandpa is not able to do a lot of walking, but he enjoys visiting because “in every area there’s a spot where he can sit close to where Samuel is playing and engage with him.”
A chance for the family to bond. For example, in the Art Studio, “Mom and Dad can paint on the glass, and Samuel can paint with us. It’s set up in a way where we can all do that together. And it’s fun: He thinks it’s funny to erase our art, like spray the water on our art, and squeegee it down. That’s been a fun thing for our family to do together.”
Samuel’s recommendations for first-time visitors:
Drive the Truck in Possible-opolis
Bake a one-of-a-kind pizza for Mom to eat at Pie in the Sky
Paint on the paint wall in the Art Studio with Dad, making sure to squeegee Dad’s paint for a laugh
On a recent visit to the Children’s Museum I overheard the following conversation:
