http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/ Latest blog entries from staff at Children's Museum of Tacoma en-us Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:54:25 PST Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:54:25 PST Children's Museum of Tacoma CMS http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/dreaming-designs/ Buildings and structures of every size and shape can be seen all around us.  In our newest exhibit, Design, Build, Play! children assume the role of architect to create structures of their very own. A recent visitor shared this floor plan of his / her dream house, complete with a: comfy couch, television, light, fan, toilet, and bathroom door.  I especially enjoy the labels as bathroom privacy is especially important when designing a home.  :)   ... Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:40:00 PST http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/diva/ One of many found creations in Becka's Studio. ... Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:28:00 PST http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/play-to-learn/ As we move into our 17th month of Play to Learn....(Wow! 17 months have flown by I must say)  we are discovering and experiencing that our programs draw quite a crowd at times.  When I look back at the beginning, I remember days when we had 20 or less and I thought that was incredible.  Now we see groups as large as 90 at some of our locations... it's mind boggling to think of offering a circle time for 90 adults and children.  It is such great fun!  I consistently welcome the challenge, joy, and am so excited to see the learning that takes place in such a crowd even when it may look or seem impossible.  ... Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:57:00 PST http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/importance-early-education/ Dollars invested in early learning reap a bounty of benifits for each child, family, and our state.  This Saturday night, January 9 at 9pm, King 5 TV will feature "Learning for Life: The Path to Better Early Education". This special was created in a partnership between Thrive by Five and King 5 to highlight our state's action on this important topic.    Don't miss this conversation about what our state is doing to set a strong foundation for life long learning. Or for more segments on early learning topics, like our favorite - PLAY, visit the Thrive by Five website about Learning for Life.  And stay tuned to our blog for more about the Children's Museum of Tacoma's involvement in early learning in Pierce County and beyond.   ... Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:04:00 PST http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/fire-safety/ These safety directions were found in the Museum after hours, good thing we've never had to use them!Note reads: 1. Close doors 2. Go to the wind 3. Yell "fire" ... Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:17:00 PST http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/play-journey-1/ While I was talking with a mom at our Play to Learn program, she shared her love of the program, which is always wonderful to hear, but she also said a few things I had not heard in the same way before.  She told me that her two children have become more playful and more joyful- something she hadn't realized as deficient until she came to Play to Learn.  She claims they have more fun now at home and play longer together as a family....laughing more, reading more, and learning happily. ... Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:57:00 PST http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/elf-on-shelf/ This charming tradition began for our family when my children were very small. Like most children through the ages, they wanted to know how Santa really knew who was naughty or who was nice. Their answer, as in my own childhood, came in the form of a small pixie-elf. The first time the elf arrived at our home, my children officially adopted him by giving him a name. Each year he would arrive around the holidays, usually at Thanksgiving. His sole responsibility was to watch the children's behavior and report it to Santa each night. The next morning after the children awoke, they discovered the elf had returned from the North Pole and was now resting in a new and different place. My children would race each other out of bed to try and be the first to spy him in his new position. ... Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:15:00 PST http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/day-care-may-double-tv/ In a new study, the amount of television viewed by many young children in child care settings doubles the previous estimates of early childhood screen time, with those in home-based settings watching significantly more on average than those in center-based daycares. This study is the first to examine screen time in child care settings in more than 20 years. The study looked at television use in 168 child care programs in four states, and was guided by lead researcher Dimitri A. Christakis, MD, MPH, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children's Research Institute and professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. ... Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:18:00 PST http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/woah/ As a vegetarian, I was thinking the same thing. ... Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:41:00 PST http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/learning-play/ I am always fascinated by the creative ways children attempt to hold, use and manipulate scissors.  As adults, we want to teach them the "correct" way even when they are very young or not let them use scissors at all until they are older.  Truth is...scissors are tricky and they require some intense fine motor skills and muscle control.  It takes time for children to develop these skills and they can become easily frustrated during the process. ... Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:23:00 PST http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/chem-chem-tortoise/ One of our visitors left this detailed story in our Soar Into Story exhibit. While this short story is indeed a very short story, it is great to see the understanding the author had of story sequencing. Being a good writer means you must first be a good reader; help your child get the most out of reading with Reading Rockets Reading Tips for Parents. ... Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:59:00 PST http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/wanted-to-know-big-bird/ The New York Times Q&A with Big Bird, to celebrate Sesame Street's 40th anniversary, made me smile all day. Find out if Big Bird is a natural blonde, the truth about Snuffleupagus and more here. ... Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:47:00 PST http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/creativity-captured-in-glass-1/ Creative thoughts and actions happen every minute in a child's life.  Unfettered by adult conventions, children are free to express new ideas.  Walk through the Children's Museum of Tacoma and you will see creative thoughts flowing as children play everyday.Most of these creative moments remain with the child, helping them to make sense of the world.  They are expressed in simple ways as children use the skills and materials available to them to share their ideas.  Yet their simple marks on paper or constructs out of sticks are windows into the lives of future artists and engineers. ... Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:27:00 PST http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/change-please/ Although we appreciate the artistic depiction of Abraham Lincoln, the Museum store cannot accept counterfeit money. ... Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:07:00 PDT http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/slightly-spooky-fun/ All you need for Halloween fun right here: a craft, a book and even a quiz!"Summer is over, now it's fall; just the nicest time of all."  Check out award winning author and illustrator Lois Lenski's "Now It's Fall" from your local library. ... Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:42:00 PDT http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/thieves-in-museum/ This ransom note was found next to an empty toy cash register in the Museum's New Digs exhibit. The note reads, "We stole your money, you're doomed." ... Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:04:00 PDT http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/smiley-coyote/ One of our members decided to donate their artwork to the Museum's growing collection. The detailed facial expression in this piece always ignites a smile within my own artistic self.  ... Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:12:00 PDT http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/simple-literacy-skills/ Children get ready to read years before they start school. Grown ups can prepare children for reading by helping them have fun with words and stories. Talking to children, asking them to share their stories in words or pictures, playing with books and singing rhyming songs creates the foundation for strong literacy skills. ... Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:49:00 PDT http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/kids-we-ate/ This potentially worrisome message was found in the Museum's farmer's market exhibit after hours; I can now fully appreciate the power of a pronoun. ... Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:02:00 PDT http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/name-metal-man/ Our visitors have created metal sculptures, used metallic fibers and danced the robot! Now will you help us with our final Metal Urge inspired project?We'd love the Metal Man standing guard over Becka's Studio to have a name! ... Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:34:00 PDT http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/blog/learning-life/ Did you happen to catch the monthly installment of Learning for Life on King 5 on Sunday? I don't watch a lot of tv on the weekends so I missed it however the resources are still available.Learning for Life is a partnership between Thrive by Five and King 5 that offers great resources for parents. This month's focus was all about getting your child ready for kindergarten. It's not just about holding your pencil and writing your name! ... Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:26:00 PDT