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Friday, March 29, 2024

DuPage Children’s Museum and Little Friends’ Respite Family Services partner with focus on art activities

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Above / DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) provides hands-on art activities for youngsters with special needs. (Photo courtesy DCM).

DuPage Children’s Museum has partnered with Little Friends’ Respite Family Services to bring the wonder of art exploration to children with special needs and their siblings. Little Friends’ Respite Family Services provides a program that offers caregivers time for rest and relief from challenges associated with raising a child with special needs. The DCM partnership offers multi-week sessions featuring Museum-led art activities and socialization opportunities.  

DCM’s Arts & Maker Specialist, Dustin Thacker, virtually leads a bookmaking workshop for Little Friends’ Respite program. Children imagined, created and shared books they designed during the program.

DCM Arts & Maker Specialist, Dustin Thaker, shared, “I am so excited about this partnership, and I  believe that together we are going to create some wonderful experiences for the Little Friends community.” Thacker has planned programming (curriculum, materials, and live virtual engagement) for the Little Friends Respite program.

Weekly Program

Each week DCM will pack and deliver individual supply boxes for each person registered for the program. Supplies are curated to match a specific (open-ended) activity that will accommodate a variety of ages, learning styles, and abilities. During the month of June, participants engaged in Watercolor Experiments, Book Making, Clay Studio, and Game Making. In July, Thacker plans to bring portable Museum exhibits to the program for fun, hands-on play sessions in addition to an art activity.

“DCM’s partnership with Little Friends Respite program is the ultimate package…providing a special workshop for our participants while caregivers still get a break. Caregivers feel secure knowing their children are safe while also receiving the bonus of an art experience they would normally have to register for at the museum separately.” Becky Pundy, Director Respite Services. “We have thoroughly enjoyed Dustin and his activities. Thank you so much for allowing us to benefit from this grant.”   

Creative workshops are provided for participants while caregivers get a break.

Caregivers expressed delight about the opportunity for their children to engage in DCM-facilitated activities from the Krejci Academy at Little Friends in Warrenville.

“My children love the activities planned with the children’s museum partnership,” Mom, Rashonda, explained. “We have a membership, but due to COVID we have not been back (yet); so, this program gives them a nice sample of how fun and enjoyable the children’s museum was pre-COVID during our many visits.“

DuPage Children’s Museum is able to provide this program through a sponsorship by the DuPage Foundation. For information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Renee Miklosik, Chief of Development at DCM via rmiklosik@dupagechildrensmuseum.org or (630) 637-8000 x2400.

DuPage Children’s Museum / Naperville, Illinois

Enter the big red door at the DuPage Children’s Museum, located at 301 N. Washington Street in Naperville. (PN File Photo)

The DuPage Children’s Museum helps develop curiosity, creativity, critical 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. In a typical year, 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 foundational building blocks for success in school and life.

The Museum is located at 301 N. Washington Street, within walking distance from the Naperville Train Station as well as downtown Naperville.

For more info, visit www.dupagechildrens.org or call (630) 637-8000.

Story and photos submitted by Jaime Johnson for the DuPage Children’s Museum.

 

 

 

 

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PN Editor
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