1. CHILDREN’S MUSEUMS PURPOSES. PRACTICES, AND PLAY Zach Marvin and Katherine Bartos

2. INTRODUCTION 30 museums 4 countries 20 years

3. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT Brooklyn Children’s Museum- 1899 Philosophy Discovery room- 1901 Adult facilitators- 1920’s Creative exhibits- 1960’s Increase in numbers

4. DEFINING User friendly Interactive Hands-on Attractive Non-threatening Stimulating environment

5. MISSION/GOALS Learning Interactive/Hands-on Fun/Enjoyment Play Creativity/Imagination Discovery Children/Families Multi Cultural

6. MODELS Diverse facilities Specific programming Interactive exhibits Children’s gallery or room Permanent vs. temporary Scale over time

7. EXHIBITS Fostering pretend play Regional and country-specific International or multicultural Arts Science and Technology

8. TECHNOLOGY More varied and high-tech What is the purpose? Area of debate Balance

9. OUTREACH ACTIVITIES Community involvement Loaning of materials Mobile exhibits Collaboration Libraries Bookstores Rental facility Sponsors

10. CHALLENGES Funding Attendance Publicity Appeal to all Documenting effects Family participation/interaction

11. REFERENCES http://www.amnh.org/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/ http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Childrens'_Museum_Indy_Interior.JPG http://mommypoppins.com/files/imagecache/full/images/Adams_House_1908.JPG http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Brooklyn_Children's_Museum.JPG http://0.tqn.com/d/dc/1/0/e/u/1/Nat-Child-Museum-Main-Entrance.jpg http://nmnh.typepad.com/.a/6a01156e4c2c3d970c0134878e9e61970c-pi http://www.knightarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/IMG_6432.jpg http://www.mos.org/sites/dev-elvis.mos.org/files/images/main/offerings/tp/traveling-school- programs_starlab-portable-planetarium-3-5_domes.jpg http://www.mos.org/sites/dev-elvis.mos.org/files/images/main/offerings/tp/traveling-school- programs_starlab-portable-planetarium-3-5_domes.jpg http://www.thetech.org/sites/default/files/world-maker-faire-new-york-2013-nysci-9.jpg