Mister Rogers famously said that “for children, play is serious learning.” From motor skills to financial literacy and beyond, the Please Touch Museum’s mission has always been to teach children through experiential and play-based initiatives. This year, they are taking that a step further with the creation of  Museum Minis.

A subscription series designed to strengthen early learning skills in toddlers, Museum Minis is described as a “curated educational experience in the museum” for ages 2-3 (though children as young as 18 months and as old as 4 are accepted) with their caregivers. Each monthly series meets in three 90-minute sessions on Wednesday mornings (10—11:30 am), which are built around different content topics and incorporate science, literacy, and art. Each month is unique, so Minis can sign up over and over again, and learn something new.

“Museum Minis brings our littlest learners together in a fun, engaging, and focused way, which offers a unique weekly experience at the Please Touch Museum,” said Natalie Tahsler, Manager, Education Programs.  “While many of the children and caregivers will know the Museum exhibits from their self-guided visits, this program offers the opportunity to experience the high-quality educational programming we offer daily while doing the important work of preparing for Pre-K and beyond.  We are delighted to launch this new subscription series and excited to help toddlers learn – and love – the Museum even more.”

The Minis will enjoy art-making, storytelling, science projects, and more, while also learning skills like collaboration to lay the foundation for prekindergarten. Sessions are capped at 12 students and each child requires a caregiver.

To add to the feeling that the monthly Minis are a “cohort,” they will be given little aprons to decorate and wear each week that resemble those worn by the museum’s Educators. And to make the experience even more exclusive, the third and final week of each subscription series gives the Minis the opportunity to put on white gloves and handle some of the the classic toys from the museum’s collection up close!

Registration is now open for February and March 2020, and is $45 for Please Touch Museum members; or $90 for non-members (museum admission is included for each session). Each subscription also includes a free carousel ride, a Museum Minis apron, a train whistle, and one coffee or tea voucher for adult caregivers per session.

Photograph by Laura Swartz.