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The Children’s Museum has established a variety of programs to support our city, our neighborhoods, and the families that fill them. The Extraordinary Transformations campaign seeks to maintain and grow these programs. Your donation, no matter how small, impacts visitors tiny and tall. In the My Museum blog series, we’re showing you just that.
Creed is writes for both local and national blogs about his experience with fatherhood—including a past stint as a Children's Museum Blog Ambassador. He is also the organizer of the Indy Dads Group, a middle school teacher, and dad of two children who are big fans of The Children’s Museum.
The first time I set foot in the museum was nearly 20 years ago—accompanied by my then girlfriend (now wife), her brother, and her two nieces.
I remember having a near heart attack in Playscape when I saw a boy pick up what looked like a boulder. I looked like an idiot when I started to run (Tom Cruise style) towards him only to see the rock bounce off of the floor. That was my introduction to this museum—I saw then what I know to be true now – it is a safe place for children and families to play, explore, and (don’t tell them this) learn.
I marveled at the dinosaurs, the water clock, the old watershed table (which my father in law built). Little did I know how much time my family would spend here years later.
Why do I love my museum? I have already mentioned the staples for my family: Dinosphere and Playscape. I haven’t mentioned the carousel, or trips to Egypt, or China. I haven’t mentioned the Hot Wheels exhibit, the fashion show we had with Barbie, the mission Optimus Prime sent us on, or the dojo experience with the Ninja Turtles.
Oh, maybe I should mention the time my son experimented with wind tunnels while my daughter manipulated DNA. Or perhaps the numerous times that my children have orchestrated the water flow and changed the course of a boat. Wait, I haven’t even mentioned the Haunted House and Breakfast with Santa – which are annual events for my family.
The point is simple – this museum has fostered the opportunity for growth, inquisition, experimentation, declarations, and fun for my family. And the best thing? Every year it gets better.
Speaking of getting better. Imagine the impact that the new Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience is going to have on the kids and families that visit. Andrew Luck is a rarity. I could bore you with the statistics of how many kids will even play a division I sport let alone make it to the pros. I won’t mention that I was one of many who didn’t even make it to the bench of a division III school. But think about the children that will walk through these doors and onto these grounds. Some will be interested in finding a way to throw the perfect spiral. Some will be interested in the physics of a perfect spiral. Some will want to take a snapshot or paint a picture of the perfect spiral. Some will be invested in the history of the sport or the position. Some will be intrigued in how to capture, in words, what they see or experience. Some will be interested in the diet and nutrition it will take to build a body to throw that spiral.
I could go on and on with the myriad of perspectives, but if you consider this museum, my family’s museum, it offers opportunities for all of those kids to learn, grow, and develop skills that interest them. And maybe, just maybe, discover and develop skills they didn’t even know they had. And if the adults are being honest – we are learning and playing just as much as we explore with our families.
The opportunities for extraordinary transformation at this museum—my family’s museum, your museum, our museum—are endless. My family can definitely assure you of that.
Learn more or donate to the Extraordinary Transformations campaign.
