The Children’s Museum had a visit from one of our favorite people today – Maranda (of Wood TV 8, WOTV 4, and WXSP). While I have certainly seen her work on TV, this was the first time I had met her. Wow – what an enthusiastic, engaging person she is. She’s just like you see her on TV.
Maranda spoke with us today about our very favorite topic – the value of play and the value of making memories with your children. When you think about all the hustle and bustle we’re in the midst of right now for the holidays – buying presents, planning meals, decorating our homes, sending cards, and on and on – the Children’s Museum is a perfect place to break up your day and engage in something that will last a lifetime, making memories with your children.
What’s better is that experts agree that the skills children need to develop into functioning, productive adults originate from play – the very kind of unstructured play kids enjoy here at the Children’s Museum. Through play, children learn to share, cooperate, negotiate, compromise, make and revise rules, and take the perspective of others.
After interviewing Abbi Wilson, our Director of Play Education, Maranda walked around the Museum with her crew, chatting with children, their adults, and our staff. There was one great moment when she asked a little girl to look through one of our special mirrors. As they videotaped her from the opposite side of the mirror, the little girl started bouncing up and down and saying “Peek-a-boo! Peek-a-boo!” over and over again. It was one of those adorable moments that happen daily here at the Museum.
Maranda’s segment at the Children’s Museum should air Dec. 26 & 27. Be sure to look for it!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Jaycees Santa Parade!
This past Saturday, Grand Rapids ushered in the holiday season with its traditional Jaycees Santa Parade. Wow – what a lot of fun! I haven’t done that much walking in quite a while, and today, two days later, my legs are still a little sore. But it was fun.
Our friends at Fox Motors lent us a pickup truck, which we filled with kids, a few adults, and penguins! A few of the little ones dressed up in the penguin costumes we have here for Penguin Play, and a courageous college student wore our large penguin costume.
What was cool was the way those watching the parade reacted. They’d see that big penguin surrounded by the little ones, and shout out “Hey, look! Penguins!” and “Hey there, Penguin!”
The kids really got into the spirit of the event, shouting out “Happy Thanksgiving” and “Merry Christmas.” And, being kids, they even got a little silly, shouting out “Happy Halloween” and “Happy Easter.” The folks in the crowd just laughed along with them.
For all their charm, their penguin dances, and excitement, I’d have to say that the kids in our parade entry made ours truly one of the best in the whole parade!
Our friends at Fox Motors lent us a pickup truck, which we filled with kids, a few adults, and penguins! A few of the little ones dressed up in the penguin costumes we have here for Penguin Play, and a courageous college student wore our large penguin costume.
What was cool was the way those watching the parade reacted. They’d see that big penguin surrounded by the little ones, and shout out “Hey, look! Penguins!” and “Hey there, Penguin!”
The kids really got into the spirit of the event, shouting out “Happy Thanksgiving” and “Merry Christmas.” And, being kids, they even got a little silly, shouting out “Happy Halloween” and “Happy Easter.” The folks in the crowd just laughed along with them.
For all their charm, their penguin dances, and excitement, I’d have to say that the kids in our parade entry made ours truly one of the best in the whole parade!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Penguins!
This will be my first winter at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, so it is my first Penguin Play experience. A friendly staff person gave me a tour of it. It’s all so “cool”: the ice castle, the slides, the ball pit, the snowflake table, the games, the new feature – building your own snow fort – and, of course, the penguin costumes.
There was a young girl sliding down from the ice castle into a ball pit. Her father was trying to take her picture, but she was too animated and too giggly, it seems, for him to get a good shot. He asked her to slow down. So she did. She went back to the top of the slide, laid on her back, and starting slowly sliding down – head first. She stretched out her arms and legs to control her speed, and just crept down the slide. Giggling.
By the time the top of her head touched the first ball in the pit, she and her father were so much involved in the moment, she just let go and disappeared among a sea of white, “icy” balls.
I’m not sure if he got the shot he wanted with his camera, but I know he got a memory he’ll have forever. They both will.
That’s one of the most powerful things about the Children’s Museum that I’ve seen so far. It’s not like taking your kid to a park and letting him or her run wild while you watch from a distance. At the Children’s Museum, it’s about engaging in what they are doing. It’s about playing together. It’s about a father’s memory of his little girl giggling uncontrollably as she – penguin-like – disappeared into a pool of ice white balls.
Special things like this happen at the Children’s Museum every day.
This will be my first winter at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, so it is my first Penguin Play experience. A friendly staff person gave me a tour of it. It’s all so “cool”: the ice castle, the slides, the ball pit, the snowflake table, the games, the new feature – building your own snow fort – and, of course, the penguin costumes.
There was a young girl sliding down from the ice castle into a ball pit. Her father was trying to take her picture, but she was too animated and too giggly, it seems, for him to get a good shot. He asked her to slow down. So she did. She went back to the top of the slide, laid on her back, and starting slowly sliding down – head first. She stretched out her arms and legs to control her speed, and just crept down the slide. Giggling.
By the time the top of her head touched the first ball in the pit, she and her father were so much involved in the moment, she just let go and disappeared among a sea of white, “icy” balls.
I’m not sure if he got the shot he wanted with his camera, but I know he got a memory he’ll have forever. They both will.
That’s one of the most powerful things about the Children’s Museum that I’ve seen so far. It’s not like taking your kid to a park and letting him or her run wild while you watch from a distance. At the Children’s Museum, it’s about engaging in what they are doing. It’s about playing together. It’s about a father’s memory of his little girl giggling uncontrollably as she – penguin-like – disappeared into a pool of ice white balls.
Special things like this happen at the Children’s Museum every day.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Halloween Eve
Tonight is Halloween Eve and the celebration is set to take place here at the Grand Rapids Children's Museum. This will be my first Halloween here, and from what I've been told, it's one of the funnest times to visit the Museum. I guess what I'm looking forward to most are all the costumes - kids and their adults will be visiting us in their finest Halloween outfits, kind of a preview for tomorrow night's activities.
Pretty much all of the Museum staff members are wearing costumes today. My boss, Nancy, is a vending machine. Our boss, Janet, is either Peter Pan or Robin Hood, depending on who you think she is. Jack is Captain Hook. I'll try to get a picture of them dancing together or something to post out here.
Me? I'm Batman before the crime. Meaning, actually, that I didn't wear a costume. I forgot.
Now I'm going to try and post some pictures of our staff for you to enjoy!
Pretty much all of the Museum staff members are wearing costumes today. My boss, Nancy, is a vending machine. Our boss, Janet, is either Peter Pan or Robin Hood, depending on who you think she is. Jack is Captain Hook. I'll try to get a picture of them dancing together or something to post out here.
Me? I'm Batman before the crime. Meaning, actually, that I didn't wear a costume. I forgot.
Now I'm going to try and post some pictures of our staff for you to enjoy!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Election Results Are In!
Our special Dr. Seuss election is over, and the results are:
- Sam-I-Am – 56 votes (39%)
- Horton – 50 votes (34%)
- Cat in the Hat – 39 votes (27%)
Two write-in votes were cast for Fox in Sox.
Now if any of you can correlate these “candidates” against the national ones, maybe we have an indication who our next President will be.Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Dr. Seuss and the Election
This week we have an interesting addition to the Children’s Museum – a selection from the national Artwork of Dr. Seuss exhibit. Most of your favorite characters are on hand, proudly displayed on our second floor. This is the first such exhibit we have. The artwork is on loan from the Pinnacle Art Group in Hudsonville, Mich.
To make it even more interesting for the kids – although I’m not sure we need to do much to make Dr. Seuss more interesting – we’re holding a small election, giving the children a chance to vote for their favorite Dr. Seuss character. They get a chance to vote for the Cat in the Hat, Sam-I-Am, and Horton.
We have printouts of each candidate on a table, giving children a chance to color them then drop them in a corresponding box.
Voting ends after our Halloween Eve event (Thursday, Oct. 30). We’ll announce the favorite character Friday.
Oh! And if you can make it to the Museum this Thursday night, the Cat in the Hat, with Thing 1 and Thing 2, will be making special appearances!
To make it even more interesting for the kids – although I’m not sure we need to do much to make Dr. Seuss more interesting – we’re holding a small election, giving the children a chance to vote for their favorite Dr. Seuss character. They get a chance to vote for the Cat in the Hat, Sam-I-Am, and Horton.
We have printouts of each candidate on a table, giving children a chance to color them then drop them in a corresponding box.
Voting ends after our Halloween Eve event (Thursday, Oct. 30). We’ll announce the favorite character Friday.
Oh! And if you can make it to the Museum this Thursday night, the Cat in the Hat, with Thing 1 and Thing 2, will be making special appearances!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Halloween at the Children’s Museum
One of the most popular events at the Museum is our Halloween Eve Celebration. Of course, children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes, but what makes the evening so much fun is the fact that so many adults wear their own costumes. It’s just neat when kids and their grownups have so much fun together – and that’s what happens all the time here at the Museum.
At our event, which is Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., the children will enjoy special tattoos, glow-in-the-dark painting, and, of course, trick-or-treating!
And because our Halloween fun is on a Thursday night – which we call Thursday Family Nights – admission is only $1 per person. That’s a deal you can’t beat anywhere, especially considering that in addition to the holiday fun, the rest of the Museum will be available for all the play you can muster – including our special To the Rescue exhibit.
Museum staff members have also been invited to dress up for the event. I’m real interested to see what some of these folks come up with. As for me, well, my costume is top secret – maybe I’ll post a picture of it afterwards. But we’ll just have to wait and see.
I’m curious, what are you and your children planning to dress as for Halloween?
At our event, which is Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., the children will enjoy special tattoos, glow-in-the-dark painting, and, of course, trick-or-treating!
And because our Halloween fun is on a Thursday night – which we call Thursday Family Nights – admission is only $1 per person. That’s a deal you can’t beat anywhere, especially considering that in addition to the holiday fun, the rest of the Museum will be available for all the play you can muster – including our special To the Rescue exhibit.
Museum staff members have also been invited to dress up for the event. I’m real interested to see what some of these folks come up with. As for me, well, my costume is top secret – maybe I’ll post a picture of it afterwards. But we’ll just have to wait and see.
I’m curious, what are you and your children planning to dress as for Halloween?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
To the Rescue Remains a Hit!
Every year, the Children's Museum puts on display its To the Rescue exhibit. Here children can "drive" a fire truck, ambulance, or even a helicopter; run a Command Center to map out rescue routes; and learn all kinds of safety tips in the Fire Safety House. (Parents will likely learn a few things as well.)
I'm particularly pleased to see all the dogs safely tucked away in the safety house each night -- rescued by the children throughout the day. (It must be exhausting for the dogs!)
To the Rescue is a role playing bonanza! The kids play EMTs in the ambulance, dress as fire fighters in the fire truck, and "splash" out to the helicopter's rescue raft (where I've also seen plenty of dogs safely resting). What's incredible is that when you see them in action, you see them fully engaged in whatever activity they are pretending. In a sense, they are EMTs and fire fighters and other rescue workers. The transformation is quick and a delight to watch.
There's no wonder why tens of thousands of children visit To the Rescue every year. It's up and running right now through Nov. 16!
Have you and your kids played at To the Rescue? What was your favorite experience?
I'm particularly pleased to see all the dogs safely tucked away in the safety house each night -- rescued by the children throughout the day. (It must be exhausting for the dogs!)
To the Rescue is a role playing bonanza! The kids play EMTs in the ambulance, dress as fire fighters in the fire truck, and "splash" out to the helicopter's rescue raft (where I've also seen plenty of dogs safely resting). What's incredible is that when you see them in action, you see them fully engaged in whatever activity they are pretending. In a sense, they are EMTs and fire fighters and other rescue workers. The transformation is quick and a delight to watch.
There's no wonder why tens of thousands of children visit To the Rescue every year. It's up and running right now through Nov. 16!
Have you and your kids played at To the Rescue? What was your favorite experience?
Friday, September 26, 2008
Is there anybody out there?
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Hello!
This is my very first posting to the Grand Rapids Children's Museum blog. I am the Marketing and PR Manager at the Museum, and am still very new at it. (I started in early July 2008.)
Every week, I learn something new and cool about the GRCM -- so cool, in fact, that I just have to share what I learn and observe with you. Of course, I will want to post news about upcoming events, exhibits, and attractions here at the Museum, so expect that.
I'll also want to share your comments as well -- so send them in! Being a blog about a Children's Museum, well, you must understand that I cannot allow just anything to posted here, so I will be moderating all posts before determining if they are appropriate for our blog. I hope that makes sense to you.
So come back often to see what's new and exciting at the Grand Rapids Children's Museum, and to read what I hope are my cute little stories about the interesting day-to-day things I come across here at this very exciting, engaging and playful place.
This is my very first posting to the Grand Rapids Children's Museum blog. I am the Marketing and PR Manager at the Museum, and am still very new at it. (I started in early July 2008.)
Every week, I learn something new and cool about the GRCM -- so cool, in fact, that I just have to share what I learn and observe with you. Of course, I will want to post news about upcoming events, exhibits, and attractions here at the Museum, so expect that.
I'll also want to share your comments as well -- so send them in! Being a blog about a Children's Museum, well, you must understand that I cannot allow just anything to posted here, so I will be moderating all posts before determining if they are appropriate for our blog. I hope that makes sense to you.
So come back often to see what's new and exciting at the Grand Rapids Children's Museum, and to read what I hope are my cute little stories about the interesting day-to-day things I come across here at this very exciting, engaging and playful place.
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