Above / Spaces such as Twinkle Tunnel are designed for infants, crawlers, and toddlers, providing new experiences to practice many important physical and social/emotional behaviors.
DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) reimagined two new exhibit spaces, Creativity Connections Young Explorers and Make It Move Young Explorers, which were thoughtfully designed to engage families with children ages birth to two years. In these areas, infants and toddlers can explore exhibits that are designed to consider their intellectual interests and physical capabilities, while also promoting brain development. These spaces are a great place to learn, promoting comfortable interaction with the most important adults in young children’s lives.
The experiences in the Young Explorers spaces were based on what has been learned through current and emerging research in early childhood development and the changes in the Museum’s audience trends.
“The Museum wanted to create beautiful spaces full of wonder and awe for our youngest visitors,” explained Kimberly Stull, Director of Exhibits and Operations, DuPage Children’s Museum. “Our goal was to get babies out of strollers to experience the wonder and joy their older siblings do in the rest of the Museum and to help inspire deeper connections between caregivers and their children.”
Creativity Connections Young Explorers / Mix of gross motor & quiet play
Creativity Connections Young Explorers focuses on beauty, wonder, color, light, shadow, and texture. Infants and toddlers will be able to explore light and shadow, enjoy some tummy time on the new Tummy Time Circle, and explore Seek & Find Drawers alongside their caregiver. It has the same feel as the space did before with some similar wall activities. Now, there is greater emphasis on the light and shadow activities to be more reflective of the Creativity Connections neighborhood, where the older kids play. There’s a good mix of both active gross motor play and quiet activities that can spur conversation between caregivers and children.
Make It Move Young Explorers / Experiment with air, balls & physical movement
Make It Move Young Explorers is all about movement. As a reflection of the exhibits around this space, the youngest explorers will be able to experiment with air, balls, and physical movement. In this area infants will have a “cozy corner,” where they can explore loose parts; there is a wave mat and baby ball pit, where infants can feel secure while they explore. The Toddler Climber allows crawlers and toddlers to meet their caregivers eye to eye when they peek out windows at the surrounding areas; they can hoist a bucket full of balls to the top of The Toddler Climber, where they can then watch the balls roll down a ball run just to go back to the bottom and start all over again. Infants and toddlers will practice important developmental behaviors such as: object permanence, grasping and reaching, independence and attachment, and trial and error leading to mastery.
Two years of planning create new experiences to stimulate interaction
While it may seem as if these reimagined spaces pop up overnight, the planning and development of these exhibits has been more than two years in the making.
“The intentionality and the thoughtfulness surrounding how to create experiences and stimulate interactions that will naturally support the development of infants and toddlers is really special. I do not think that many spaces created for this age group often begin with this deep level of thinking,” stated Alix Tonsgard, Early Learning Specialist, DuPage Children’s Museum. “Each and every little detail of these spaces – the graphics, the textures, the manipulatives, the larger exhibit pieces – the intention behind them and how they come together to create the entirety of the space – were all carefully selected with children from birth to 24 months in mind.”
Many of the exhibit components were designed and built on-site in the Museum’s workshop.
Imagine time and space for all children to reach full potential
DuPage Children’s Museum envisions a world where there is time and place for all children to reach their full, unique learning potential through hands-on play. Young Explorers provides that space for infants and toddlers. Quality interaction with young children strongly influences brain development. That means the caregiver plays an important role during play, whether visiting the Museum or spending quality play time at home. Caregivers should observe, share, encourage, support, listen, respond, and of course… jump in and play!
Sponsorship opportunities & more…
Young Explorers is sponsored by: Institute of Museum and Library Services; The Beem Family; DuPage Children’s Museum Volunteers.
For more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Renee Miklosik, Director of Development at DCM, rmiklosik@dupagechildrensmuseum.org or 630.637.8000 x2400.
The Museum is located at 301 N. Washington Street in Naperville, Illinois, a quick walk from the Naperville Metra train station. Parking is free and the building is wheelchair accessible.
For information, visit dupagechildrens.org.
DuPage Children’s Museum
The Museum helps develop curiosity, creativity, thinking, and problem solving in young children through its mission: “DuPage Children’s Museum ignites the potential of all children to learn through hands-on exploration by integrating art, math, and science.” Interactive exhibits and programs make learning fun for children and adults playing together. DCM serves over 300,000 visitors annually representing all 50 states and 575 zip codes in Illinois. DCM’s reach and support represent well beyond the Chicagoland area. The Museum’s impact extends across cultural, financial, and educational boundaries. It touches the lives of children from all regions, providing the building blocks for success in school and life. The Museum is located at 301 N. Washington Street in Naperville, www.dupagechildrens.org or call (630) 637-8000.
Story submitted by Jaime Johnson for the DuPage Children’s Museum.
