The Blog of Boston Children's Museum
At Boston Children’s Museum, we define Respecting Self and Others as, “Having dignity and compassion for oneself, exhibiting those same feelings towards others, and responding open-mindedly to different ideas and values.” Let’s see how this Habit of Mind comes into play throughout the Museum!
Next up in the Habits of Mind Series: Being Playful! You might think that everything at Boston Children’s Museum would encompass some element of play. You would be correct! But, have you ever stopped to think about why play is so important? Explore these questions and more in our latest blog!
There’s something new on display at Boston Children’s Museum! If you’ve visited the Museum recently, you may have noticed BCM’s new Community Quilt hanging on the third floor wall between Dinos in Space and the Japanese House exhibit. What is the story behind this quilt?
How do young children develop empathy? Are they even capable of understanding perspectives that differ from their own, especially when they are still experiencing so much of the world for the first time? These are the questions that I asked myself when tasked with running a program all about empathy for the first time.
Recently, a child said to me that “why” is her favorite word and that she could even ask it for a hundred years. That’s a really long time! While the frustration of being caught in a “why” loop might cloud the positives, we can remind ourselves that there is curiosity beneath all of these “whys.”
At Boston Children’s Museum, we define Working Flexibly as incorporating and revising ideas based on new information, employing objectivity and acknowledging subjectivity. Learn how Working Flexibly comes into play throughout the Museum in Program Fellow Sydney’s latest blog.
Next up in the Habits of Mind blog series is Thinking Creatively and Imaginatively. Habits of Mind are ways of thinking and being that help children (and adults!) stay curious, creative, and confident. Envisioning possibilities, solutions, and forms of expression; having ideas; thinking outside the box; problem finding and solving are all aspects of Creative and Imaginative Thinking. Let’s dive in.
Play and exploration aren’t just fun — they’re essential. Play helps kids grow, learn, and understand the world around them in ways that are just as important as what they learn in school, at home, or during after-school programs. In this new blog series, Museum staff will highlight how Habits of Mind come to life in and outside the Museum. First up: Taking Risks.
The Power of Play 