About Play

Learning Through Play

Children's museums are dedicated to preserving childhood, promoting lifelong learning through play and building social capital in the community. They cultivate children's curiosity and confidence while providing a community forum for dialogue and discovery. Researchers have long believed that children learn in a number of different ways and in a range of settings, considering play an important component of learning for children. Now more than ever, communities are beginning to embrace the role children's museums play in ensuring that every child has a chance to thrive in school and in life.

• Over 30 million children and families annually visit children's museums
• There are an estimated 300 children’s museums across the country

For more information on children’s museums, visit www.childrensmuseums.org

View 2007 Emmy award-winning video spotlighting the important role of play in a child’s development