1. What is the function of the Providence Children’s Museum?
The museum’s mission is to inspire lifelong learning for all through play, creativity and exploration. Families Together, our collaboration with the R.I. Department of Children, Youth and Families, uses the therapeutic value of play to help children and their guardians move toward permanency. The Creativity Initiative, launched in 2019, encourages children to connect with the creative community. And we have a tremendously important role to support families … by sharing resources that appropriately help them manage stress, grief and challenging topics.
2. How has the pandemic made people more aware of the importance of encouraging play and emotional and physical development for children?
With the COVID-19 pandemic, more people understand the stressors that families are under even during the best of times. Right now, kids are struggling with isolation, depression, learning loss and poverty. We know play isn’t frivolous but foundational. Kids are able to manage challenging situations and difficult feelings through play. Parents can connect and bond with their children through play. The skills and tools [children] learn now will help craft a better society in the future.
3. The museum closed in March due to the pandemic and only recently reopened. How did you manage the organization in this period?
When we shut our doors in March, we assumed we would provide online content for families for two weeks and be back in the building. When we realized it would be an extended closure, we had to make some very difficult and critical decisions about how to restrict our expenses. We relied heavily on the federal funding … as well as the generosity of private funders.
4. What are some of the virtual activities that you initiated this year?
We’re fortunate to have a creative and innovative educational team that saw the opportunity to showcase our activities online, and reach thousands of families. Since March, we have continuously offered weekly educational programming. Through our partnership with the [R.I. Department of Education], we offered 12 classes – three in Spanish – to any Rhode Island public school student at no cost. And we explored additional partnerships through our Virtual Lecture Series, where we brought in experts in childhood grief and mental health.
5. How can nonprofits and museums persevere through this crisis?
My best advice is to distill down to your essence. What do you do that no one else does – and how can you bring it to life in creative ways? We know that play is our secret sauce.
Mary MacDonald is a PBN staff writer. Contact her at Macdonald@PBN.com.
