Museum Experiences

While I was at the Children’s museum I captured several interesting moments, but there was one that stood out from all the others that I wanted to share. I was observing some children in the “Grasshopper Grocery/Butterfly Bistro” exhibit. The kiddos were having an amazing time. They were shopping and taking turns at the cash register, checking each other out. Almost all of the “parts” of the exhibit mimicked real life. The cash register really scanned the items and made a beeping sound when the kids put an item over the scanner and a blue light lit up when the stove was turned on in the kitchen. The area had all the sights and sounds of a real life working market and restaurant. The children were all enjoying the experience of pretending to run the store and restaurant. I was watching a young girl serve her mother a sandwich. She took the order and went to the kitchen area to prepare the meal. When she brought the sandwich over she slammed the sandwich down on the counter and served the coffee upside down. The little girl was laughing and playing around in her role. The mother of the girl scolded her and said, “You can’t do that!! If you really served it like that you would be fired.” The little girl stopped joking around and put the coffee and sandwich away. I found this moment interesting because it showed that the children are comfortable playing and exploring different ways of taking on the “part” of being an adult, but it was the adult who was uncomfortable with it. It made me think of Piaget, Montessouri, Vygotsky and how important it is to let children play in different roles and experiences. It reminded me that the adults allowing children to play is just as important as the playing that occurs.