Providence Childrens Museum

THE MISSION OF THE PROVIDENCE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS TO INSPIRE AND CELEBRATE LEARNING THROUGH ACTIVE PLAY AND EXPLORATION. THE MUSEUM WELCOMES CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS AND FROM ALL COMMUNITIES ALTHOUGH ITS FOCUS IS ON SERVING THE YOUTH OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND, AGES 1 THROUGH 11, AND THE ADULTS WHO CARE FOR THEM.

MUSEUM LEARNING OCCURS IN THE EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS CREATED AND PRESENTED BY THE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM CREATES AND PRESENTS INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS DESIGNED TO MEET THE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN AGES 1-11 AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. IN 2021, RHODE ISLAND'S FIRST AND ONLY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM CELEBRATED 45 YEARS OF EXPLORATION, ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. THE MUSEUM WELCOMED 29,531 TOTAL VISITS AND PROVIDED 5,036 FREE ADMISSIONS. THE MUSEUMS FOR ALL ACCESS PROGRAM PROVIDES $2 ADMISSION FOR SNAP BENEFICARIES AND THEIR FAMILIES. BLUESTAR PROVIDES $2 FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES. REDUCED RATE SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY MEMBERSHIPS PROVIDES FREE ADMISSION TO THE MUSEUM FOR THERAPUTIC VISITS, SUCH AS THOSE FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE COURT MANDATED VISITATION.

IN 2021 FAMILIES TOGETHER MAINTAINED A 60 FAMILY CASELOAD.

DURING COVID-19 CLOSURE, PCM PROVIDED ONLINE RESOURCES: MAKER CLASSSES VIA ZOOM FOR 120 STUDENTS, DEVELOPED WEEKLY FREE DIGITAL RESOURCES, HOSTED WEBINARS AND TRAINED 13 TEACHERS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

PROVIDENCE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS ENGAGED IN NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION-FUNDED RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP WITH BROWN UNIVERSITY, VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY AND THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF DREXEL UNIVERSITY ENTITLED: YOUNG CHILDREN'S BELIEFS ABOUT CAUSAL SYSTEMS: LEARNING ABOUT BELIEF REVISION IN THE LAB AND IN MUSEUMS(AWARD NO. 1661068). PROVIDENCE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS ONE OF TEN CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND INMPLIMENTATION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS RESEARCH NETWORK, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED TO BUILD A FIELD-WIDE RESEARCH AGENDA. THE MUSEUM CONTRIBUTED TO THE NETWORK'S FIRST THREE STUDIES, WHICH INVESTIGATED LEARNING FRAMEWORKS, THE VALUE OF PLAY, AND CAREGIVERS' UNDERSTANDING OF LEARNING. THEIR FOURTH STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN 2018-2019 AND FOCUSED ON CHILDREN'S SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING IN THE MUSEUM SETTING. THE MUSEUM COLLECTED DATA FOR THIS INVESITGATION AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE ANALYSIS AND DISSEMINATION OF FINDINGS. THE MUSEUM CONDUCTED EXPANDED THEIR INVESTIGATION OF CHILDREN'S UNDERSTANDING OF CREATIVITY TO INCLUDE TWO ADDITIONAL STUDIES. FINDINGS WERE PRESENTED AT A CREATIVITY RESEARCH CONFERENCE AS WELL AS A DEVELOPMENTAL TALK AT BROWN UNIVERSITY. FINDINGS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATIONS IN AN ACADEMIC JOURNAL. ADDITIONALLY, RESEARCH STUDIES BY COLLABORATORS FROM BROWN UNIVERSITY AND PROVIDENCE COLLEGE IN THE MUSEUM'S MIND LAB ENGAGED OVER 1200 MUSEUM VISITORS IN 2019.