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PHOTOGRAPHY & MEDIA
ALERT |
“FOCUS IN PLAY!”
DUPAGE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Release date:
May 4, 2007
DCM Contact: Lynne Jele, Marketing & Membership
Phone: (630) 637-8000 ext. 2600
E-MAIL: ljele@dupagechildrensmuseum.org
Playing to Learn is the heart of the topic of a
national conference at DuPage Children's Museum
Recent concern about how our children learn best has become a
hot topic for parents, educators, caregivers and students of early childhood
development. A number of sometimes
competing alternatives about the role of play in children’s lives have come out
of this debate.
FOCUS in PLAY,
a special national conference for museum professionals and educators will be
hosted by DuPage Children's Museum (DCM), in
Keynote speakers, Drs. Roberta
Golinkoff and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, will discuss their recently published early
childhood research compilation called Play=Learning:
How Play Motivates and Enhances Children’s Cognitive and Social-Emotional
Growth. They will also serve as part of an invited panel that will discuss
research in play with the conference participants. Other panelists will include Dr. Laura E.
Berk, Dr. Lorrie Beaumont, Gaye Gronlund and other university researchers,
early childhood educators and experienced museum professionals who will expand
on the keynote presentation and the implications of current research.
Approximately 90 Universal Design
consultants and experienced museum exhibit staff from all over the
Participants in this one-day FOCUS in PLAY conference will explore
how to create productive play experiences.
The sessions will begin at 10:30 a.m. and review the current research
base on the impact of play and its implications for children’s museums, tested
models for observation and documentation of visitor engagement, plus practical
ideas for how to make exhibits physically, cognitively and culturally
accessible as possible to serve a broader spectrum of community needs.
DuPage Children's Museum, an Association of
Children’s Museums member museum, is a regional and national leader in
importance of play in childhood development, and serves as the western campus
for Erikson Institute.
In 1975 there were only about 38 children's
museums in the
DCM is one of 10 children’s museums
in
This one-day FOCUS in
PLAY, conference will be followed by an evening welcome reception for about
350 attendees of the ACM Interactivity 2007 conference, from all over the
country and world, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Museum. Live entertainment and snacks will be
provided.
Photographers and reporters are welcome—just
present your media ID at the Visitor Services desk. Please call DCM for further information.
DUPAGE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM:
DuPage Children’s Museum, a
top Chicagoland cultural attraction, is a not-for-profit organization
celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2007—an imagination celebration
of the importance of play, as envisioned by our founders.
On any given day, about 1000
visitors come through the Big Red Door of DuPage Children’s Museum and engage
in three floors of open-ended activities. It is a playful, fun environment
where children and the important adults in their lives learn and play together
in thoughtfully planned “neighborhoods” designed to promote skill development
in math, science and the arts.
Thank you for all you
do! The Museum depends on donations and
sponsorships for over 40% of its budget. Your support helps make a difference
in the lives of thousands of children!
Location:
Phone: 630-637-8000
Hours*
Monday: 9 am - 1 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 9 am
- 5 pm
Thursday: 9 am - 8 pm
Sunday: 12 - 5 pm
*Call for special seasonal hours.
General Admission: $7.50 per
person, ages one through 59.
$6.50 per person, ages 60
and over.
Admission
is never charged to shop the Explorer Store.
Free Parking. Wheelchair
Accessible. Quick walk from
Annual Memberships: Several types
of memberships and gift memberships are available. Please visit http://www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org
or call 630-637-8000 for more information.
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