I liked many of the things I saw at Pretend City - their Donor Wall was an interactive display; great signage which told parents that this was a cell-phone free facility and encouraged a "family plan" that encouraged parent child interaction; Sanitation Station for toys that had been in a child's mouth; short educational signs "Good To Go from Head to Toe!" which stated what benefit the child gained from each exhibit; great play stage; nice flooring which mimicked pavement and grass; and an awesome farm which had live chicks! You can see that a lot of thought and care went into the planning and execution of this fairly new museum which opened in August 2009. Lots of families were there while we touring the facility after 10am and all were having a great time.
I agree - Pretend City was very impressive. The philosophy behind this place was clear in everything we saw. It's a place for kids to explore and try on different roles within a model community. The kids we saw seemed comfortable and confident in their surroundings. I really liked the emphasis on having the parents connect with their kids. The staff make it clear, in a friendly and positive way, that the parents are part of the process. This isn't a place to drop your kids off and take a break, it's an interactive experience. And I loved the live chicks!
ReplyDeleteJenn
These are some great pictures. Looks like everyone is having a great time! I agree with Jennifer about being a place that is designed for children and parents to engage with each other. At the Children's Museum of Manhattan, the parents/nannies just sat on chairs and watched (or talked on the phone).
ReplyDeleteGreat posting Margaret!
ReplyDeleteYes, it looks like a lot people are channeling their inner "kid"!