If you’ve got younger kids, the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia is a great place for them to learn by participating in interactive exhibits, special events, and programs. Unlike other museums where you might have to make sure your kids don’t touch anything on display, touching objects is encouraged here. Our Philadelphia adoption professionals love taking visits here. There are both permanent and temporary exhibitions, along with special events held throughout the year. Some of our current favorite happenings at the Please Touch Museum include:
Parkopolis
On display until September 3, 2018, Parkopolis is a temporary exhibition of a STEM-focused life-size board game. The game was developed by Temple University under the leadership os psychology professor Kathy Hirsh-Pasek of the university’s Infant and Child Lab. The Please Touch Museum collaborated with Temple University to create this game, which helps kids learn through various colorful prompts, two life-size dice tumblers, a life-size deck of cards, and more.
Parkopolis is open on the following days and times:
- Sundays from 11 am-5 pm
- Mondays from 1 pm-5 pm
- Wednesdays from 9 am-5 pm
- Thursdays from 1 pm-5 pm
- Extended hours until 7 pm during monthly First Wednesday events
Hello From Japan!
This temporary exhibit also runs until September 3 and is a fun learning experience about modern Japanese culture that both parents and kids will enjoy together. It features two immersive trilingual exhibition areas: a kawaii streetscape and a Shinto shrine park.
In this exhibit, kids can develop the following skills:
- Fine and gross motor skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Manipulation of 3D elements
- Creative skills
- Digital literacy skills
- Early math skills
Art Collection
The Please Touch Museum’s art collection is made up of child-appropriate artwork in three categories: Observational, Parallel, and Interactive Art. Some highlights from the Art Collection include:
- Centennial Exhibition – This section consists of items that add context to what families and children may have experienced during the nation’s centennial birthday in 1876.
- Memorial Hall – Artifacts and objects that show the history of Memorial Hall, the home of the Please Touch Museum.
- Institutional Archives – Contains documents, objects, and other materials related to the history and planning of the Please Touch Museum, including records from every department in the Museum.
Childlife Collection
The Childlife Collection is a blast from the past for most parents, with an extensive collection of cultural artifacts such as toys, board games, and other miscellanea. Sections found in this collection include:
- Contemporary Toy Collection – Toys from throughout the decades representing the top-selling items from various years.
- Historical Childlife Collection – Showcases various childhood objects from throughout the years, including children’s toys and other related objects. This collection focuses on the 20th Century, mainly with objects from 1945-present day.
- Childlife Archives – The archives contain photographs, written, and printed primary materials which help add context to other parts of the Childlife Collection.
