Minnesota Children's Museum: Smart Play

Tales from the Floor: Safety Week

2010-08-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

Last week was Safety Week here at the Museum! Once a year we spend nine action-packed days reviewing our safety procedures. Because safety is a top priority we spend a lot of time talking not only about the routine things like reuniting families, but also about the more serious scenarios that we hope will never happen.

Spot the Hazard: Oh, no! Our World has been filled with safety hazards! How many hazards can you spot in two minutes? Part of the Visitor Assistants' job is to constantly be monitoring for safety issues while they are in the galleries. This could be anything from a water spill, to an unlocked door, to a broken exhibit.

Evacuation Drill: The alarm has sounded and the staff must quickly and calmly evacuate our paper visitors from the building. Will everyone make it out safely? Although we rarely have to evacuate the building, it is something we take very seriously. Every evacuation drill is timed and evaluated.

First Aid: Not only do we practice first aid procedures (all floor staff are certified in first aid), we practice safety procedures for dealing with blood and other bodily fluids. Can you take off your safety gloves without contaminating your skin? We smear ketchup on our gloves to find out.

Box Office Safety: The entrance to the Museum is a key spot for safety awareness -- that is why the security guards are posted there. We always need to be aware o who is coming in and out of our building. Staying aware is also the number one way to protect our building and our visitors from acts of theft.

Although we hope that most of these scenarios will never happen, it is important for everyone to practice their safety procedures. What do you do to practice safety with your kids?

-Jessica Turgeon
Director of Visitors Services and Organizational Development

Tales From the Floor: Evacuation

2010-07-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

Five to six times a year, we practice emergency evacuation. Although we haven't had to actually evacuate the building in over six years (quick, knock on wood!), it is really important that everyone know exactly what to do. As you can imagine, it isn't like evacuating a normal building- someone has to crawl through the anthill, peek in the bathrooms, and check all the nooks and crannies in the Museum.

All of our practice evacuations take place before or after normal hours, so to make them as realistic as possible we tape up paper people around the building. Once the alarm sounds, the staff have to "save" all the people and regroup in the lobby where we check our time and success rate.

Because we have to be prepared for any situation, we will often throw zingers in the mix- telling the staff they can't use a certain stairwell because of the fire, putting obstacles in front of the exits that they have to clear, or setting off multiple alarms for investigation.

The craziest situation we ever had to deal within real life was one busy Saturday many years ago when we not only had to evacuate hundreds of visitors, but also get Elmo and Cookie Monster down the stairs and out of the building without them taking their costumes off. And for those of you who have ever wondered- that was the day we turned the coat rack motor off for good.

As for today's drill, we are happy to report that everyone made it out alive.

-Jessica Turgeon, director of organizational development and visitor services

A Discipline Toolkit for Parents- Part 2 [Parent Educator]

2010-07-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

So. . . how did those prevention tools work for you in Part 1? Here are some more tools to help you manage conflict and teach your children responsibility, in other words, guidance tools.

Encourage thinking:

Explain limits
Make a polite request
Provide a reminder of the rule
Ask your child to restate the rule
Ask your child for solutions or consequences
Use humor!

Show concern:

Affirm your child’s feelings and thoughts
Ask your child to help you understand
Redirect your child’s thinking
Provide a “hearing”
Help with frustrating tasks
Be willing to compromise

Confront the Situation:

Offer substitutes
Remove children from situations they can’t handle
Say, “No!”
Have child repeat the action
Give permission

Try to stay calm and take a break if you find yourself getting too upset. Sometimes a “time out” for mom or dad works better than anything! Once you’re in a better frame of mind, you’ll be able to approach the situation more successfully.

Esther Schak
Parent Educator, Saint Paul ECFE

Sparking learning through creative expression!

2010-07-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

Minnesota Children's Museum is dedicated to supporting and honoring children's creative expression. Children learn and make sense of their world through play, and creative expression is a critical component in a young child's learning by supporting and enhancing their physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development. The Museum's daily programs, exhibits, and community partnerships all provide ample opportunity for children and families to engage in self-expression and creative experiences. As you explore the Museum, notice the children's art work is displayed in prominent and meaningful exhibits throughout the Museum.

Over the past several years, school classes focused on creative expression have become vulnerable. Art and music classes are often the first to be cut or shortened to make more time for math and language arts classes. Since 2001-02, and average of nearly 30 minutes of art related instruction per day has been cut to accommodate a shift in educational focus. (Choices, Changes, and Challenges: Curriculum and Instruction in NCLB Era, Center on Education Policy, Jennifer McMurrer, 2007)

Six years ago, in response to this reduced time spent on arts education in schools, Minnesota Children's Museum developed a community partnership program that sends visual artists into elementary classrooms to engage children in hands-on artistic experiences. (If funding is not available to hire a local artist, the museum will partner with the school's art teacher to deliver the art program). After each residency, the entire project is exhibited for at least six months in the Community Gallery in the Our World permanent gallery. The exhibits highlight the cross-disciplinary nature of the projects, display the children's final art creations as well as writing the science-inquiry that are often important parts of the project.

Noticing the Large and Small Motor Skills in Your Children

2010-07-14T14:09:00.000-07:00

Minnesota Children's Museum takes pride in embracing and nurturing development of the ‘whole child’ through experiential play! Developmental pieces of the ‘whole’ child focus on language/literacy, social/emotional, cognitive, and physical growth.

Physical Growth:

Large motor skills begin to develop immediately for children. Movement adds to a child’s ability to master skills that allow them to maneuver their bodies with intention, fluidly, and accuracy. Constant opportunities for movement not only develop these skills, but also stimulate the brain for further developmental growth.

Infants

holding head up
rolling over
sitting up without tipping
crawling
walking

Toddlers

mastery of walking
running
marching
jumping, hopping
climbing

Preschool

skipping
hopping
catching
throwing
This is also when other related factors begin to emerge and become new skills for children to master such as:

coordination
strength
balance
endurance
flexibility

Fine motor skills are essential for proper pencil grip and control when writing effectively (later in the early childhood years). The muscles in the hands and fingers are small, yet, used in grand proportions. Strengthening these muscles takes concentration and practice. Open-ended activities that allow children to develop these skills with little or no attention to precision will benefit their efforts.

Infants

batting at a mobile
grasping/grabbing for objects
holding objects
transferring objects from one hand to the other.
pincher grips (using the index finger and thumb to grab that Cheerio)
pushing buttons
working on turning pages of a board book

Toddlers

stacking small blocks
eating with utensils
beginning to hold writing utensils to make marks on paper (which, they also love to tear and rip…another great muscle builder)

Preschool

writing
drawing
cutting (in any form)
playing with Playdoh
building with Legos

Don't forget to visit Minnesota Children's Museum's newest exhibit Balancing Act.

Balancing isn't just an act. From teetering toddlers to tight-rope walkers, balance is something we all use in our everyday lives. Our body and brain work together to help us balance. Expand your understanding of balance as you participate in active learning experiences such as balance beams and boards, and discover what keeps spinning tops spinning, gymnasts on track and ice skaters on edge. Put your sense of balance to the test in this hands-on children's exhibit and learn how you can practice and improve your own "balancing act"!

A Saturday or Sunday Morning in Saint Paul

2010-07-09T06:43:00.000-07:00

The sun is shining, the weather is warm, the kids are out of school… why not plan a fun day with your family? Summer is a great time to explore Saint Paul and the Minnesota Children’s Museum! The city offers the perfect start to your weekend, so put on your walking shoes.

1. First stop by The Saint Paul Farmers Market located conveniently in downtown Saint Paul. It’s a great place to take in the local flavors with their selection of 100% locally grown produce, flowers and freshly made foods that will be sure you excite your morning taste buds. Make sure you get there in the morning because it’s only open Sat. and Sun. 6am-1pm.
290 5th St. East Saint Paul, MN 55101

2. Next, walk four minutes west to Rice Park and enjoy all of your farmers market treats. The park offers a relaxing haven of green space amongst the downtown landscape. Rice Park also highlights several statues from Peanuts’ characters to F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Source by Alonzo Hauser, the popular fountain located in the center of Rice Park. Toss in your penny and make a wish!

109 W 4th St, Saint Paul, MN 55102

3. Last, but never least, stop by the Minnesota Children’s Museum and paint your face at the Spark Cart, play with bubbles in World Works, and discover the summer’s great new exhibits Balancing Act and The Wizard of Oz TM. Or get a bird’s eye view of the city you’ve discovered today up on the Museum’s Rooftop ArtPark!

Summer Hours: Sat-Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-8pm
10 7th St. West Saint. Paul, MN 55012

Parenting Styles: Finding a Balance [Parent Educator]

2010-07-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

Children can- and do- thrive under many different styles of parenting. The choice of an effective style is not a matter of "either-or," but of finding a comfortable balance.

On the one hand...
Children need FREEDOM. They need to be permitted to:

Explore the world
Use their senses
Move about freely
Make mistakes

In other words, children need room to grow and develop.

On the other hand...
Children need LIMITS. They want:

Guidance
Advice
Responsibility
Routine

By offering protection, you can help your children feel secure.

Still too much of even a good thing can be harmful

On the one hand...
Too much FREEDOM may overwhelm a child. Indulged children may become self-centered and demanding, and have trouble getting along with others.

On the other hand...
Too many LIMITS may smother a child. Over protected children may become passive and dependant- possibly resentful and hostile.

How you raise your children will depend on many factors- you, your children, the situation. Some parents feel comfortable withe parenting styles that the other parents might find too tight or loose in fit. Some children can handle more freedom and responsibility than others. And some situations call for more control than others.

You'll want to stay away from the extremes of over-permissiveness or over protection. Between the extremes are many approaches that make room both for your sanity and your child's growth. What is important is that your style of parenting be reasonable and motivated by love and respect for your child.

Esther Schak
Parenting Educator, Saint Paul ECFE

Resources to Cultivate Calm for Children

2010-06-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

Last week, we shared some ways that both your child and you can clear up your "monkey minds," and cultivate calm. Here are a few more resources to help in the battle for a calmer mind.

For more information on practicing mindfulness with children, check out Mindful Kids and Inner Kids (FYI - Inner Kids requires registration).

The following books are also good resources.
The Mindful Child by Susan Kaiser Greenland
Teaching Mediation to Children by David Fontana and Ingrid Slack
Mindful Teaching and Teaching Mindfulness: A Guide for Anyone Who Teaches Anything by Deborah Schoeberlein with Suki Sheth, PhD
Take the Time: Mindfulness for Kids by Maude Roegiers

And, of course, please check out Monkey Mind Pirates!

Monkey Mind Pirates - Cultivating Calm with Your Children

2010-06-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

"Monkey Mind" is a popular yoga phrase to describe when the brain swings from thought to thought, unable to focus. Left to the wilds, Monkey Mind can provoke intense distraction that hijacks the brain and veers humans towards increased agitation. Unfortunately, the fast pace of people's daily lives combined with widespread mental health conditions (ADD, ADHD, depression, anxiety, etc.) can cause children and adults to feel frequently overwhelmed. However, simple techniques of breathing, visualization, and movement can clear distraction, quiet the mind, and bring a sense of calm. But how do you engage children in the practice of mindfulness? Play...with the Monkey Mind Pirates method!

Monkey Mind Pirates is an innovative approach to combining playfulness with mindfulness that is based in simple ideas you can try at home with your children to cultivate calm.

Turning into senses:
Many meditation sessions begin by ringing a chime or a bell that produces a sustained tones. focusing attention on the sound can clear the mind of distracting or aggravating thoughts. Children can practice closing their eyes and listening to the bell, raising their hands when they first hear the ringing disappear and the silence emerge. In a group of children, each can take turns ringing the chime or bell and describing their experience of listening to quiet.

Seeing the Breath:
Breathing is one of the most powerful tools to combat stress bu may not be an activity that interests children on its own. Children make deeper connections to their breath when they can see and feel the action of the breath. Ask children to hold an imaginary ball with both hands. Using your own hands, demonstrate how the ball expands on the inhale and contracts on the exhale. Encourage the children to match the size of the ball's expansion and contraction with the length of their inhaling and exhaling. The Hoberman Sphere, available in toy stores (and seen in the Museum lobby!) is a collapsible plastic ball that also can mimic this expanding, contracting action.

Moving Meditation:
Often, meditative practices state stillness as an objective towards reaching the goal of calm. Although complete stillness may be difficult for young people to attain, many children like to play with moving in different speeds -- including slow motion. You can guide children to slow down by making it a game. Begin by turning on music and asking them to walk around the room in any pattern without talking. Periodically, call out instructions, such as, "As slow as you're moving, slow it down," until they are barely moving. To extend the experience, experiment with moving back and forth between slow and fast, always ending with slow motion. Afterward, ask children to describe the experience and what they noticed at the different speeds.

Drawing on the power of image and metaphor:
Metaphors such as Monkey Mind Pirates can provide children with language to talk about stressors in their lives in a story-based way. For example, children can create a character that represents how they feel when they are stressed. The character can take any form that the child suggests -- an imaginary creature, an animal, a person. Adults can encourage the child by asking questions: What is the character's name? What does it look and sound like? How does it move? What does it like to say? The child can draw pictures, tell stories, and act out events to bring the character to life. Adults can then refer to the character as a base for on-going conversations about the child's stress level.

An added benefit to practicing mindfulness with your children is that you get to develop some of the same skills along with them. The next time you find yourself at the end of your rope, take a moment to focus your awareness on your breathing. see if you can slow down and identify what type of character best depicts the way you feel. Talking with your children about your own challenges with Monkey Mind will encourage them to talk with you about their own as well.

-Shari Aronson

Shari is an exhibit developer at Minnesota Children's Museum, a yoga teacher for youth and adults, and a puppeteer with Z Puppets Rosenschnoz, an award-winning performance company that is one of the collaborators of Monkey Mind Pirates.

Monkey Mind Pirates is a puppetry, rock n' roll yoga adventure to help families reclaim calm -- beginning with a camp for kids ages 8-11 at the Camden Music School in North Minneapolis July 19-23 and culminating with public performances July 23-24.

Communicate with Your Children [Parent Educator Tips]

2010-06-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

"You never listen to me!" Have you ever heard this complaint from one of your children? Good communication helps parents develop a good relationship with their children. Try these tips:

Teach children to listen... gently touch a child before you talk... say his or her name.
Speak in a quiet voice... whisper sometimes-so children have to listen carefully!
Bend or sit down so that you can look the child in the eyes and tell when she or he understands.
Respect children and use a courteous tone of voice. If we talk to our children as we would our friends, our children may be more likely to seek us out as confidants.
Use "door openers" that invite children to say more: "I see," "Oh," "Tell me more," "No kidding," "Really," "Mm hmmm."
Give your undivided attention when your children want to talk to you. Don't read, watch TV, fall asleep or make yourself busy with other tasks.
Praise and encouragement build a child's confidence and reinforce communication. Unkind words tear children down and teach them that they just aren't good enough.
Children are never too old to be told they are loved. Try writing it in a note that the child can keep as a reminder.

Esther Schak
Parent Educator, Saint Paul ECFE

Get Outside! [Parent Educator Tips]

2010-06-16T14:51:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the time you spent outdoors when you were a child? Parents don’t let their children just “go out and play” like parents used to do. Yet outdoor unstructured play promotes imagination, cognitive learning and healthful activity. The lack of experience outdoors, along with a sedentary lifestyle encouraged by computers and technology, has serious implications for the long-term health and well-being of children.

What is keeping kids inside? Parents often mention safety. To counteract this, you can set clear limits and rules that reflect your children’s ages, your neighborhood and available supervisors. For instance, are the children allowed to play in the yard only, or can they explore a nearby park?

For safety – and companionship – ask other parents in the neighborhood if their children can play outside at the same time as your children. Enlist the help of other parents to watch out for the children, or join the children outside yourself.

What about the lure of indoor activities, especially those that involve technology, computers and television? Limit screen time to a couple hours a day. And make your outside area interesting with such activities as gardening, feeding birds or building a fort. (My husband once entertained half the neighborhood with an “archeological dig” in our back yard.)

The Twin Cities has many, many wonderful parks and playgrounds, rivers and lakes, nature centers and campgrounds. Make outdoor time family time. Children and parents alike will benefit from the physical activity and the calming effect of nature.

Please share your favorite outdoor places!

Esther Schak
Parent Educator, Saint Paul ECFE

Tales from the Floor: Funstigators

2010-06-10T14:44:00.000-07:00

I have yet to meet a four-year-old who enjoys standing in line. especially in the lobby of our Museum, where there are so many other things to entice them: a whole rack of brochures positioned right at their height, long rows of purple stairs and, of course, the toy store.

A few years ago we were talking about family-friendly environments when we realized that our lobby was a problem. Adults were struggling to keep their children with them and stay in line at the same time. Even when there were no lines, adults have to check-in, get tickets, stickers, parking coupons, ask questions and find out where thy are going. All while trying to corral one or more children who have different agendas. Not a great way to start your day.

To address this challenge, we started a new volunteer position called Funstigators. Funstigators work in the lobby of the Museum, and their job is to play with kids while adults do all the boring (but important!) work of getting tickets.They may b playing with puppets or tossing footballs or letting kids climb inside the giant Hoberman sphere. Since we implemented this simple idea, the stress level in the lobby has greatly reduced. Adults can focus on their business, knowing that their child is within eyesight and having fun.

A Discipline Toolkit for Parents [Parent Educator Tips]

2010-05-27T10:02:00.000-07:00

When asked about their discipline methods, many parents will mention that they use consequences when their children misbehave. But discipline is so much more. The root meaning of discipline is “to teach.” To discipline – or to teach – effectively, parents need many, many tools, not just one (consequences). Here are some tools to put in your discipline toolkit. You may be surprised at some of the ideas listed; some may not seem much like discipline to you. But once parents begin to use a broad range of “tools,” they usually find that their efforts to teach their children to behave become more effective.

I’ll start with prevention tools. Preventing misbehavior before it happens is more effective (and less stressful) than anything else. Here are strategies parents can use when children are not misbehaving that will help keep problems from occurring.

Teach values and behavior:

Demonstrate the desirable behavior yourself
Tell stories to make a point
Make your expectation clear before an event or activity
Give specific (and brief!) instructions
Prepare your child for something that might be difficult for him
Catch your child being good!

Change the situation:

Change the surroundings
Change the activity
Physically redirect the child

Increase your child’s feelings of security:

Move physically closer to your child
Provide reassuring routines
Provide ways to ease transitions

Strengthen your child’s self-esteem:

Show interest in what our child does
Provide real affection
Enjoy each other’s company

Try some of these prevention tools this week and see if they improve your relationship with your child. Next week, I’ll go over some more tools to help you manage conflict and teach your children responsibility.

Esther Schak
Parent Educator, Saint Paul ECFE

Spring Provides Inspiration and Opportunities to Set New Family Goals

2010-05-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

Springtime -- when the world wakes up from her winter slumber and becomes fresh and new again! Spring is also a great time to set new family goals. You might want to focus on:

Healthy Food

Eat your homegrown veggies this summer! Now's the time to plant vegetables -- depending on the weather, either seeds in small containers in the house, or small plants outside in containers or in the yard. It's a fun learning adventure to nurture seeds and watch them grow!
Cook up a storm! Plan the menu, shop for the ingredients (or pick them from your garden), cook the meal and eat together as a family. Children often eat better when they help create the meal and then share it with their family.

Outdoor Exercise

Go for frequent family walks. Count the number of flowers poking their heads out of the dirt. How many different colors do you see?
Turn off the TV, go outside, and kick around a soccer ball. Studies show that obesity in children increases the more hours they watch TV (Crespo, 2001).
Spring winds help warm the Earth and make great kite-flying adventures. Pack a picnic lunch, grab your kite and head to the park for an afternoon of family fun!

Bedtime/Story Time

The best way to wind down after a fun day (or even a not-so-fun day) is to climb into bed and read books before falling asleep. This routine calms everyone down and creates a positive, loving way to end each day.

Recommended Books

Spring Has Sprung -- Bear in the Big Blue House by Kiki Thorpe
Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble by Cynthia Rylant
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

What kinds of things are you working on in your family this spring? Do you have more great spring reads to suggest?

Judy Schumacher
Director of Education, Minnesota Children's Museum

Milestones in Communication - Age 2 1/2 to 5 [Parent Educator Tips]

2010-05-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

Last week, we detailed some of the milestones you may be noticing as your child grows. This is a continuation through age five, but keep in mind: the ages and stages described below are general developmental stages that a majority of children reach at the stated ages. It is very important to understand that every child is different! Please don't panic if every milestone is not reached right on time for your child. Some children meet the milestones ahead of time. Some children just take longer -- for lots of reasons -- and not all developmentally-related.

Some toddlers don't talk by a certain age because they have an older sibling who does all the talking for them! Some little ones would rather go straight to walking from sitting and skip crawling altogether--walking leads to running and they're just in a hurry! Saying a child "should" be able to do something by a certain age can cause great worry for parents if their child has not achieved that particular milestone at that particular age. Yes, it's extremely important to catch physical, cognitive or social/emotional developmental delays and get the child help as early as possible, but it's also important to remember that each child will develop at his or her own pace. If you are worried about your child's developmental progress, please consult your pediatrician.

Judy Schumacher,
Director of Education and Community Partnerships, Minnesota Children's Museum

At 2 1/2 years
Does your child know a few rhymes or songs? Does he or she enjoy hearing them?
Many children can say short rhymes or sing songs, and enjoy listening to records or to singing.

What does your child do when the doorbell rings, or when a car door or house door closes at a time when someone in the family usually comes home?
If a child has good hearing and these are events that bring pleasure, the child usually reacts to the sound by running to look or telling someone what she or he hears.

At 3 years

Can your child show that she or he understands the meaning of some words besides the name of things? (Examples: "Put the block on the table." or "Give me your doll.")

Your child understands and uses some simple verbs, pronouns, prepositions, and adjectives, such as go, me, in, and small.

Can your child find you when you call from another room?

Your child should be able to locate the source of a sound.

At 4 years
Can your child tell about events that have happened recently?
Your child gives a connected account of some recent experiences.

Can your child carry out two directions, one after the other, when given simultaneously (such as, "Find the library book and put it on the table by the door")?

Your child carries out a sequence of two simple directions.

At 5 years
Do people outside your family understand most of what your child says?

Your child's speech is intelligible, although some sounds may still be mispronounced.

Can your child carry a conversation with other children or familiar adults?
Most children this age can carry on a conversation if the vocabulary is within their experience.

Does your child begin a sentence with "I" instead of "Me," "He" or "She" instead of "Him" or "Her?"

A child uses some pronouns correctly at this age.

Is your child's grammar almost as good as your own?
Most of the time, a child's spoken language will match the patterns of grammar used by the adults of his or her family/neighborhood.

Esther Schak
Parent Educator, Saint Paul ECFE

Communication Milestones - Birth to 2 [Parent Educator Tips]

2010-04-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

Do you sometimes wonder whether your child is "on track" in his or her ability to understand and use language? Here are some questions you might want to consider about your child's behavior, followed by a description of what the behavior might look like.

At 3-6 months
What does your child do when you talk to him or her?
Your child awakens or quiets to the sound of their mother's voice.

Does your child react to your voice even when he or she cannot see you?
Your child turns their eyes and head in the direction of the source of the sound.

At 7-10 months
Your child can't see what is making a sound, what does she or he do?
Your child turns their head and shoulders toward the familiar sounds, even when they cannot see what is happening. The sounds do not have to be loud to cause the child to respond to the dog barking, the ringing of the telephone, footsteps, or someone's voice.

At 11-15 months
Can your child point to or find familiar objects or people as requested?
Your child shows understanding of some words by appropriate behavior such as pointing or looking at familiar objects or people on request.

Does you child respond differently to different sounds?
You child jabbers in response to a human voice, is apt to cry when there is a loud noise such as thunder, or may frown when scolded.

Does you child enjoy listening to sounds and imitating them?
Imitation indicates that your child can hear the sounds and match them with his or her own sounds production.

At 18 months
Can your child point to parts of his or her body when asked?
Some children begin to identify parts of their own bodies. Your child should be able to show his or her nose or eyes.

How many understandable words does your child use - words that you are sure really mean something?
Your child should be using a few single words. They are not complete or pronounced perfectly, but are clearly meaningful.

At 2 years
Can your child follow simple verbal commands when you are careful not to provide and help (such as looking at the object or pointing in the right direction)?
Your child should be able to follow a few simple commands without visual cues.

Does your child enjoy being read to? Doe she or he point out pictures of familiar objects?
Most two-year-olds enjoy being read to and shown simple pictures in a book or magazine. They are usually able to point out pictures when you ask them to.

Is your child putting a few words together to make "sentences" as in "Milk all gone," or "Go bye-bye car?"
These "sentences" are not usually complete or grammatical but carry the message.

Esther Schak,
Parent Educator, Saint Paul ECFE

NOTE: The ages and stages described above are general developmental stages that a majority of children reach at the stated ages. However, it is very important to understand that every child is different! Please don't panic if every milestone is not reached right on time for your child. Some children meet the milestones ahead of time. Some children just take longer -- for lots of reasons -- and not all developmentally-related.

Judy Schumacher,
Director of Education and Community Partnerships, Minnesota Children's Museum

Families Eating Together [Parent Educator Tips]

2010-04-26T10:52:00.000-07:00

More and more research shows that family meals have numerous benefits. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, children and teens whose families have frequent family dinners are:

At lower risk for substance abuse
Less likely to try cigarettes
Less likely to try marijuana
Less likely to try alcohol or get drunk monthly
Likely to get better grades in school

Project EAT (Eating Among Teens) at the University of Minnesota found that family meals were associated with better intakes of fruits, vegetables, grains, calcium-rich foods and many other nutrients. They found that family meals were also associated with a lower intake of soft drinks and snack foods, and that girls who ate more frequent family meals exhibited less disordered eating such as extreme dieting behaviors and binge eating.

Start your family tradition of eating together when your children are young. Most families come together over a meal at dinnertime, but some find that breakfast works better for them. Turn off the television and other distractions (no cell phone conversations!) and focus on talking with each other. Children will learn a larger vocabulary, learn how to take turns, and hone other social skills. They will also learn about how the world works and how their parents feel about various issues.

You'll want to serve a variety of good foods, but there's no need to make the meal too elaborate. Involve your children in the meal preparation -- they may be more willing to eat something new when they help. Develop your own rituals and routines -- maybe pizza every Sunday evening, or a "breakfast" menu (such as pancakes fruit and sausage) served as dinner once a month. Kids will look forward to these special events (and remind you if you forget!).

Esther Schak,
Parent Educator, Saint Paul ECFE

Kitchen Volcano Explosion [Play at Home]

2010-04-20T07:10:00.000-07:00

Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice is entering its last month here at Minnesota Children's Museum. It's been such a popular exhibit, we wanted to share some ways to bring the experience into your home. Try creating your own volcano at home!

Supplies needed:
1/2 tbsp dish soap
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup baking soda
Red liquid watercolor or food coloring
Tray or cookie sheet
Cylinder shape container for the "volcano" (i.e., toilet paper tube, plastic soda bottle with the top cut off, or a can

Process:
In a measuring bowl, mix the vinegar, dish soap, and a few drops of food coloring together.
Place the cylinder on a tray or cookie sheet and place the baking soda at the bottom of the cynider container.
When ready, begin pouring the vinegar mixture on top of the baking soda. Stand back and see what happens.

Suggested adult interactions:
Encourage children to try experimenting with the recipe -- what happens if you add more or less of an ingredient, or compare recipes without soap and with soap. Make predictions as to what will happen.
Try batches with different food coloring and see what color they make when they mix.
Discuss what the children think is happening when the baking soda and vinegar mix.

Skills developed:
Early science of cause and effect, predictions, and experimentation

Reading books:
National Geographic Readers: Volcanoes! by Anne Schreiber
Voyage to the Volcano by Judith Stamper and John Speirs

Adult references:
More Than Magnets by Sally Moomaw and Brenda Hieronymus
202 Oozing, Bubbling, Dripping and Bouncing Experiments by Janice VanCleave

Next time you visit the Museum:
Check out Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice for your last chance to travel back in time to explore the late Cretaceous Period (when the last dinosaurs lived). Closes May 31!

Have you made a volcano at home before?
What are some of the best variations you've tried?

Bringing Generations Together [Parent Educator Tips]

2010-04-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

So many of our most cherished memories involve grandparents or other relatives. Bring generations together in your family with some of these ideas.

1. Plan a family celebration that brings everyone into the family picture.

When there's a religious life-cycle event (such as a baptism or Bar Mitzvah), add to the service by addressing the child's grandparents with words like these: "We recognize that you will always be an important part of this child's life..."
At a milestone birthday or anniversary, ask members of each generation to make a contribution. For instance, if it's a 13th birthday, ask grandparents to describe their 13th birthday or their teen years.
When a child enters school, ask grandparents to reminisce about their school days -- particular teachers they remember, exciting or embarrassing experiences, etc.

2. Collect memories.

Set aside New Year's Day as "create a scrapbook day." Bring out a year's worth of mementos -- programs, school papers, balloons, photos, clippings, etc. Assemble a scrapbook depicting your year.
As part of a family gathering, ask each family member to bring something from a day he/she will long remember and talk about the object -- maybe a lock of hair, a newspaper clipping, a phone message, etc.
Involve children in a project to interview and record the life stories of the older generation -- much like the ongoing StoryCorps project.

3. Divide your extended family into groups along new lines. For example: by seasons in which birthdays occur, by favorite color, by favorite season. These groups might:

Exchange gifts among one another by drawing each others' names.
Create a banner or poster for a family celebration.
Plan an outing together -- a football game, a play, a school band concert.

These are some ideas to help get the ball rolling. What are some of the ways your family interacts across generations? Share an extended family photo from your most recent (or not-so-recent) get-together!

Esther Schak,
Parent Educator, Saint Paul ECFE

On the Road with Children [Parent Educator Tips]

2010-04-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

With the weather improving, you might be thinking about a road trip with your family. Here are some great ideas from ECFE parents that will help smooth the way.

Traveling with children probably means that you'll need to take a lot of things that you wouldn't need if you were traveling alone. Your list might include:

Snacks and drinks -- choose items that take a LONG time to eat!
Wet wipes
Garbage bags
A clipboard for coloring or other art activities
A pan with a sliding top to use as a lap desk (with built-in storage!)
Pillows and blankets
Extra clothes
A night light
Special blankets, stuffed animals, pillows or pacifiers that your child WON'T sleep without!

You'll want to plan many stops along the way -- playgrounds, rest stops, town squares, college campuses, all make great places to run off some energy. Take some balls or Frisbees along to throw around when you're at a rest stop.

In the car, you'll need a lot of amusements:

Colorforms stick on car windows
Etch-a-Sketch or Magna Doodle games
Sticker books (or even Post-It Notes!)
Coloring books or a plain pad of paper
Pipecleaners (fun, quiet, and not messy)
Finger puppets
A ViewMaster with new slides for each trips
Books, comic, activity books
A small flashlight
Listen to music, or have a sing-a-long

Try wrapping a few small toys and give them out one at a time over the course of the trip. Don't forget to save a few for the trip home.

Happy traveling, and please share more of your family's "must-packs"!

Esther Schak,
Parent Educator, Saint Paul ECFE

Play at Home Ideas: Paper Mache Dinosaur Eggs

2010-04-06T10:19:00.000-07:00

This activity is best for children four-years-old and older.

Supplies needed:
balloon
a cup or bowl to balance the balloon
newspaper torn roughly into 1/2" strips (do not use any paper that has a glossy coating)

Paper mache paste mixture
2 cups of water
1 cup of flour
blender
mixing bowl

Process:
Adults assist children in pouring flour and water in blender and process until a smooth paste is formed. Pour mixed paste into a bowl.

Take a stripe of newspaper and dip it into the paper mache mixture. Place the paper between your fingers and pull the paper through like a squeegee. Smooth the wet newspaper over the balloon. Continue dipping and smoothing till the balloon is entirely covered. Allow the paper mache to dry overnight. Any leftover paper mache mixture can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator to be used the next day.

The next day, repeat the above process for a second layer of paper. If desired, wait one more day and add a third layer for a stronger finished creation.

Once the paper mache is completely dry, the egg can be decorated. Tempera, acrylic, and poster paint can all be used to paint the egg. The egg can also be decorated with collage materials -- items such as feathers, paper scraps, tissue paper, foil, or other recyclable material can all be adhered with glue to the egg.

Eggs can also be cut in half and a small stuffed dinosaur can be placed inside.

Suggested adult interactions:
Challenge the children to think what else final paper mache creation can be.
Discuss with children how dinosaur mothers and fathers took of their children. Check out the Adult Resources for books about that subject.

Skills developed:
Mathematics skills through measuring
Small motor skills through manipulation of materials
Creative thinking skills through decorating of paper mache

Literacy connection:
Encourage children to write and illustrate a story to go along with the dinosaur egg.

Reading books:
Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs (board book) by Sandra Boynton
Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp by Carol Diggory Shields
Dinosaur Bones by Bob Barner

Adult references:
Baby Dinosaurs by Don Lessem
The Art and Craft of Papier Mache by Juliet Bawden

Next time you are here:
Check out Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice to travel back in time to explore the late Cretaceous Period (when the last dinosaurs lived).

Baby's First Book

2010-03-31T13:19:00.000-07:00

Create your baby’s first book using photographs of recognizable people and objects in your baby’s life. Photos could include siblings, caregivers, a favorite stuffed toy, etc.

Place photographs between sheets of clear contact paper.
Round the corners to make them smooth and safe.
Punch a hole in the corner and bind pages together with yarn.

This simple book is not only drool-proof, it also invites talk surrounding the pictures and familiarizes your baby with the joys and comforts of sharing books.

Catch Your Child Being Good [Parent Educator Tips]

2010-03-25T14:04:00.000-07:00

Did you ever stop to think about how much time you spend telling your child what NOT to do?

It's easy to get caught up in all the things your children are doing wrong and forget about what they are doing right. Giving specific, positive attention to the behavior you want to see will teach your children what you do want them to do and will increase the likelihood of children repeating a positive behavior.

Here's how "catching your child being good" works:

You are enjoying an unusually calm shopping expedition with your child. Before your four-year-old has a chance to start climbing out of the cart or demanding a candy bar, you look at him and say, "Wow, Joey! It makes me so happy when you help me get the shopping done so quickly."

When dealing with challenging behavior, you may feel that your relationship with your children is strained. But taking the time to increase positive interactions with children can actually decrease those challenging behaviors.

Here are just a few ways to build positive relationships with your child:

When playing, follow your child's lead.
Really listen to your child when he or she is talking.
Don't be afraid to be silly or get dirty.
Have fun!

Esther Schak
Parent Educator, Saint Paul ECFE

How do I help my child become a good reader? [Parent Educator Tips]

2010-03-18T14:28:00.001-07:00

Not surprisingly, the number one thing that parents can do to help their children become good readers is reading to them! Here are some other ways you can help your child acquire reading skills.

Take time to listen to your child and answer his/her questions.
Sing and recite nursery songs and rhymes together.
Read something to yourself every day, showing your child that reading is important.
Get library cards for you and your child. Take your child to the library regularly and pick out books for both of you.
Look at books and magazines together, talking about what you see and read.
Ask your child to tell you a story or to describe something he/she has done or seen.
Write down what your child tells you and read back the “story” exactly as it was dictated.
Give your child his/her own bookshelf (or a box or a drawer) to hold books.
Carefully select the TV programs your child watches, and limit TV viewing so that there is at least equal time for reading.
Praise your child’s efforts and accomplishments so that he or she will have self-confidence and zest for new learning experiences.

Esther Schak
Parent Educator, Saint Paul ECFE

Creative (and Relaxing!) Spring Break Activities

2010-03-15T11:43:00.000-07:00

Spring break is a great opportunity to focus on family time and take a real "break" from the normal busy schedule. Some families are able to travel, which is ideal for special activities. In our present economy, however, fewer people are traveling away from home. This is when fun, creative ideas for activities at home come in handy!

Depending on the weather, outdoor activities are fun -- and family exercise is good for everyone!

Walk to the park and scavenger hunt for winter nature items; look for animal tracks in the snow.
Take water bottles with a squirt top, add water and some food coloring, and head outside for some artwork in the snow!
Build a snow castle or snow turle -- a mound of snow with legs, head and shell pattern -- and then go inside and have some hot chocolate while you read books.

Bad weather can present indoor opportunities to play board games together or to create simple, inexpensive artwork.

Use recyclables to create a mobile and hang it in your child's room. Talk about the importance of recycling.
Curl up and read a chapter book gradually over several days.
Make homemade play dough and create exciting pieces of art; display them in your home.

Tips from the Parent Educator: Parenting for Friendship

2010-03-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

We'd like to welcome a new voice to the Smart Play blog: Esther Schak, an ECFE parent educator, who will be imparting some of the wisdom she has gained in her many years teaching classes for Saint Paul Public School's Early Childhood Family Education program.

Esther's posts will bring content from her classes straight to you to help you think about your interactions with your children in a new light.

Parenting for Friendship

All parents want their children to have friends. Here are some ways to help children develop friendships.

• Help build a positive self-image. Being able to reach out to others begins with a healthy self-concept. A good self-concept gives the child the confidence to try new things and meet new people.

• Provide a friendly model. “It’s Anne’s birthday; I think I’ll bake her favorite cake. “I do feel hurt that Marta and David didn’t invite us to the party.” “We’ll have to miss your game this one time. Our old neighbors are in town and we’re meeting them for dinner.”

• Provide opportunities for your child to be with other children.

• Allow your child to choose her own friends. Respect her choices even though you may not always understand them. The most important factor is that the relationships are nurturing to your child.

• Respect your child’s friendship style. Each child forms (or tries to form) friendships according to his own particular needs. Many children seem to need just one or two intimate friends, while others enjoy a large circle of friends.

• Help your child gain social skills. She needs to learn:

How to start playing with someone, how to become part of a group, how to handle rejections.
How to cooperate in pretend play, games, and choices; how to compromise.
How to cooperate in pretend play, games, and choices; how to compromise.
How to handle conflict – express feelings clearly, listen to others, and stand up for herself.

Esther Shack
Parent Educator, Saint Paul ECFE

Explore Their World Through Books

2010-03-01T09:41:00.000-08:00

Last week, we wrote about ways to help encourage children to explore their world. Bring the following list to your local library to open the door through books, and prepare for a trip through the newest exhibit at the Museum, The Children of Hangzhou: Connecting with China:

Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes by Leslie Swartz and Nina Simonds
Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year (Reading Rainbow Books) by Kate Waters and Martha Cooper
Chinese Children's Favorite Stories by Minamei Yip

Encourage Your Children to Explore Their World

2010-02-26T08:34:00.000-08:00

At Minnesota Children's Museum, we support children in developing a positive view of themselves and their own culture. We also engage children in exploring other traditions so they can interact effectively with a variety of people.

Developing cultural competence results in an ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with diverse people. One way the Museum supports these skills is by hosting exhibits such as Children of Hangzhou: Connecting with China, which opened earlier this month.

You can help your child build positive attitudes and cultural skills at home.

Compare your family traditions with those in other cultures such as China. What and with whom do you celebrate? How are the celebrations alike and different?
Try foods from other countries. Visit a restaurant or find an ethnic recipe to make at home. Use chopsticks at home and read the book How My Parents Learned to Eat by Ina Friedman, which tells how the author's Japanese mother and American father adapted to new cultures.
Attend a cultural celebration.
Look for experiences in which children encounter familiar things in new ways and new things in familiar ways.

Ann Boekhoff
Director of Special Projects, Minnesota Children's Museum

Tales from the Floor: The Vesting Ceremony

2010-02-25T08:31:00.000-08:00

Last week we proudly vested Julie and Gary as new visitor assistants (VAs). When we hire a new VA, we are looking for someone with a good attitude who enjoys interacting with people. During the interview we actually make them go on a test drive- prospective VAs go out onto the floor with the interviewer and have to interact with some children while they are playing.

Once hired, a VA has to go through about 12 hours of training before they are “vested” – given their official purple vest. After being vested, a VA goes through an additional 30-60 days and about 40 hours more training before they are all done. What a lot of people don’t realize is that the same staff members that are playing with children and monitoring the galleries – these are the same staff members that selling tickets at the Box Office and running some of the programs. That cross-training allows us to best meet visitor needs because we can move people around as traffic patterns change.

An interesting fact: 25% of the staff in the visitor services department started out as volunteers!

-Jessica Turgeon, director of organizational development and visitor services

Sub-zero Children's Books

2010-01-28T07:17:00.000-08:00

Today in Minnesota is the kind of cold made for cuddling up by a fireplace with a good book. Here are four cuddle-worthy winter-weather stories perfect for bedtime:

Snow Dance by Lezlie Evans
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
The Mitten: A Ukrainian Folk Tale by Jan Brett
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Tales from the Floor: Lost Children

2010-01-25T09:51:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Children's Museum's best stories come from the daily interactions with visitors. "Kids say the darnedest things," as the old chestnut goes. Jessica Turgeon, the director of organizational development and visitor services (and holder of the longest title at the Museum) has worked for the Museum for almost 12 years, starting first as a cashier. She has heard many cute-kid stories in all those days in a purple vest.

With the addition of her "Tales from the Floor" contributions to the Smart Play blog, she will share some of the best "heard-at-the-Museum"s and the inner workings behind the purple vests of the Minnesota Children's Museum visitor assistants. These stories will provide insight into how the staff members and volunteers keep visitors' experiences educational, safe and fun.

Tales from the Floor: Lost Children
Safety is our number one priority at the Museum. One of the most common safety concerns we encounter is reuniting lost children with their adults (or reuniting lost adults with their children!). While this can be a very scary situation for them, it is something we handle literally every single day.

When we are reuniting families, we ask the child (or adult) for a description to help us look for the person who is lost, and then share those descriptions with the staff over our two-way radios. Here are some of our favorite radio calls:
• I am with Caleb and we are looking for his mom. Her name is “mommy” and she looks like an angel.
• I am with Sam, we are looking for his dad. His name is Mike and he has a big head.
• Cancel that search for Keisha’s mom -- mom didn’t come with to the museum today. We are now looking for Keisha’s dad...
• I didn’t find the girl in the pink leopard shirt, but I did find a pink leopard shirt in the Atrium. We are now looking for a three-year-old girl with brown hair and no shirt.

Visiting the Museum? Here are some tips for a safe visit:
• Talk to your child about what to do if they get lost -- anyone in a purple vest can help them
• If your child is old enough, make sure they know your first and last name -- not just “mom” or “dad”
• If you lose your child during your visit, stay calm and find a visitor assistant in a purple vest right away

-Jessica Turgeon, director of organizational development and visitor services

Developing a Love for Music

2010-01-20T14:11:00.000-08:00

A recent study showed that children are, on average, consuming more than seven hours of media per day. One of the categories mentioned is listening to music. The Museum has a few ideas of how to positively develop a love of music.

1. You can help your child develop their listening skills by encouraging them to tune into the sounds around them and try to mimic them. Some fun suggestions are: walking footsteps, skipping footsteps, galloping footsteps, running footsteps, a ticking clock, rippling waves on water. The rhythmic possibilities are endless!

2. You can use household items to create your own instruments. Pots and pans can be used with wooden spoons to create drumming beats or even plastic Tupperware for a softer sound. Two pan lids could by used as cymbals. Two tablespoons taped, back to back, can be used for tapping each other or even tapping on your knees. Be creative and find the many sound possibilities in your household.

3. After experimenting with home made sound instruments, a great way to familiarize your child with rhythm is to play along to any recorded song. They can drum, shake, tap or jingle along to any music. Remember that there is no right and wrong way to play and you will be surprised at how inventive your child can be.

4. You can encourage your child to create simple rhythm by using their spoken language. Demonstrate to your child how you can clap, tap, rattle, or drum the rhythm to a favorite phrase such as:

Cock-a-doodle-do
Mary Had A Little Lamb (or any other nursery rhyme)
Listen to the clock-tick, tock, tick, tock
Cake, Cake Birthday Cake

Or invent your own sounds and words.

5. You can play your own game of rhythmic “follow the leader.” Clap a simple rhythm with your hands and encourage them to copy you as they play one of their homemade instruments or clap or tap their hands.

6. You can incorporate some physical movement into your rhythms by making your own band and marching, skipping, hopping or whatever movement comes to mind as you move around inside or out. Another game is a quiet-and –loud activity. Play a loud rhythm on an instrument and have your child reach above their head when they hear the loud sound. Next, play a quiet sound and have your child touch their toes when they hear a quiet sound. You can also play this game by using your voices, speaking loudly and quietly.

Dinosaurs vs. Bigfoot

2009-12-31T10:16:00.001-08:00

Two young visitors chatted with us while playing in the new exhibit Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice.

Share any videos you may have taken from the Dinosaurs exhibit!

Books for the Little Drummer Boys and Girls

2009-12-21T14:19:00.000-08:00

There's no escaping holiday music and carols these days. Whether standing in line at the coffee shop, passing a display at the store, or choirs gathered at the street corner: seasonal music is everywhere!

Here's a book list full of musical fun for your little ones:

The Happy Hedgehog Band, Jill Barton
To Be A Drum, Evelyn Coleman
The Drums of Noto Hanto, J. Alison James
Max Found Two Sticks, Brian Pinkney
The Leopard’s Drum, Jessica Souhami
What’s That Sound, Woolly Bear, Philemon Sturges

Books for Your Adorable Snow Creatures

2009-12-04T07:37:00.000-08:00

It's now December 4, and around the time that Minnesotans start wanting snow. All of those snowpeople, snow forts, and snow angels to be made! Not to mention all that snow shoeing, skiing and snowboarding -- Minnesotans know how to make the most out of winter!

Here's a list of cold-day books to get you in a good mood for the winter:

Snow Dance by Lezlie Evans
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
The Mitten: A Ukrainian Folk Tale by Jan Brett
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

These are some of our favorites. Does your family have others that we missed?

Bubbles, bubbles and more bubbles

2009-11-27T11:23:00.000-08:00

Now that you're home from all that exhaustive Black Friday shopping, it's time for a little bubble fun!

The Museum’s bubble area in the World Works gallery is one of the its most popular spots. Bubbles are a great way to discover gravity, air, cause and effect, surface tension and geometric structures. Play along as your child explores properties of bubbles through play!

Make your own bubbles at home and then experiment using strawberry baskets, slotted spoons and other objects as bubble wands. You can make your own bubble wands using pipe cleaners. Just shape one end into a loop for the bubbles, dip and blow!

Don’t have any potential bubble wands lying around? Use your hands! Form your hands into a triangle like. Dip you hands into bubble solution and blow. How many bubbles can you make in one minute? What would happen if we made a really BIG bubble?

Homemade Bubble Solution:

You will need:
1 cup dish soap (original Dawn works well)
12 cups water
*Optional: 2 tablespoons Glycerin (from a drugstore)

Gently stir all ingredients together in a bucket and let bubble solution sit overnight for best results.

Dog Tales: Read to a Friendly Canine!

2009-11-19T10:16:00.000-08:00

As children begin to learn how to read, it is beneficial to have a non-judgmental, safe place to practice reading out loud. That’s why we are really excited about our new Dog Tales program. During Dog Tales, children have the opportunity to read to a dog from the Pals on Paws chapter of Therapy Dogs International. Therapy Dogs are highly trained to be friendly, calm, adaptable to new environments, and very attentive to the children reading to them. They even get an identification card. Check out Annie’s ID!

Dog Tales begins at home with children practicing reading a favorite book. Parents can then sign up for their children online for Saturday’s Dog Tales program. A certificate can be printed out and presented at the Museum. Don’t forget to bring your favorite practice book along!

However, don’t worry if you didn’t have time to practice this month – you can still come and read to one of the dogs. We’ll have books available to read including picture books for pre-readers. There are also opportunities to read to the dogs on December 19 and January 16.

We hope you can come, curl up with one of these gentle and amazing animals, and enjoy watching your child get excited to read to them.

Share your next Museum visit with far-away family and friends!

2009-11-13T14:27:00.001-08:00

A few young visitors, Soren, Nils and Sigrid, helped us test out a new activity at the Museum: the Flip Camera Project.

We swear we didn’t pay them for their testimonial!

So what is this Flip Video Project?
Two of these portable, user-friendly video cameras will be available for checkout at our Box Office by families who would like to share their experience with family and friends. In some cases, visitors may want to document a visit to give others an idea of what they might encounter if they visit the Museum.

There are a few guidelines for camera use. The first is that the person checking out the camera must be 18 years of age or older and complete a checkout form. This checkout form includes listing an email address so that a link to the videos may be sent to the adult. Additionally, while the cameras are in use, we require a valid driver’s license or state ID as collateral.

Soon after your visit, you will receive an email with a link directly to your family’s video that you will be able to share with others. Select clips will be posted to the Museum’s blog and the Museum's YouTube channel.

Videos will be edited for time and content. Please limit video clips to longer than two minutes. Clips posted will ideally be between 10-45 second long.

FAQs
• I want to have a copy of my video, even if you don’t select it to be posted.
All videos will have some portion uploaded to YouTube, even if your clip is not selected to be posted on the Museum blog. The Museum will email you the direct link to YouTube that you can send to all your friends and family.

• But I took a much longer video than what you uploaded. I actually took several videos that you didn’t use. Where can I get the whole video / all of my videos?
The Museum reserves the right to edit the videos for content and length. Not all footage taken will be used or uploaded, and we cannot send you the full videos.

• People post nasty comments on YouTube. I don’t want my child’s image sullied in this way. Or, why can’t my mom post a comment about how cute her granddaughter looked with the bubble wand?
The Museum has disabled the comments feature on its YouTube channel to prevent abusive, or “flaming,” language and comments that can happen on the internet. If you do not want your family’s image on YouTube, we do not recommend using the cameras.

Please look for this activity next time you visit! We hope you will have fun with the project and share with your relative and friends all over the world! The project isn't ready QUITE yet, but look for them in the next couple weeks!

Happy Birthday Sesame Street!

2009-11-12T13:10:00.000-08:00

This week marked the 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street, a show that revolutionized educational television. In 1969, the original intent of the show was to teach children basic math, the alphabet, and general concepts through frequent repetition, visual presentation, and dynamic characters.

Over the years, cable television has grown immensely and added numerous educational shows, but the concept of providing interactive ways for children to learn is still a tried-and-true model of teaching. From hands-on activities at Minnesota Children’s Museum, to bedtime jingles passed on from generation-to-generation, children should always be provided with fun and exciting ways to learn.

When helping your children with their homework tonight or teaching your toddler the ABC’s, try creating your own dance, puppet show or song.

Happy Birthday Big Bird and Friends, thanks for making learning fun for the last 40 years.

Magnetizing indoor play for a rainy day

2009-10-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

We've got a few indoor play ideas for you and your children to experiment with on this dreary October day. All you'll need are a few magnets and a couple other household items and your family can explore magnetic science.

1. Magnet Fishing Game
Make your own fish shapes and cut them out. Attach a paper clip to each fish. Next, make your magnetic fishing pole. You can use a wood dowel or large measuring sticks or anything that you can think of that can be used as a pole. Tie a magnet with string onto the end of your pole. Have fun fishing!

2. Magnetic Adventure
Go on a magnetic treasure hunt. Explore where you live and find out what attracts a magnet and what does not. Give your child a magnet and have them walk around indoors or outdoors and test objects to see whether they “stick” to the magnet. As you are exploring, play “I wonder why” and see what creative and inventive reasons come to mind.

3. Magnetic Magic
Make a magnetic maze. You and your child can simply draw several paths from straight to squiggly on a piece of paper. Draw the paths from one end of the paper to the other. Place a paperclip on the path. Can you guide it along the path, using a magnet underneath? Try it and find out!

4. Magnet To the Rescue
Drop a paper clip into a clear glass of water. Can you rescue the paper clip without wetting either your hand or the magnet? Ask your child this question before you start and brainstorm the possibilities!

Do you have other magnetic games your children like to play?

21st Century Skills

2009-10-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

This recent article in Educational Leadership magazine has the Museum's Learning Experience team excited. The piece takes a look at creativity and critical thinking as being essential 21st century skills.

At the Museum, we so often hear visiting parents say "I'm not creative." This article suggests that we can all learn to be creative, and challenges many misconceptions -- such as the idea that creativity is only found in the arts.

Sir Ken Robinson, who is interviewed in the article, calls for the current education system to focus more on encouraging children to explore, experiment, and to find their own answer -- instead of adults giving the answer to them. These are all things that we encourage here at the Museum, and find to be so important in children's development.

It's an article that makes us cheer. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Tuning in to children's words

2009-10-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

If you can get past the somewhat crusty tone with which Dr. Jane Brody accuses “mothers and nannies” of being too tuned in to their cell phones instead of their young children, this recent New York Times article explains why talking to children and introducing books from birth is so important. It also offers great practical advice for nurturing young children’s language development.

To be fair, it was kind of Dr. Brody to congratulate the communicative young mother who she refers to at the beginning of the article. Any parent knows a word of encouragement can go a long way!

Yes, Your Child Is Testing Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation

2009-10-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

To us, it may simply look like building and knocking down blocks, but to a child 'construction play' is a skill-building lesson about gravity that requires questioning, experimentation, and problem solving. As we parents, grandparents, and caregivers create activities at home, or watch our children play in a museum, there are some concepts that help us understand and encourage this learning process. Ask our children to...Look, Look Again. Ask Questions. Predict. Investigate. Experiment. Try and Try Again.

Trash Bash opens 10/3!

2009-10-02T10:01:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, the Museum opens a new exhibit called Trash Bash. The exhibit encourages visitors to increase their knowledge, skills, attitudes, motivation and commitment toward sustaining a healthy environment. Children will use recycled and reused materials to create art, music and imaginative play activities.

It makes us wonder here at the Museum -- how much do we know about our trash?

Last month, the New York Times had an article about tracking where trash goes -- literally following paper cups, a can of beans -- to their "final" destinations. The article cites one woman's musings that perhaps the key to sustainable living is emphasizing reducing rather than recycling.

Make a Family Fitness Promise

2009-09-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

As the weather takes a colder turn, Minnesotans might like to hunker down for a long hibernation. Resist the temptation! Keep your family active, no matter the weather, by making a family fitness promise.

Make a list of physical activities your family likes to do together. All family members who agree to participate can sign the promise together and be a member of your Fitness Team. Come up with a team name!

Go for a family walk around the block. Make the walk into a game where each team member takes turns deciding what kinds of steps, hops, or skips you’ll take.

Do active household chores together that require steps like raking leaves.

Draw a crazy path on the sidewalk with chalk where you need to jump, hop, skip and walk at different points, or have a hopscotch marathon.

Step like a hurrying ant, a lumbering elephant, a prowling tiger or a scared rabbit. Can you think of more fun animal movements?

March to your favorite music.

Family Fitness Book List
Children’s Book of Yoga, Games and Exercise: Mimic Plants, Animals and Objects, Thia Luby

Five Kids and a Monkey Solve the Great Cupcake Caper, A Learning Adventure About Nutrition and Exercise, Nina Riccio

Dig up your old Halloween photos!

2009-09-22T06:51:00.001-07:00

With the Museum's popular Halloween Spooktacular Parties just around the corner (Oct. 24-26 & 31) and the all-new, 2-week Halloween twist on a permanent gallery, Spooky Woods, those of us at the Museum definitely have costumes on our minds!

Our friends at Star Tribune started a Halloween photo costume contest for proud parents to display pictures of their children at their goofiest, cutest and/or scariest (in costume, of course)! The contest is for children 12 and under.

There are several rounds of the contest, and voting will go through October 25. Check out some of the costumed cuties already posted. It'll help you get some ideas for this year's Halloween costume, too!

The outdoors comes inside - new exhibit opens 9/19!

2009-09-18T13:05:00.001-07:00

A new exhibit called Out on a Limb opens tomorrow, September 19. It promotes nature-play through a sculptural, interactive design and incorporates nostalgic settings, such as a tree house and a fort-building area.

Out on a Limb was designed to inspire children and their caregivers to learn to explore nature by using their senses. More than simply seeing the beauty of a tree, the exhibit encourages visitors to hear the sounds of the forest, use leaves to make beautiful art, and build big and little structures from bark and limbs.

The whimsical atmosphere of Out on a Limb is created in part by children’s nature-themed artwork that makes up the faux bark and leaf canopy of the centerpiece tree. The individual exhibits, Whirlwind, Light Play, Forest Jam and Gnome Home, further enhance the magical scenery and are tools to enhance exploration. For example, individual activities encourage children to experiment with light and shadow, patterns of leaves, music of the forest, and the effects of the changing seasons. The exhibits also provide practice with the physical skills of climbing and balancing, which helps children to develop self-confidence in outdoor play.

For children, Out on a Limb provides a unique space for unstructured play, where they can create a connection with nature on their own; while for parents and caregivers, the exhibit represents an opportunity to reminisce about their own childhood experiences in the outdoors and to re-connect with nature exploration with their children. For visitors of all ages, there are places for building, climbing, listening and exploring -- all designed to inspire a love of nature.

Inspired in particular by works from environmentalist Rachel Carson, philosopher Henry David Thoreau, and author Richard Louv, Out on a Limb’s distinctive design delivers on its promise to use natural artistic materials and full-sensory activities to nurture children’s inborn curiosity about and love for nature.

A BIG holiday surprise - dinosaurs at the Museum!

2009-09-17T09:25:00.000-07:00

Few things can get children excited like dinosaurs. These giants from long ago have a unique way of capturing the young imagination. Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice, which opens December 19, will take visitors back in time to explore the late Cretaceous Period when dinosaurs last roamed the earth. Once in the exhibit, they will discover dinosaur habitats to better understand how these mysterious animals lived, and use inquiry skills to examine what the dinosaurs left behind.

Typically, children encounter dinosaurs on the pages of a book or as petrified bones behind a glass wall. At Minnesota Children’s Museum, they’ll see them face-to-face, literally able to immerse themselves into an entire prehistoric world. A key component of this exhibit is the construction of two sculpted dinosaurs, a Troodon and the larger Edmontosaurus. These original pieces will give children the rare opportunity to have a true hands-on encounter with life-sized and life-like dinosaurs.

“The exhibit builds on children’s fascination with dinosaurs,” states Mary Weiland, the Museum’s exhibit developer. “It combines large motor skills with dramatic play for unique whole-body, age-appropriate activities, like sitting in a nest of Troodon eggs; clambering through a bog walk; touching large, realistic, sculpted dinosaurs; and donning vests and goggles to uncover fossils.”

Build-a-Band

2009-09-09T07:08:00.000-07:00

The school year has officially begun! A key skill to build for school readiness is listening. You can help your child develop their listening skills by encouraging them to tune into the sounds around them and try to mimic them.

Create Music From Surprising Places
You can use household items to create your own musical instruments. Pots and pans can be used with wooden spoons to create drumming beats or even plastic Tupperware for a softer sound. Two pan lids could by used as cymbals. Two tablespoons taped, back to back, can be used for tapping each other or even tapping on your knees. Be creative and find the many sound possibilities in your household.

Can You Play Your Favorite Song?
After experimenting with home made sound instruments, a great way to familiarize your child with rhythm is to play along to any recorded song. They can drum, shake, tap or jingle along to any music. Remember that there is no right and wrong way to play and you will be surprised at how inventive your child can be.

Follow the Leader
Clap a simple rhythm with your hands and encourage members of the band to copy you as they play one of their homemade instruments or clap or tap their hands. You can incorporate some physical movement into your rhythms by making your own band and marching, skipping, hopping or whatever movement comes to mind as you move around inside or out.

Suggested Reading:
What’s That Sound, Woolly Bear by Philemon Sturges

Know of other great books about listening, music and sound? Share them!

The Scientific Equation: Play = Learning

2009-09-03T06:48:00.000-07:00

“There are no perfect toys; there is no magic formula. Parents and other caregivers teach young children by paying attention and interacting with them naturally and, most of all, by just allowing them to play.”

That quote comes from a New York Times article by Alison Gopnik, a professor of psychology at Berkeley and the author of The Philosophical Baby. The article, called “Babies Are Smarter Than You Think,” is a great summary the science behind Minnesota Children’s Museum’s mission: sparking children’s learning through play.

Check it out and pass it on to other parents. There is a lot going on in your children’s brains while they’re playing in the water area of World Works or crawling through the Ant Hill. For children, play = learning.

What is smart play?

2009-08-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

At the Minnesota Children's Museum, we believe children are competent, active, creative, and inquisitive learners. We acknowledge children’s competence to make choices by following their lead. They choose the activities they want to do to make it a satisfying learning experience and we share in the joy of their discoveries by tagging along.

Children are also active and hands-on learners. As they load and unload a grocery cart, we adults may tire, but the children are engaged and learning about their senses and their muscles. The Museum also focuses on the process of creating rather than the product. This produces a safe environment for children to take risks. They can see new things in familiar ways and familiar things in new ways by using thinking skills while they create.

Lastly, we believe children are filled with wonder and curiosity. They explore materials, ask questions, and experiment to find answers and solve problems. We can see an inquisitive thinking process at work as children try lots of ways to get props moving, pieces fitting together, or even bubbles blowing through our experiences and environments here at the Museum.

Sensory load!

2009-08-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

Letting children use their senses is a wonderful way for them to describe and use details. Play guessing games with spices, fruits and vegetables. Let the child describe how a food smells or tastes: sour, sweet, strong, spicy.

Play guessing games with various objects by placing them in bags, pillowcases, or socks. Let the child put his/her hand inside and describe the object. How does it feel? Is it soft? Is it hard? Does it bend? How big is it?

Parents and children can make their own memory cards with index cards or colored paper. Cut out various items from grocery store ads and magazines. You can match up many things: baby animals – adult animals, colors, sizes, shapes, toys, and foods.

Food Fun Books:
Baby Food by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers
Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
First Book of Sushi by Amy Wilson Sanger
Food ABC by Heinemann Read & Learn
Good Bread by Brigitte Weninger and Anne Moller
How Are You Peeling? by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers

Play at Home Ideas -- Piggies and Froggies

2009-08-07T13:57:00.000-07:00

Pull off those socks and get ready to play! You can play language games while your child is sitting in the car seat, on your lap, or waiting in line at the grocery store. Explore with rhymes from traditional “This Little Piggie” to adaptations like “This Little Froggie:”

Wiggle each toe of the child while saying each of the following lines:

This little froggie broke his toe.
This little froggie cried, “Oh, oh, oh.”
This little froggie laughed and was glad.
This little froggie cried and was sad.
But this little froggie did just as he should;

Tap a rhythm to the bottom of baby’s foot as you say this line:
He hopped to the doctor as fast as he could.

Suggested Reading:

First Steps in Music by John M. Feierabend

Summer Fun: Experience the Arts through Nature

2009-07-31T13:06:00.000-07:00

Minnesotans earn their long summer days after all those winter months. Warm weather means outdoor play for your kids and there are plenty of chances to maximize your children’s outdoor experiences!

-Ask children to compare shapes of leaves, observe the shades of green outside and try matching crayons to them, make a nature collage, or draw animals.

-Dance and movement spark creativity too. dance in the sun and watch the shadows.

-Watch and copy how squirrels and pigeons move.

-Throw leaves in the air and watch them float back down. Drama and role-play inspire imagination.

-Music is often found in the rhythms and sounds of nature. At home, children can listen and imitate sounds like wind, insects, and birds. They can even make musical instruments with natural materials like seeds, pebbles, and sticks.

Getting the most out of each gallery and exhibit

2009-07-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick tips list on how to make the most out of a Museum visit. MCM.org is a great resource for helpful info in preparation of your next visit.

• Read before you go
• Learn about what skills (cognitive, large motor) the gallery is intended to develop
• Interact with your child
• Encourage your child to interact/work together with other families
• Continue the learning at home through book lists

Social Skills 101

2009-07-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

Social skills and thinking skills both develop through playing together with others. Group play lets children be dramatic, plan and rehearse roles, see alternatives to situations, build peer relationships, understand other perspectives, negotiate and cooperate, and experience success because they’ve created play that works for their needs. Adults can support social play at home and at the Museum by joining in with play, adding props to expand play, and organizing activities that encourage social interaction.

Get up to speed on the new MN booster seat law

2009-07-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

This month, the state of Minnesota released a new booster seat law for parents. Are you aware of the updates? We've provided a brief overview here, but the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) has materials available for parents and caregivers to view and download at www.buckleupkids.state.mn.us — including a flier explaining the law, frequently asked questions and more.

Minnesota children under age 8 and shorter than 4 feet 9 inches tall must be in a child safety seat or booster seat, effective July 1. Under the booster law, children cannot use a seat belt alone until they are age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall — whichever comes first. To ensure child safety, DPS recommends parents keep children in a booster based on their height, rather than their age.

In Minnesota, three out of every four child restraints are used incorrectly — meaning children are riding in the wrong restraint or the restraint is not properly secured. DPS reports the following as the most common child passenger safety mistakes:

-Turning a child from a rear-facing restraint to a forward-facing restraint too soon.
-Restraint is not secured tight enough — it should not shift more than one inch side-to-side or out from the seat.
-Harness on the child is not tight enough — if you can pinch harness material, it’s too loose.
-Retainer clip is up too high or too low — should be at the child’s armpit level.
-The child is in the wrong restraint — don’t rush your child into a seat belt.

Bring some books to the cabin!

2009-07-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

The long weekend ahead brings daydreams of sitting on the dock with a good book in hand and your feet in the water. Stop by your local library first to pick up a few books to enjoy together. And don't forget your sunscreen!

This week’s booklist is about the joys of playing together as a family.

Mama Zooms by Jane Cowen-Flectcher
Rain Song by Lezlie Evans
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
We’ll Paint the Octopus Red by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

Harness that endless supply of energy

2009-06-26T06:43:00.000-07:00

In Minnesota, we really EARN our summers. Once the weather warms up, everyone's in a better mood and everyone is thinking and living more actively. It's a great time to pick up healthy habits.

There are growing concerns about children’s health today. Reports say nutrition and diets are crumbling, children don’t play outside anymore, and screen time at the computer or television has increased to more than four hours per day. However, you can help your children stay healthy and develop good habits they’ll carry with them into the future by trying a few simple things. Start by helping them participate in fun physical activity for 60 minutes a day. Encourage trying a variety of activities until children find the right activity they love to do. Remember to have fun exercising together. It’s more likely children will increase their activity level and build lifelong healthy habits if everyone is involved and having fun.

Minnesota Children's Museum offers lots of opportunities in all the exhibits for getting the activity children need. Wiggle, jump and hop to music in Our World. Climb, crawl and walk through different surfaces in Habitot. Keep the conveyor-belt moving at World Works. Or crawl around the Ant Hill in Earth World. Being active can be fun anywhere!

How do you encourage your child to keep active? What kinds of things do you as a family to keep health top of mind?

3 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Museum Visit

2009-06-16T15:28:00.000-07:00

Are you looking to get the most of your Museum visit? Read these helpful tips and stay tuned for more suggestions on how to get most play out of your day.

1. Encourage your children to focus on one of the small subsections of a gallery. These thematic sections have a number of activities to interest a variety of ages.
2. If you have more than on child, visit the Museum with a friend or relative and divide the children into two age groups. Each group can visit the areas of greatest interest to them.
3. Look for red-vested volunteers throughout the galleries. These people have special activities that can be personalized to appeal to each of your children.

The Possibilities of Play

2009-06-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

Do you remember how you played as a child? Did you climb trees, read, build forts or play pretend? Did you like to play by yourself or did you seek out others? Maybe you had a playful adult who added to the fun.

Think of a favorite way you used to play. You were probably figuring something out, practicing new skills, cooperating, creating and feeling good about yourself. This is what learning is about for children.

You can learn a lot about children by watching them play. Are they physical learners? Some are talkers, full of questions and stories. Some children need to see how things work. At Minnesota Children's Museum, we pack play with possibilities. You can help your child discover these possibilities by following their lead. By taking cues from your children, you learn how they play while they play to learn.

What kind of learners are your children?

Well, Fancy That....

2009-06-08T13:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a great article about expanding your child's vocabulary and creative thinking by using fanciful langauge. Read the article. Thoughts?

Big. Red. Art

2009-06-04T14:26:00.000-07:00

Looking to mix up your at-home art activities? Here are some BIG red ideas that will jumpstart your child’s creativity.

Painting:
Think of new ways to apply red paint to paper: try kitchen utensils, old toothbrushes, the bottoms
of shoes, or old hairbrushes and combs. What textures do you see in the red paint?

Food Coloring:
Add red food coloring to water and make ice cubes. Place the ice cubes on a tray or plate covered with paper. Paint by moving the red ice cube around on the paper As the ice melts the color is left behind on the paper!

Add one drop of red food coloring and one drop of a different food coloring to water to make
the ice cubes. What color ice cubes did you make this time? Try painting with one red ice cube and one of the new ones you made. What happens to the colors as they melt now?

Clay:
Try this clay recipe:
Mix 2 cups of salt and 2/3 cup of water in a saucepan and stir over heat for three to four minutes. Remove fromheat and add a cup of cornstarch and ½ cup of coldwater. Don’t forget the red food coloring! Stir until smooth.
Can you use your red clay to make a Clifford?

Drawing:
What are some ways that you can change a conventional drawing tool?
Select all the “red” colors in your crayon box, put a rubber band around the bunch and try to draw with it.
Tape a red marker to a broomstick and draw on a large sheet of paper on the floor for some Clifford-sized drawing.
Talk about what objects are colored red and ask, “Besides Clifford, are there other red animals?”

Suggested Book:
Clifford The Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell

Our Newest Exhibit Rolls Into the Museum June 27

2009-05-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

What do a bagel, a ball and a banana all have in common? Cut them through the center, and each one has a circle inside! Our upcoming exhibit, Secrets of Circles, allows children to explore the math, science and engineering of circles. Read more about Secrets of Circles. What kind of exhibit would you like to see at Minnesota Children's Museum?

Safety First (with fun a close second)

2009-05-21T08:29:00.000-07:00

Learning about safety in the home and in the neighborhood is an important part of a young child’s life. Everyday they come across situations that require them to choose a course of action. Knowing how to be safe is a great way to teach young children about being responsible for themselves and helping others to be safe too.

Watch Clifford™ be responsible and safe
Together, watch some episodes of Clifford The Big Red Dog on PBS KIDS and talk about situations in which Clifford and his friends learn how to be safe and responsible. Let children role play or draw “safe scenes” from Clifford The Big Red Dog. They can include themselves being safe in their drawing of the scene as well.

Take your child on a safety walk
Walk around the house with children and count how many safety items they can find. (first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc.) On the reverse side, have the children point out all the unsafe items (open cupboard doors where someone could bump their heads, toys on the floor where they could trip ,etc.)

Hot and Cold
Have your toddler or preschooler help you put red dots on hot things, and blue dots on cold things. You will be surprised because they probably already understand the concept that red represents hot and blue represents cold!

Play the classic game Red Light, Green Light
Talk with your child about the meaning of the colors on a stoplight. With a small group of children, let one child be Clifford and call out “red light or “green light” to the other children. Have the children run around until Clifford calls out, "red light" and then the children have to stop moving until they hear "green light."

Suggested book:
Clifford The Firehouse Dog by Norman Bridwell
Act out the stop, drop, and roll procedures and review the Fire Safety Rules on the last page.

More Than Numbers and Letters

2009-05-19T06:49:00.000-07:00

It’s important to learn numbers and letter sounds to get ready for school, but there are other skills that benefit children in preparing for school success. These skills (curiosity, risk-taking, imagination, persistence and reflection) are defined by the Minnesota Early Childhood Indicators of Progress as Approaches to Learning.

Here are some books that address each indicator:

Curiosity
Curious George Flies a Kite by H.A. rey and Margret Ray

Risk-Taking
Harriet’s Recital by Nancy Carlson

Imagination and Invention
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

Persistence
The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper

Reflection and Interpretation
The Hat by Jan Brett

You're Never Too Young to Make a Difference

2009-05-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

Youth volunteer Alexandra Richardson was recently recognized for outstanding volunteerism at Minnesota Children’s Museum. Alexandra was honored by Washington County and the Community Volunteer Service & Senior Center as the Outstanding Youth Volunteer of the Year.

Alexandra was presented with her award at the April 21 Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting in Stillwater. She was nominated by Museum staff for the positive impact she has on our visitors and for her enthusiastic teamwork. Alexandra says she volunteers at the Museum because she loves little kids and it’s fun! She thinks people should volunteer because it’s a good way to decide what kind of career to choose.

We appreciate the contribution of each and every Museum volunteer, and are especially thankful for Alexandra outstanding service.

Read more about volunteering at Minnesota Children's Museum.

Finally...A place for all those pictures

2009-05-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

Create your baby’s first book using photographs of recognizable people and objects in your baby’s life. Photos could include siblings, caregivers, a favorite stuffed toy, etc.

Place photographs between sheets of clear contact paper.
Round the corners to make them smooth and safe. Punch a hole in the corner and bind pages together with yarn. This simple book is not only drool-proof, it also invites talk surrounding the pictures and familiarizes your baby with the joys and comforts of sharing books.

We are Family

2009-05-06T09:05:00.000-07:00

May is National Family Month and what better way to celebrate being related than a family-themed story time? Check out these children's books that the whole family will enjoy. Also, check out the National Family Month website for ideas on how to share your love and appreciation for your children.

Mama Zooms by Jane Cowen- Flectcher
Rain Song by Lezlie Evans
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
We’ll Paint the Octopus Red by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

The Power of Play

2009-05-04T13:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a great article from last week's New York Times on the importance of play. Read the full article here and let us know what you think.

They've Got the Beat!

2009-04-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

You can help your child develop their listening skills by encouraging them to tune into the sounds around them and try to mimic them.

Create Music From Surprising Places
You can use household items to create your own musical instruments. Pots and pans can be used with wooden spoons to create drumming beats or even plastic Tupperware for a softer sound. Two pan lids could by used as cymbals. Two tablespoons taped, back to back, can be used for tapping each other or even tapping on your knees. Be creative and find the many sound possibilities in your household.

Can You Play Your Favorite Song?
After experimenting with home made sound instruments, a great way to familiarize your child with rhythm is to play along to any recorded song. They can drum, shake, tap or jingle along to any music. Remember that there is no right and wrong way to play and you will be surprised at how inventive your child can be.

Follow the Leader
Clap a simple rhythm with your hands and encourage members of the band to copy you as they play one of their homemade instruments or clap or tap their hands. You can incorporate some physical movement into your rhythms by making your own band and marching, skipping, hopping or whatever movement comes to mind as you move around inside or out.

Suggested Book:

What’s That Sound, Woolly Bear by Philemon Sturges

Five Tips for a Worry-free Museum Visit

2009-04-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

Whether you're a first time visitor or a weekly attender, you should know about these helpful tips!

Stay late on Friday Family Fun Nights - we keep the fun going until 8 p.m. with special Friday night programming like Family Arts and an extra Big Fun!
Lighten your load by leaving your coats, hats, etc. in the car if you use the parking ramp and skyway. If you decide to bring in your seasonal clothing, we do have a coat room and lockers for rent.
Take advantage of affordable and convenient parking. Pick up a $3 coupon at the Box Office when you check in. It's good for up to three hours of parking at the World Trade Center ramp.
Visit Habitot Tuesdays (1st, 3rd, 5th, Tuesday of the month) as no school groups are scheduled this day.
Consider leaving your stroller in the car during busy days (like Target Free 3rd Sunday). Our hallways and galleries can get congested with large amounts of strollers.

Have you discovered any tips for a successful Museum visit that we didn't mention?

Recycled Robots Ring the Greenest Day of the Year

2009-04-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

More than 1,200 people attended last Saturday's Earth Day celebration at the Museum. Children participated in fun "green" activities like building a robot out of recycled materials, making recycled newspaper creations and exploring the life cycle of a pencil. Adults learned about green cleaning and received helpful tips on reducing household waste.

Did you attend our Earth Day event? Tell us what you and your family did to celebrate the greenest day of the year.

Encourage Your Children to Lead Healthy, Active Lives

2009-04-23T11:57:00.000-07:00

There are growing concerns about children’s health today. Reports say nutrition and diets are crumbling, children don’t play outside anymore, and screen time at the computer or television has increased to more than four hours per day. However, you can help your children stay healthy and develop good habits they’ll carry with them into the future by trying a few simple things. Start by helping them participate in fun physical activity for 60 minutes a day. Encourage trying a variety of activities until children find the right activity they love to do. Remember to have fun exercising together. It’s more likely children will increase their activity level and build lifelong healthy habits if everyone is involved and having fun.

The Minnesota Children's Museum offers lots of opportunities in all the exhibits for getting the activity children need. Wiggle, jump and hop to music in Our World. Climb, crawl and walk through different surfaces in Habitot. Keep the conveyor-belt moving at World Works. Or crawl around the Ant Hill in Earth World. Being active can be fun anywhere!

How do you encourage your child to keep active? What kinds of things do you as a family to keep health top of mind?

Help Your Infant or Toddler Learn About Language and Reading

2009-04-22T12:30:00.000-07:00

At Minnesota Children's Museum, we believe that early learning is the foundation for lifelong learning. No matter how young your child is, you can participate in activities that can help form skills in language and reading.

Newborn to 3 Months: Listen and talk to your baby throughout the day. While feeding, diapering and bathing your baby, sing songs, nursery rhymes, and smile and coo in response to your baby’s smiles and coos.

4 to 8 Months: Talk and play with your baby. Use words and actions when talking. Play games, such as peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake, which teach your baby about taking turns when communicating.

9 to 12 Months: Read and tell stories with your baby. Make reading a shared experience. Point to pictures and name the objects. Use puppets, dolls and other toys as props. When reading, hold your baby on your lap and the book so your baby can see the pictures.

1 to 1 1/2 Years: Provide play materials that match your child’s skill level and interest. Let your child play with pots, pans, wooden spoons, plastic containers and other safe household items. Talk about what they’re doing. This will help your child learn new words. The more words your child knows, the easier it will be when he or she starts reading.

1 1/2 to 2 Years: To build your toddler’s vocabulary, say what you or your child is doing. If you are shopping with your child, say, “Let’s buy some apples. What color apples should we buy? Green or red?” Use as many words as you can when you talk with your child. If your child is building with blocks, say, “Look at how big your tower is! It’s almost as tall as you are! Wow, now you’re adding even more blocks to your tower. It’s going to be huge.”

2 to 3 Years: Read books and do activities that let toddlers join in. Arrange a special time for reading and read some of the same books again and again. Encourage your toddler to help you read the book by joining in with the words or repeated phrases he or she knows. Begin pointing out letters in your child’s name wherever there is print.

Math + Books = Fun

2009-04-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

Do you want to keep your child interested in math outside the classroom? Here are a few math-related books to keep your child interested in numbers, patterns, shapes and more!

Number Concepts and Operations
Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young

Patterns and Relationships
The Quilt by Ana Jonas

Spatial Relationships/Geometry
Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert

Measurement
Goldilocks and the Three Bears by James Marshall

Mathematical Reasoning
The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins

Learn About Snacks Packed with Puppy Power

2009-04-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

Ask your kids what they think Clifford the Big Red Dog™ eats and drinks to stay healthy. If you have a dog, these treats are a great way to model that animals need our love and care. If you don’t have a dog, make plans to spend time with the dog of a friend or family member.

Dog Treats: A snack for dogs

Ingredients:
3 c. all-purpose flour

1 c. powdered dry milk
1 c. rye flour

1 package dry yeast
1 c. cornmeal

2 c. chicken or beef stock
2 c. wheat germ

1 beaten egg

Combine all dry ingredients. Add stock gradually and mix. Shape into balls and roll out on a floured board. Cut cookies using cookie cutter in the shape of a dog bone. Brush tops with egg. Bake 40-45 minutes at 300 degrees.

Puppy Chow Recipe: A snack for girls and boys (not dogs!)

Create a simple recipe for “puppy chow” using equal parts of favorite snack-time ingredients: pretzels, raisins, dried cranberries or other dried fruit pieces, and KIX cereal.

Suggested book:
Clifford™’s Tummy Trouble by Norman Bridwell

Unearth Nature-Inspired Fun

2009-04-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

Earth Day is next Wednesday, April 22. Here at Minnesota Children's Museum, we're marking the occasion a few days early with an Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 18. From 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., we'll be unearthing fun "green" activities like building a robot out of recycled materials and discovering the life cycle of a pencil.

If you don't make it to the Museum this Saturday, here are a few nature-inspired activities to do as a family this weekend.

Ask children to compare shapes of leaves, observe the shades of green outside and try matching crayons to them, make a nature collage, or draw animals.
Dance and movement spark creativity too. dance in the sun and watch the shadows. Watch and copy how squirrels and pigeons move.
Or throw leaves in the air and watch them float back down. Drama and role-play inspire imagination.
Music is often found in the rhythms and sounds of nature. At home, children can listen and imitate sounds like wind, insects, and birds. They can even make musical instruments with natural materials like seeds, pebbles, and sticks.

Celebrate Spring With Warm Weather Books

2009-04-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung (we hope)! It seems as though Minnesota has finally shaken off the last chilly days of winter. The snow has disappeared and the tulips are slowly poking their way out of the ground. If you want to incorporate a spring theme in your child's story time this week, here are a few books that will help your family get into the SPRING of things. Does your child have any favorite season or weather-related books?

Spring Time Book List:
Nuts to You by Lois Ehlert
In the Tall, Tall Grass by Martin Waddell
From Acorn to Oak by Joan Kottke
Caterpillars by Claire Llewellyn

Use Everyday Materials to Make Your Own Toys!

2009-04-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

As communities continue to grow more diverse, some things remain universal, like playing with toys and games. Children learn to appreciate cultural connections and differences when they compare different versions of toys with neighbors near or far. Dolls, blocks, cars, and balls, as well as games like tag, jacks, and hopscotch are all examples of worldwide children’s games.

To help children explore the world from home, let them use everyday materials to make their own toys.
- Use pop bottles for pins and try bowling
- Make board games like Mancala with cardboard and marbles
- Mold aluminum foil into different objects
- Or just use paper and markers and see what happens!

Create Your Own Bubble Fun at Home!

2009-04-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

The Museum’s bubble area in the World Works gallery is one of the Museum’s most popular spots. Bubbles are a great way to discover gravity, air, cause and effect, surface tension and geometric structures. Play along as your child explores properties of bubbles through play!

Make your own bubbles at home and then experiment using strawberry baskets, slotted spoons and other objects as bubble wands! You can make your own bubble wands using pipe cleaners. Just shape one end into a loop for the bubbles, dip and blow! Don’t have any potential bubble wands lying around? Use your hands! Form your hands into a triangle like. Dip you hands into bubble solution and blow! How many bubbles can you make in one minute? What would happen if we made a really BIG bubble?
Homemade Bubble Solution:

You will need:
1 cup dish soap (original Dawn works well)
12 cups water
*Optional: 2 tablespoons Glycerin (from a drugstore)

Gently stir all ingredients together in a bucket and let bubble solution sit overnight for best results.