MANHATTAN, NY – The Children’s Museum
of Manhattan has installed an exhibit to promote healthy living in
children. The EatSleepPlay activity center, which opened in November
2011, helps to prevent childhood obesity by incorporating play centers
and education.
Museums across the United States are
establishing similar exhibits to tackle other social issues affecting
the children community. This includes foster care, homelessness and
education.
 |
| EatSleepPlay Center Photo, The New York Times |
Andy Ackerman, the executive director of the
Children’s Museum of Manhattan believes part of the mission of
children’s museums is simply providing access.
“Social issues, education, health and
creativity — it’s all a continuum, and we can connect those domains and
reinforce each of them,” he said.
Children’s museums continue creating programs specialized in the interests of children.
Located in Florida, the Young at Art Museum
provides an afterschool arts program for homeless student.
The Port
Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore has an exhibit for children
with special needs. And the Providence Children’s Museum in Rhode Island
helps find permanent homes for foster care children.
Executive director of the Association of
Children’s Museums in Arlington, Va., Janet Rice Elman has realized that
people are utilizing museums to tend to specific needs of children and
their families.
“These are places where families can learn
through play — from science to early literacy skills to parenting — in
settings that are joyful,” she adds.
Many children’s museums are collaborating with various organizations and experts to develop programs within their facilities.
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan has worked
with the National Institutes of Health to develop the EatSleepPlay
center. The Museum has also teamed up with health advisers for further
expertise.
Research from Dr. Judith Owens, director of
sleep medicine at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington,
has helped establish the sleep division of the EatSleepPlay exhibit.
This center teaches healthy sleeping habits for children.
“Educating through the arts….That’s how you change behavior,” Ackerman said.
Children’s museums are also reaching out to
underprivileged neighborhoods. They are creating programs in these areas
in an effort to attracting people who wouldn’t normally visit nor have
access to.
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is
building a replica of its museum in East Harlem’s public housing. It
also travels beyond Manhattan and provides health and literacy programs
in the Bronx and New Orleans.
Jeri Robinson, the vice president for early
childhood and family learning at the Boston Children’s Museum wants the
mission of the museums to remain relevant to its communities.
“The audiences who are living here want to be able to come here and see their lives reflected,” said Ms. Robinson.
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan has made
special accommodations for special needs children. On Mondays the museum
is opened to children with autism and their families. This will allow
the children to enjoy the exhibit in a quiet venue- an experience that
all children have the opportunity to enjoy.
By Amanda Legros
With contributions by the New York Times
Photo, the New York Times