Exposing your children to museums at an early age has a multitude of benefits that will make a long-term impact on their lives.
An excursion to a museum is a fun and interactive way to engage kids in joyful discovery experiences that instill a deep appreciation of the world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning.
How do children learn in museums?
Children learn through:
- investigating real-life objects,
- communicating their thoughts around their favorite objects or exhibit,
- expressing their creativity with activities like games, singing, dancing, drawing, etc., and
- listening to explanations, stories, and sounds.
If you’re on a mission to teach your little one about Jewish life, history, culture, and traditions, look no further than the Jewish Children’s Museum at the corner of Eastern Parkway and Kingston Avenue in Brooklyn, New York.
Three activities your family can do in JCM.
Your family won’t be able to get enough of the activities that educate and entertain in JCM. Here are the three novel activities your family can enjoy at the JCM:
1. Exploring Jewish life
There is no better place to start your educational adventure than with the phrase, “in the beginning…. ”
Guide the young ones in learning about the beliefs and practices Jewish people live by, past and present. Start with the story of the Six Days of Creation guided by the three-dimensional, life-like multimedia display.
After that, experience Shabbat while having fun at a large Shabbat dinner table, giant candles, huge challah bread, and more. Walk through a replica of an ancient shtetl (village) while touring and learning about the Jewish holiday cycle.
Of course, a trip is not complete without shopping, right? Let the little ones enjoy role-playing fun and understand the basics of Jewish dietary laws in the scaled-down Kosher supermarket. And when the shopping is done, it’s time to prepare the dishes in a child-friendly kitchen.
2. Voyaging through Jewish history
Experience time travel with exhibits that encourage your children to climb through the Noah’s Ark ball pit and slide in the soft play area. Not only that, but children can also visit Avraham’s and Sarah’s tent and witness his ten tests of faith.
The voyage through history won’t be complete without following the Jewish people’s journey through the desert and learning about the miracles that saved the nation.
We can’t forget to celebrate Jewish survival by learning real-life stories of bravery, faith, and devotion during the Holocaust.
After that, children can look at the vibrancy of Jewish life and culture all around the globe using a giant map. And if you’re missing Jerusalem, visit a replica of the Western wall and take a real-time look at the holy site.
3. Having fun at the Gallery of Games
Interactive exhibits designed to be manipulated by little hands pique their curiosity. These allow children to take ownership of their learning by exploring with all their senses. Now, what are the discoveries waiting for them inside the Gallery of Games?
Let’s start with the Six Holes of Life, a six-hole miniature golf course where children can play golf while learning about the six major stages in the Jewish life cycle. Also, JCM has something for our artists-in-the-making – the Paint a Picture in Light! Kids can paint Jewish objects by inserting colorful plastic pieces into a lighted board.
Did you know that you can rent toys from the Toybrary? JCM’s Toybrary is for children aged 2-5 years old. They can rent one to three educational toys for three weeks (for families with museum membership) and let the learning and joy continue at home.
JCM: Where time stops, the adventure begins, and family bonding continues
Museums expose children to stories and explanations that they won’t hear anywhere else, granting them a glimpse of different times and places and helping them gain a broader perspective and understanding of the world around them.
Curators recommend that families spend time at familiar exhibits to start a conversation without parents worrying about questions they can’t answer. There’s nothing more precious than sharing knowledge with your little one whenever you visit a museum, but it’s also ok to admit “I don’t know,” and try to find answers together.
Teach them to see exhibits as a piece of shared intergenerational knowledge and heritage they will take with them as they grow. And if you find a display they love, try visiting it again and again. You’ll be surprised at how their thoughts and perspective change through the years.
If you have spare time this week, don’t forget to visit the Jewish Children’s Museum. It is open to visitors from Monday to Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Now we’ve talked about the amazing activities you can do in JCM, what about the exciting educational activities at Chabad ELC? If you are interested in learning more, download our brochure today.
Get it here: https://chabadelc.com/
Happy Learning!
