While the “in-Museum” experience has been and remains at the core of the Museum’s identity, the Covid-19 pandemic caused the Museum to expand its focus to more intentionally include reaching children and families in school, in their homes, and through community organizations. This new operational model seeks to integrate key Museum competencies, emphasizing digital engagement to bring the Museum to children and families at home, aligning with schools to increase access to hands-on experiential learning methods and practices, and strengthening partnerships in the community.
In reaching children and families at home the Museum’s will create “hybrid” virtual content that bridges the physical and virtual Museum experience and that inspires a visit to the physical Museum. The Museum will build on its already extensive virtual resources including its Beyond the Chalkboard after school and homeschool resource, its 400+ archive of at home activities, its Japanese House website, school readiness website, 100 Ways to Play activity ideas, and other existing online resources.
Boston Children’s Museum has a long history of working with educators and schools. In the 1970s, the Museum offered school-and Museum-based programs to help ameliorate tensions caused by desegregation. In the 1990s, Boston Children’s Museum helped the Boston Public Schools enrich full-day kindergarten programs. Starting in 1998, Boston Children’s Museum entered into a long-term partnership with Action for Boston Community Development’s Head Start, which ultimately led to a city-wide collaboration dedicated to enhancing school readiness. The Museum’s Countdown to Kindergarten programs, in partnership with the Boston Public Schools, introduce children to the fun and possibilities of starting school.
.jpg)
.jpg)
The Museum will build on its experience to investigate and pursue new approaches to learning and partnering with schools. The key elements to this work will be:
For over 100 years the Museum has been actively engaged as part of a matrix of public and private organizations that enrich the lives of children and families. The Museum’s expansive connection to the broader community reflects the Museum’s culture of collaboration and openness. These collaborations manifest through cultural, educational, research, and civic engagement.
The Museum seeks to deepen and increase its impact in the community, developing substantive partnerships with organizations whose missions complement the Museum’s mission. In addition to long and proven partnerships with libraries and neighborhood groups, examples of complementary organizations include those focused on early intervention, behavioral health, the foster care system, and homelessness support.
Importantly, the Museum will continue its work in the area of school readiness. Building on our past work, we will redefine school readiness in our own backyard, working here in the Greater Boston area and across Massachusetts to co-develop a community-focused understanding of what it means to be ready for school, and how schools and early education centers can be ready for the students they serve.
Mike Travis
(617) 542-6516
Travis@BostonChildrensMuseum.org
