Category Archive: Blogs We Love

1. The Importance of a Shoe Box

   June 1, 2018 3:29 pm Leave a Comment

   By Joyce Hemphill (Queen of Play)

   Way back when I was entering the job market I interviewed for a company that designed and tested the promotional items, or prizes, included in cereal boxes, snack foods, and fast food kid’s meals. I found the research behind what the company was doing extremely fascinating. It was a thrill to meet the people who designed the prizes I would see on TV and always hoped to find in the bottom of my caramel corn box.

   The premise behind the company’s prize model was simple: four different versions of a toy with each version coming in three colors. Think about it, that’s a total of 12 prizes! “Collect ’em all!” This company was clearly in tune with children. Kids begin collecting things around five to six years old. From rocks, stickers, and stuffed animals to prizes in cereal boxes, anything and everything they find interesting is fair game. Oftentimes they are most intrigued by the unique differences that set individual pieces apart. To a child, the variety is just as important as the amount.

   I was reminded of the interview when cleaning out my closet. I came across a shoe box that had been pushed to the back corner. The box contained my son’s rock collection. I can clearly remember how they would carefully scan the stones on each visit to one of Madison’s beaches or how they would examine our favorite walking path in the neighborhood woods. They were always on the lookout for that perfect specimen. Once home it was safely stored in the repurposed shoe box. From time to time they would take out the box and sort their treasures. Sometimes by color, sometimes by size, sometimes by shininess, and sometimes by where they were found. The more they learned about rocks, the more they applied relevant scientific concepts to their sorting process.

   Research tells us that children strengthen their analytical skills as they collect stuff. From rocks, stickers, and stuffed animals to prizes in cereal boxes, as they build up and sort through their collections they tap into the same observational skills they practice when in school. These skills apply to math, science, reading, and can connect to culture and history depending on the collection. As children continue to collect they continue to grow as learners, and express themselves though their interests to develop and strengthen a part of their identity. And of course, going on a treasure hunt for that perfect specimen can be an adventure for the whole family.

   So I ask you, “What’s in your shoe box?”

   (YiP) Yours in Play

   Joyce

2. Learn From Nature

   November 30, 2017 4:10 pm Leave a Comment

   By Joyce Hemphill (Queen of Play)

   

   My young neighbor was telling me about a nature walk she took with her mom. They set out looking for ‘signs of spring.’ They came across plenty of birds, specifically robins, and saw a wide array of flowers. One flower stood out. She couldn’t remember the name, but it was small and purple, with leaves that looked like hearts. Her brother chimed in, saying “We also saw a bright yellow flower on a long stem, and it was round and had lots of small leaves that looked like a row of triangles. Can you guess what flower we saw?”

   Isn’t nature amazing with all of its colors, shapes, textures, patterns, smells, and sounds? Nature merges the classroom and the playground, expanding the possibilities for open-ended play in an environment that encourages creativity. Go outside and take a look. Nature provides a perfect resource for playing scavenger games. These games are simple and effective learning activities that engage children with the natural world while helping develop observational, analytical, and memory skills that carry over to the classroom. For example, while at the park or on a walk in your neighborhood do a “Where’s ROY G BIV?” search and be on the lookout for any Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.

   Nature-based scavenger games can also be played in the outdoor spaces at the Madison Children’s Museum. Check out the Rooftop Ramble, Urb Garden, and Wildernest for examples of naturally occurring squares, circles, triangles, and other geometric shapes. Look for examples of symmetry and asymmetry in the various plants and animals you come across. Take a more focused look at spaces you have played in before and perhaps you will see something in a new way.

   Wisconsin native and celebrated architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, encouraged his students to not only study nature, but to fall in love with its wonders and beauty. Nature was Wright’s mentor, and its influence shines through in his work. The patterns and shapes in his designs echo the natural beauty of the outdoors

   The museum’s Frank Lloyd Wright inspired From Coops to Cathedrals exhibit will expand your options for play, including nature-based scavenger games. Not only can you do a search for ROY G BIV and scavenge for shapes, you can test your identification skills by matching the patterns you see inside the museum with those in nature.

   

   I encourage you to become a student of nature. Explore, investigate, compare, contrast, wonder, snoop, seek, and find.

   (YiP) Yours in Play

   Joyce

   BTW, did you figure out what flowers my neighbors saw? Answer: Wild violets and dandelions.

3. Repetition and Play

   August 14, 2017 4:08 pm Leave a Comment

   By Joyce Hemphill (Queen of Play)

   

   I was chatting with a first year nanny who is caring for two young children; the oldest will be starting kindergarten in the fall. Once a week she takes them to the museum. The kids love the museum, BUT they always want to see the same exhibits. The nanny is frustrated because there is so much more to see and do. Her situation reminded me of when my sons were that age and how they always wanted to play the same game and read the same book over and over.

   “Don’t worry,” I told her. “There will be days when they want to explore more and try different things, but for now it is OK for them to return to what is familiar. It’s natural. Children find comfort in knowing how things work and what comes next.”

   Think about it, don’t we all take comfort and gain confidence in something the more we do it? Has your confidence as a driver improved from the time you first took the wheel?  Have your knife skills improved with each meal you have prepared? Repetition builds confidence. Repetition improves memory. Repetition is a way of learning.

   So if the children want to head straight for the Wildernest or the Rooftop Ramble, let them. Give them their time. And while they are in their favorite area ask questions and give suggestions to expand their play. Offering a twist on something familiar enhances creative problem solving while staying within their comfort zone.

   Then, after having fun in their favorite spot, branch out and move on to another exhibit. Take it slow. Encourage them to explore, and point out areas of potential interest along the way. Walk up and examine a play structure more closely. How does it work? Does your child see it the same way? Many of the exhibits are designed for open-ended play, so together you can brainstorm different possibilities for play. Your child’s curiosity will lead the way. Be there to offer support and encourage that curiosity. And if they are hesitant, don’t be discouraged. Be patient. On your next visit they may be ready to try something different. There are many adventures to be had at the museum and time is needed to enjoy each and every one to the fullest.

   YiP (Yours in Play)

   Joyce

4. A Blog We Love

   October 15, 2013 11:38 am Leave a Comment

   If you have visited our Art Studio, you know how much we love artsy activities here at MCM which is why we were so thrilled to stumble across today’s Blog We Love.

   One Artsy Mama is a blog by a mother who loves being creative with her kids and documents it all on her blog. Not only are all the crafts she does really inspirational for things to do at home, but she has a lot of contests to win great crafts things! Check her out.

   

   

    

   

    

5. A Blog We Love : Mark, April & Lillian

   July 3, 2013 7:13 am Leave a Comment

   Mark, April and Lillian is a blog all about a  family as they travel around Wisconsin and the Midwest. Recently they stopped by MCM and we were featured on their blog! We love when visitors have such a great time with us that they want to share their experiences with the world. Read on to see what this family had to say about MCM and good ‘ole Madison!

   “After the Madison Farmer’s Market and the State Capitol Building it was time for lunch.  We found a local bagel shop called Gotham Bagels.  It was near the Madison Children’s Museum, which was next on our list of things to do.  <!–more!–> Gotham Bagels was really good!  I decided on a sesame seed bagel with cream cheese, Lillian got a plain bagel with cream cheese, and Mark got one of their sandwich specials, which had arugula, chicken, and some other things.  All were very tasty!

   

   After finishing lunch we headed to the children’s museum.  It was fairly small, but still had a lot of fun things to do.  They even had an area for the younger kids which was kind of nice.

   

   There were a few things to ride on, or rather sit on since they didn’t move.

   

   An old phone booth, which was part of the “back to the future” area.  Lillian enjoyed closing the door so she was on the inside while we were on the outside.

   

   We each played some pin ball, and ended up on TV.  The camera would track your mouth movements if you were sitting in the chair and then it would make animal sounds as you moved your mouth. 

   

   There was a duplicate of Madison, so Lillian rearranged the city for a little while.

   

   Then she did some relaxing on a leaf bench while looking out the window.  The second picture is the view from the Children’s Museum toward the capitol.  I’m not sure if this was taken from the roof top or from the second floor.  I think it’s from the roof top though, which is where they had a small garden.  Definitely very educational!

   After the museum, we went back to the hotel and did a little swimming.  The water was pretty cold, so swimming didn’t last too long.  Which was ok, since it was almost time for dinner.  For dinner, we decided to venture out and ended up at a great taco place called Tex Tubb’s Taco Palace.  This place was very tasty and had a ton of variety.  It wasn’t your ordinary taco place, that’s for sure!  I ended up with the Backyard BBQ taco and the El Pastor & Pineapple taco.  Both were amazing!  I think Mark got the House-Smoked Pork taco and the Pork Belly taco…I guess he was in the mood for pork.  Check out the menu here to see the details.  I kind of want to travel to Madison just to go to this place again!”

   Do you know of a blog that should be shared by us? Comment below with the information and we just might featured it on our A Blog We Love segment.

6. A Garden Blog We Love

   June 25, 2013 2:01 pm Leave a Comment

   In case you couldn’t tell, we’re all about urban gardening this summer here at MCM. Because we’re gearing up for the new Urb Garden Exhibit coming soon, we’ve been trying our best to get you guys pumped about gardening, too! In order to keep sharing and learning, we want to feature great garden blogs this summer.

   This month’s Blog We Love is called Garden Variety Adventures, written by former Wisconsinite Disa. She shares great stories about her garden and has a lot of really neat photos!

   Here’s a little snippet from her blog:  (more…)