The Children's Museum of Memphis Blog

Staff Profile: Rena Gatewood

2012-01-31T13:35:00.003-06:00

Name: Rena Gatewood
Position: Gallery Assistant
Hometown: Memphis, TN
How long have you been at CMOM? Two months
Favorite exhibit: The Dentist's Office
What was your favorite book as a child? Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Hobbies: Bike riding and reading
First museum ever visited: The Pink Palace
Fun fact: I started out as a teen volunteer during the summer of 2011.

Goodnight Moon

2012-01-24T11:14:00.006-06:00

Today for My First Book Club, we read Goodnight Moon, and made "Goodnight Moon" mobiles. Such a great story by Margaret Wise Brown. My First Book Club is every Tuesday at 10 a.m. Next week's story is The Hat by Jan Brett. Hope to see you there!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!

2012-01-12T16:10:00.004-06:00

Today for Book Worms, we read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Then we made our own coconut trees using markers and foam alphabet letters. While doing the craft we listened to "Chicka Chicka Funk" (a fun little rendition of the story). It was a blast! Next week for Book Worms, we're reading Clifford, the Big Red Dog. See you there!

Balancing Act is Leaving on January 15!

2012-01-11T10:48:00.003-06:00

Come see this fun exhibit before it leaves and learn to balance things...just like Jana!

Staff Profile: Mike Garries

2011-12-29T13:23:00.010-06:00

Name: Mike Garries
Position: Maintenance Technician
Hometown: Memphis, TN
How long have you been at CMOM: 5 years
Favorite exhibit: International Paper Treehouse
Favorite book as a child: The Nancy Drew series. Mysteries intrigue me, and I like figuring things out.
First museum ever visited? The Ramses exhibit at the Cook Convention Center
Hobbies: Drawing, painting, playing video games, Parkour/free running
Fun Fact: I was a Boy Scout until I was 14 and achieved the rank of First Class Scout.

MLK Day at CMOM

2011-12-17T09:19:00.000-06:00

Each year schools declare a holiday for students and businesses close in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King and his stand for peace and equality for all people. This year will make 25 years since the first official celebration of the King Holiday which was first observed in 1986 in New Hampshire. King's fight for justice was a fight which also included justice for all children.

So how do children today relate to the concept of equality and unity 44 years after King's death? The Children's Museum of Memphis would like to present the Dear Dr. King - Kid' s Dream project to allow children the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas of peace, unity and equality. Children of all ages are asked to write letters to Dr. King, draw pictures, and record videos to express their visions and dreams of what peace and unity looks like today through the eyes of a child.

At least 100 entries will be displayed in the Dear Dr. King - Kid's Dream exhibition at The Children's Museum during the Ignite the Dream Celebration on January 16, 2012. The public is invited to attend. Each participant will receive an official Keeper of the Dream Award which will be presented during an invitation only award ceremony at a later date.

Letters may be mailed to CMOM or dropped off at the admissions desk. All entries must be received by the close of business on January 6, 2012.

Please mail letters to :
The Children's Museum of Memphis
Attn: Programs Department
2525 Central Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104

For more information, please call 901-458-2678, ext. 221, or visit CMOM.COM.

Staff Profile: Ivy Taylor

2011-12-13T16:56:00.000-06:00

Name: Ivy Taylor
Position: Visitor Services Coordinator
Hometown: Memphis, TN
How long have you been at CMOM: 16 and a half years
Favorite exhibit: Sir-Dance-A-Lot
Favorite book as a child: The Cat in the Hat
First museum ever visited? The Pink Palace
Hobbies: Sewing, cooking, reading, and getting to know new people
Fun Fact: In October, I dressed up as a pirate for CMOM's Halloween event!

P.S. Ivy is often the first face guests see when they enter the doors of the Children's Museum. Her sense of humor is contagious!

Staff Profile: Cliff Drake

2011-11-29T14:31:00.000-06:00

Name: Cliff Drake
Position: Director of Operations
Hometown: Covington, TN
How long have you been at CMOM?: 7 years
Favorite exhibit: Going Places
Favorite book as a child: Tom Sawyer
First museum ever visited: Casey Jones Museum in Jackson, TN
Hobbies: model cars, gardening
Fun fact: I love to water ski. I still have my favorite ski and vest.

Lunch & Monsters

2011-10-27T16:03:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I went to an Education That Works mentor luncheon at Memphis Catholic High School (they gave us coozies, hence the above picture!). Dear readers, I don’t know if you all knew this, but we have four interns from Memphis Catholic. The school’s Education That Works program, which is in its sixth year, is designed to prepare students for their futures in the professional community (aka, “the real world” that teachers have referred to since the beginning of time). As part of this program, Memphis Catholic students intern at over 80 organizations in the Memphis area and are able to experience hands-on learning about the work world.

At the luncheon, Ted Schreck, the director of work/study for Education That Works, Jim Pohlman, the principal of Memphis Catholic, and Mimi Uhlmann, the director of corporate recruiting for the program, spoke to the mentors about the importance of Education That Works. Students/interns also spoke about the importance of the program to their high school experiences. Our interns here at CMOM do a little bit of everything, from helping prepare materials for crafts to assisting gallery staff. And they do it very well! By the way, the food at the luncheon was good (see below)!

If you know of a business that would benefit from participating in the Education That Works program, please contact Mimi Uhlmann at 901-569-1206.

In other news, CMOM’s 2nd annual Monster Bash is this Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.! We’re super excited about it. There will be fun crafts, goopy science experiments, a staff costume contest, a drawing for free membership…and some fun surprises! Be there!

Staff Profile: Keosha Williams

2011-10-27T08:52:00.000-05:00

Name: Keosha Williams
Position: Administrative Assistant
Hometown: Memphis, TN
How long at CMOM: I began at the museum in 2000 as a gallery assistant and 2004 became the receptionist
Favorite exhibit: Art Smart Studio
Favorite book as a child: This Is the House that Jack Built
First museum ever visited: the Pink Palace
Hobbies: Party and event planning
Fun fact: In 1987, I was one of the spokespeople for Smucker’s Jelly and traveled within the City of Memphis giving an opening speech for the head associates of Smuckers.

Autumn Leaves

2011-10-21T14:07:00.000-05:00

For this weeks Tot Art we created these fun and colorful leaves. The kids had a lot of fun AND it was virtually mess-free!

Here’s what you need:

Tempera paint-we used red, yellow and orange

White school glue

Wax paper

Scissors

First, take a large sheet of wax paper and fold it in half. Mix the tempera paint with the glue. I used a 2:1 paint/glue ratio. Once you’ve got your mixture, open the wax paper, like a book and put a dollop of each color in the center. Fold the other side of the wax paper onto the paint.

Using your fingers, squish the paint between the wax paper. Experiment with textures and come up with some great paterns!

When finished, let dry for 45 minutes to an hour. When it’s dry, have your toddler cut out different leaf shapes. This is also an opportunity to explore your back yard or local park. Find different types of leaves and try to recreate them! Have fun and HAPPY FALL!

Fire Safety

2011-10-20T13:41:00.000-05:00

The Children's Museum of Memphis is coming to the Memphis Zoo! On Saturday, October 22, CMOM’s director of education Felicia Peat, our maintenance technician Mike Garries, and I will implement several fire safety programs, from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. We are thrilled to display and demonstrate our new Surrey Fire Safety House. We hope to see you there!

Staff Profile: Jim Hyde

2011-10-14T11:16:00.000-05:00

Name: Jim Hyde
Position: Exhibits Manager
Hometown: Grew up in Little Rock, but I moved around quite a bit
How long at CMOM: 14 years
Favorite exhibit: CMOM-TV--I love watching the young performers.
Favorite book as a child: Are You My Mother?; my mom would read it to me while my soup cooled off.
First museum ever visited: Ripley's Believe It Or Not in St. Augustine, FL. The magic faucet left quite an impression!
Hobbies: Writing, playing and recording my own music
Fun fact: In 1997, I was hired by CMOM for a week's worth of work. They just kept finding more things for me to do!

Ballet on Wheels!

2011-10-13T09:31:00.000-05:00

Ballet on Wheels will perform at the Children's Museum of Memphis this Saturday, October 15, at noon. Come see graceful dancers and learn more about Ballet on Wheels!

Happy Birthday Faith Ringgold!

2011-10-06T14:38:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday to artist and author Faith Ringgold, who was born October 8, 1930. We’ve read one of Ringgold’s books, the wonderful Tar Beach, during Storytime on several occasions. In addition to being a great story, Tar Beach has amazing illustrations (and was once featured on an episode of Reading Rainbow!) Ringgold’s other books include Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky, If A Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks, and The Invisible Princess.
Also, she was the subject of Fabulous Fine Art last month. See our replica of one of her paintings below:

Here’s information Ringgold’s 9/11 Story Quilt, which is currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: http://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-museum/press-room/exhibitions/2011/911-peace-story-quilt
Do something fun for your birthday, Ms. Ringgold!

Halloweeen! The extra E is for Expanding Matter!

2011-10-04T16:24:00.001-05:00

I tried to think of the most harmless thing. Something I loved from my childhood. Something that could never ever possibly destroy us. --Dr. Ray Stantz

The Children’s Museum of Memphis is getting ready for Halloween. We’re prepping crafts and gooey experiments for our October 29^th Monster Bash celebration! You’ll be able to make a creepy witches hand, slime and hunt for candy!

Yesterday I had the extreme pleasure of purchasing copious amounts of marshmallows...I felt like a 'shelf clearer' on that coupon show, except I paid full price and I'm nice. In addition, I received our edible markers for our Frankenstein craft--marshmallow Frankensteins. (or as Tamara correctly calls him “Frankenstein’s Monster”). Having never used edible markers, I had to try those out. I learn by doing—that’s good considering I work at an awesome hands-on museum! The marker went on smooth as I drew a primitive smiley face and then without any warning, popped him in my mouth—mmmmm sugar!

As the ladies in my office watched me devour one marshmallow man (or woman) after another, I had an idea—more like a flashback, a sugar induced flashback.

It was Easter, 1985. Exhausted from spending the better part of my morning searching for hard boiled eggs, I dug into my Easter basket and pulled out a Peep…and then I ate him. Later that day, my family gathered around our microwave and watched the Peep expand and change shape. In my short 4 years of life, it was literally the coolest thing I had ever seen.

“Again” I shouted!

Beeeeep

“AGAIN”!

It is a tradition that has lived on. I can’t wait to teach my nephew how to microwave a Peep. Until that time, this is an activity that you can do at home while learning about how microwaves work! Ohhhh ahhhhh. I would be remiss if I didn’t display a bit of Caution

This a
ctivity should be done with adult supervision. The contents in the microwave oven get very hot. VERY HOT. Please let the marshmallow cool before touching or eating. It’s also a good idea at this moment to instill the idea in your chil
d that they ALWAYS need supervision and permission to use any of the kitchen appliances. You just made a teachable moment even more teachable!

Yay, you!

What you need:

Marshmallows

Microwavable Plate

Microwave

What to do:

Before doing anything, ask your child a few questions. What do you think is going to happen?Why? This helps them form a hypothesis (an important part of the scientific method).

Once you have some idea’s as to what is going to happen, place one or two marshmallows on a plate. Place inside the microwave for 30 seconds. Watch and document what happens. Some great questions to ask are: why do you think it’s getting bigger? What do you think is inside?

This is also a great time to experiment further. What do you think will happen if we put the marshmallow in for 45 seconds? A minute? Test these theories until your house smells like a toasted marshmallow!

Now Here Comes the Science:

So what exactly is happening? Microwave ovens are a unique appliance. Inside, microwaves swing back and forth at a frequency of about 2 billion cycles per second. While they are doing this, they are making the water molecules dance! Well not so much dance as move. As they move faster, the molecules get hot and then hotter. The heat from the molecules causes the food to heat up. Now when things heat up, they expand. As the marshmallow heats up, it too expands.

Take your hands and rub them together. As your hands move faster and faster, you can feel the heat. This is like what is happening inside your food. As the molecules move faster and faster, they are creating heat. Yay Microwave ovens!

MARSHMALLOWS **jazzhands**

Staff Profile: Jana Smith

2011-10-04T10:09:00.000-05:00

This post marks our inaugural staff profile. This is a great way to get to know our spectacular CMOM staff. So, without further ado...

Name: Jana Smith
Position: Visitor Services Coordinator
Hometown: West Memphis, AR
How long have you been at CMOM? Since July 2010
Favorite exhibit: The Skyscraper
Favorite book as child: Harold and the Purple Crayon
First museum ever visited: The Pink Palace
Fun fact: I was born in Texas and was adopted, then moved to Arkansas.
Hobbies: Camping, biking, spending time outside, and collecting books and pens
P.S. Jana is also a HUGE Arkansas Razorbacks fan. Woo Pig Sooie!

Jasper Johns

2011-10-01T09:34:00.000-05:00

Here's our version of the Jasper Johns painting mentioned in yesterday's post. Remember, Fabulous Fine Art is every Friday at 10 a.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.

Art & Info

2011-09-30T09:33:00.000-05:00

Jasper Johns (born on May 15, 1930) was the subject of today’s Fabulous Fine Art. Johns is an American artist who has painted flags, maps, targets, letters, and numbers. We created replicas of his painting Numbers in Color, 1958–59 using number stencils and dot markers (images coming soon!). Fun fact: On February 15, 2011, Jasper Johns received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.

In other news…
On Saturday, October 1, the Memphis chapter of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month Committee will sponsor a Communication and Learning Fair at the Children’s Museum of Memphis from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Come to discover many resources focusing on speech language, hearing, communication, learning, development, health and well-being. Learn about and experience:
• Speech-language milestones
• Developmental milestones
• Hearing screenings
• Augmentative communication demonstrations
• Using iPads and iPods for learning and communication
Hope to see you there!

Berthe Morisot!

2011-09-23T13:55:00.000-05:00

Berthe Morisot (1841 – 1895) was the subject of today’s Fabulous Fine Art. We created replicas of her painting Peasant Girl Among Tulips, which is on display at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens.

Morisot was a French Impressionist painter whose work is also on display at Musée d’Orsay in Paris. With this activity, we used construction paper, watercolors, and dot markers, and this project was one where each participant’s individual creativity could shine. We’ll be doing this activity again tomorrow at 2 p.m. See you there!

Here is the actual painting!

Fun Project!

2011-09-20T10:50:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered what to do with children’s books that have been “loved” a lot (i.e., some of the pages are torn out)? Well, you can actually make your own notebook or sketchbook. This is what we did. If you have a book with torn pages but, say, a beautiful cover, this project is perfect.

First, take out all the pages of the book (we like to cut these up to use for collages and other art projects).

Then, grab paper (either notebook paper or computer paper) and trim it to fit, if necessary.

Next, apply glue to the spine (we used Tacky Glue) and attach paper to the it, making sure the paper is collated as neatly as possible.

Close the book, and secure with binder clips.

We let the book dry overnight. The next day, we had our custom-made notebook!

It’s very unique, environmentally friendly and great for kids and adults alike!

Renoir!

2011-09-16T09:39:00.000-05:00

The focus of today’s Fabulous Fine Art was Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841 – 1919). Renoir loved to paint flowers, and that’s what we did. Check them out! Also, we’ll do this activity again tomorrow at 2 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Hello September!

2011-09-01T10:51:00.000-05:00

September is here! This month will bring some wonderful things to the Children’s Museum of Memphis. There is a new traveling exhibit, Balancing Act, which will arrive on September 17. The interactive exhibit focuses on the physical nature of balance and the body systems that work together to achieve that balance. Through a variety of challenge activities, such as balance beams, bridges and balance boards, you can get into the act and test your sense of balance in a fun, playful environment. Balancing Act will be here until January 15.
Also, on September 30, we will host the first CMOM Children’s Ball. Special guests Cinderella (Valerie Calhoun) and her Prince Charming (Joey Sulipeck) will delight young and old while bringing the fairy tale to life. The Children’s Ball is from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Also, autumn begins on September 23. It’s the season of changing leaves, football games, and beautiful weather (full disclosure: autumn is my favorite season). Come visit us this month!

Say “Hello” to Your Friends…

2011-08-12T11:22:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday to Ann M. Martin, author of The Baby-Sitters Club series! Many girls grew up reading this series, including yours truly. In a way, The Baby-Sitters Club series is similar to the goal of the Children’s Museum of Memphis—the books were fun and enjoyable, but definitely offered opportunities to learn. Personally, I learned about diabetes, various tourist attractions in New York City, and Newberry-award-winning books from reading the series. Ann M. Martin’s books brought joy to many young lives, and we salute her!

Celebrity Block Party

2011-08-11T09:33:00.000-05:00

Back-to-School Celebrity Block Party
Saturday, August 13, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

CMOM is rolling out the red carpet for a back-to-school Celebrity Block Party! Spongebob, Dora & Diego, Spiderman, Dorothy, Toto, Tinman, Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and others all come together for a party to remember. Pose with your favorite characters for pictures and collect autographs. Cast your vote for best character in the Kids Choice Awards. We will also have games, face painting and balloon art. Admission is free for museum members and $15 for non-members - museum admission is included! Don’t forget your camera!

25 Things!

2011-07-14T16:36:00.000-05:00

25 Things to Do!

Back by popular demand! Please find a list of 25 things to do at CMOM this summer.

1. Stick your hand in the tornado.
2. Build a building and make it fall down at the earthquake table.
3. Withdraw money from the ATM at the bank.
4. Play chess with a giant chess board in Playing Together: Games (which will be at CMOM until the end of July).
5. Challenge your mom or dad in a game of Checkers.
6. Put on a puppet show for your friends in the Bookatarium.
7. Watch the train (and the knights standing guard) above Sir Dance-A-Lot.
8. Listen to thunder in The Perfect Storm.
9. Play Rangoli in the Art Smart Studio.
10. Create a masterpiece out of recycled materials in the Art Smart studio.
11. Swivel your hips and sing along to Elvis’ Hound Dog in CMOM-TV.
12. Greet a CMOM staff member at the CMOM castle (also known as the Admissions Desk).
13. Make the hot-air balloon go up in the air.
14. Tinker with a bunch of lights, doorknobs, and doorbells in Your House, My House.
15. Play Human Bingo on Sunday at 3 p.m.
16. Count the number of slides in the museum—then slide down them!
17. Play a Guessing Game with Grandma Willow in the Treehouse.
18. Explore gravity and motion with Totally Tubular.
19. Take your picture with our very own Lady Liberty statue.
20. Learn about the history of the Mississippi River.
21. See a gigantic pen, pencil, and paintbrush.
22. Fly a plane in the Wind Tunnel.
23. Learn (and sing along to) the Booster Seat song.
24. Count the number of cows in Andy Warhol’s Cow (located in the Art Smart Studio).
25. Crack the code in the Bank’s safe.

Patricia Polacco

2011-07-12T14:06:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the birthday of Patricia Polacco, the wonderful and prolific children’s book author. Her works include Mr. Lincoln’s Way, The Keeping Quilt, Chicken Sunday, and Mrs. Katz and Tush. Mrs. Katz and Tush in particular is a Storytime favorite here at CMOM. It’s the story of the bond between an elderly Jewish woman, a young African-American boy, and a cat who’s “such a person.” The last time I read this book at Storytime, I got a little choked up as I read the last page (don’t judge). Happy belated birthday Ms. Polacco. You’re “such a person!”

Friday and Saturday Summer FUN Hours.

2011-06-27T09:21:00.000-05:00

We decided to scale back our Summer of Fun hours.

Until July 31, CMOM will be open Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. We will be open from 9 am. until 5 p.m. Sunday - Thursday. Come to CMOM and beat the heat!

Andy Warhol!

2011-06-25T09:20:00.000-05:00

At Friday's Fabulous Fine Art, we created replicas of Andy Warhol's (1928 - 1987) U.S. Dollar Sign, 1982. Fun fact: Andy Warhol's nephew, James Warhola (Andy dropped the "a" from his last name), has written children's books about his famous uncle: Uncle Andy's and Uncle Andy's Cats.

Fabulous Fine Art is every Friday at 10 a.m. Next week's artist is Georges Seurat. We hope to see you there!

Games!

2011-06-16T10:47:00.000-05:00

Last week we opened an old favorite here at CMOM, The Games: Playing together exhibit! This exhibit is all about different games from around the world and through time. Some of these games are favorites that everyone knows how to play like checkers, and then new games like Pig-in-a-pen and Mancala. As visitors play together they learn about cooperation, build skills, gain knowledge and share memories. Games of strategy, math, luck and physical coordination are all featured. These games show how fun it is to play with others and also to learn about games you never knew existed! There is definitely a game for everyone! We hope that you will join us for this fabulous fun exhibit that will be here till July 31st!

The featured games include: Nine Men's Morris, Checkers, Chess, Tic-Tac-Toe, Pig-in-a-Pen, Sequence, Boc-Tin, Dominoes, Mancala, Skittles, Dutch Shuffleboard, Table Ice Hockey, Hopscotch and Senet.

Summer of Fun Hours

2011-06-08T13:07:00.000-05:00

We decided to scale back our Summer of Fun hours. Until July 31, CMOM will be open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. We will be open from 9 am. until 5 p.m. Sunday - Wednesday. Come to CMOM and beat the heat!

Goodbye to Oz!

2011-05-31T16:54:00.000-05:00

Why is the Cowardly Lion looking so glum? It’s because the Welcome to Oz exhibit closes on June 2. Come experience this exhibit again (or for the first time) before it leaves this week. Dress up as the characters from the book, test your wits like the Scarecrow, and click your heels in the giant silver shoes to return home. We hope everyone who has seen this exhibit has enjoyed it as much as we have!

SUMMER CAMP at The Children's Museum of Memphis!

2011-05-31T14:15:00.000-05:00

What will you say when you teacher asks, “What did you do this summer?” Your answer could be. “I played with bugs and found buried treasures at The Children’s Museum of Memphis!” What better way to spend the summer?

Backyard Bugs and Butterflies Summer Camp:
June 27 – July 1
8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

There’s no need to be afraid of the fascinating small wonders found in the world around us. Campers will discover what is cool about creepy, crawling, intriguing little critters and the roles they play in nature when they sign up for our Backyard Bugs and Butterflies Summer Camp. Girls and boys will become entomologist for a week as they study and observe bugs found right in our own backyard. Each child will photograph, identify and record their findings as they investigate bug behaviors. They will also witness the complete life cycle of the butterfly and make their own butterfly inspired wall hangings. Who can sit still while cheering for their favorite insect in the Olympic Bug Races and planting flowers and foliage to attract beautiful butterflies?

Cherished Treasures Adventure Camp:
July 11 – 15
8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Follow the map that leads to Cherished Treasures Adventure Camp where girls and boys will travel around the globe and explore 7 of the world’s most famous treasure islands. Buried chests full of handmade personalized jewelry, uniquely designed fancy belt buckles, and priceless tie-dyed t-shirts await explorers as they learn about the ambush of Nombre de Dios in the Caribbean Islands and the hidden treasures in the Tusket Islands that belonged to the d’Entremont family. Campers will listen to lost tales of sunken ships as they create their very own message in a bottle, replicate lost art from famous artists like Van Gogh and maybe even walk the plank if they dare.

Camp sessions are designed for ages 6 years old and up
$130.00 per session. Snacks provided.
Sign up today as space is limited.
Call 901-458-2678 for more information.

Look Whoo's Counting!

2011-05-26T15:25:00.000-05:00

Today for Bookworms we read Look Whoo’s Counting, and we made owl collages with numbers! This craft helped show how shapes and numbers when collaged can work together to create an object. I had one 3 year old participant who helped me count all through the book. She made this lovely owl (with a mustache)!

Join us next week when we read Yertle The Turtle at 3pm Thursday @CMOM!

Fabulous Feather Painting

2011-05-23T13:32:00.000-05:00

These paintings were made using feather quills and tempera paint. Some kids mixed using the pointed tip of the feather, and the actual feather. This technique created line variations in these works of art!

It's Almost Summer!

2011-05-19T11:03:00.000-05:00

...and with this summer comes the opportunity to play longer in the museum with our "Summer of FUN" extended hours! We will be open 7 Days a Week from 9am-7pm May 30( Memorial Day)-July 31! This means that not only are we open every day this summer, but we are open late so that everyone has the opportunity to beat the heat here this summer! These extended hours also give families and tourists 14 more hours a week during summer vacation to enjoy the museum together. CMOM is the “Cool Place to Play” during the hot summer months! So come spend your summer nights here at the museum!

Little Monster Did It!

2011-05-12T09:57:00.000-05:00

Today for Bookworms we will be reading Little Monster Did It! by Helen Cooper. This book is about a little girl, her pet monster, and a new baby brother. It deals with sibling jealously in a light hearted way. For the craft we will be making our own monsters. These are good monsters though, and wont mess anything up like the monster in the book! These little creatures are made out of play-dough. The children will be able to shape the body however they choose and adorn their monsters with feather, sequins, googly eyes, and then color on the play-dough with markers! All around this will be a fun activity for all ages and encourage creativity and different kind of development. Here is a great article about how important play-dough can be to development. http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5052528_play-dough-enhance-infants-development.html

So join us today! Bookworms begins at 3pm!

Record Bowls for The Children's Museum of Memphis' Flashback Party!

2011-05-02T14:32:00.000-05:00

This Thursday, May 5th, The Children’s Museum of Memphis is hosting the Flashback Party fundraiser. It’s a casual party for our grandparents and empty nesters, and an invitation for them to re-discover The Children’s Museum of Memphis. While the party focuses on our Baby Boomers, everyone is welcome to come and have fun. We’ll have a DJ spinning the best of ‘60s and ‘70s music and Café’ Society and Central BBQ will provide amazing hors d’oeuvres! We’ll also have wine and a selection of beers from Boscos!

Click here for our official invitation!
For more info go to CMOM's website

If you come, you may notice some awesome looking center pieces. I say they’re awesome ‘cause I made them. The programs dept. was tasked with making some inexpensive themed center pieces. So we went to our local Goodwill store and snatched up a bunch of old records.

We made these cute record bowls. It’s very easy and fun to do. It can definitely be an at home family activity…possibly done on one of our Memphis rainy days!

First get a cookie sheet, large bowl, and records. Pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees f.

Place the bowl up-side-down on the cookie sheet and the record on top of the inverted bowl. Keep an eye on the project. It should only take about 10 minutes or less in the oven to make the record pliable. The record will naturally take the shape of the bowl. Once it has, you can take the record out of the oven. Of course it will be hot, but will usually set in about 15 seconds.

We’ve seen these bowls go for 10-30 dollars online and at shops. All in all each bowl cost us about 1.50! Great deal and a fun family project. Win-Win-Win!

Ozapalooza!

2011-04-29T09:40:00.000-05:00

Come to CMOM tomorrow for Ozapalooza! We will have crafts and activities based on the "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" exhibit. The exhibit will be at CMOM until June 2.

What are you doing this Saturday!?

2011-04-14T12:44:00.000-05:00

Well, why don't you come to the Children's Museum this Saturday!? We will be having a special event, Jamming to the Music: Spring Fest 2011. We will feature local bands so bring your lawn chairs, blankets and picnic lunches to chill out and enjoy continuous stage performances! Which will including the Luv Clowns and The Doorknobs. There will also be face painting, Pony rides, animal balloons, crafts, bouncy houses, races and concessions! There will be fun for all ages and everyone in attendance. All of the activities are included with regular museum admission of $10 per person ages 1-100, and free for our members!We cant wait to see you this Saturday! Its going to be a blast! In case of rain, the event will be cancelled.

CMOM Love!

2011-04-12T11:00:00.000-05:00

This lovely image was spotted in the Art Smart Studio. Thanks for the kind words, Marah! We appreciate it.

Finger Painting!!!

2011-04-07T16:24:00.000-05:00

Today at The Children's Museum of Memphis, we finger painted for Tot Art! Initially, we were going to finger paint magnetic picture frames. It didn’t take long until we were painting the frames, table, hands and each other! We always use washable finger paints so parents need not worry!

It’s so much fun to watch our tots discover finger paints. Their faces lit up as the squished the paint between their fingers. And while it’s super fun(and also super messy), there are also many benefits to finger painting! Check out this article by Alison Panik about Finger Painting with a Purpose!

Still too scared to try this at home? Come on over to The Children’s Museum of Memphis! Tot Art is every Thursday at 10am. The program is available to all children 4 and under, and it’s FREE with admission. And if you’re a member, its super free!

Recycled Crayons 2: Electric Boogaloo

2011-04-01T12:47:00.000-05:00

The programs office at The Children's Museum of Memphis has become a crayon recycle factory! We have 2 buckets of crayon nubs, and we've been pumping out brand spankin' new chubby crayons! In a previous post here, we showed you an easy way to repurpose old crayons using a muffin pan. We quickly grew tired of the circles and found relatively inexpensive silicone muffin pans in all types of shapes. We bought a pan with six star shaped molds. The design makes it especially easy for tiny hands to hold!

We're looking for a summer intern!!!

2011-03-30T11:12:00.000-05:00

Are you looking for a fun and rewarding internship this summer? We are currently searching for our next summer intern! Outgoing and energetic individuals are needed for this position. Develop and implement fun, educational and interactive programs for our museum audience. Assist the Education Director in scheduled outreach programs on or off museum property. Encourage positive interaction between children and adults. We are looking for the best and brightest to deliver dynamite programs to kids of all ages. You’ll receive hands-on experience in the Educational Programs department. This is an unpaid internship. Must be a team player and a great sense of humor is a plus. Prior experience teaching or working with children in an informal setting is encouraged. Must currently be enrolled in College or University.

Sound awesome? Download the intern application here: http://bit.ly/i0tQzY and email it along with a resume to Loni.Wellman@cmom.com

here's a little more info!

PRIMARY JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Educational Program Duties and Responsibilities

• Facilitates scheduled learning labs on or off museum property

• Assists Education Manager in developing and implementing new educational programs

• Participates as directed in implementation of programs developed by the Program Manager

• Creates fun, educational, and interactive programs and executes them effectively

• Key figure in Preparation of program materials, activity set up, clean up, and re-organization and inventory of supplies

• Encourages positive interaction between children and adults

• Attends staff meetings as assigned

• Stays informed and current about museum activities and events Other

• Exhibits a willingness to perform whatever duties are necessary, even if not specifically stated in job description • Supports the mission, core values and philosophy of The Children’s Museum of Memphis and adheres to all work rules, policies and procedures.

• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills and Experience

• Currently enrolled in College or University

• Prior experience teaching or working with children in a program setting • Excellent verbal and interpersonal communications skills

• High Energy, stamina and enthusiasm for informal education

• Ability to manage multiple tasks

Recycled Crayons!

2011-03-22T16:12:00.000-05:00

We go through a lot of things here at The Children’s Museum of Memphis. In our Art Smart Studio we had a tub of crayon nubs. They were still useful so we didn’t want to throw them away, but…they were nubs. So we did the next best thing! We recycled them! It’s super easy to do. All you need is a cupcake tin, an oven (we used a toaster oven) and old stubby nubby crayons.

First, remove all the paper from the crayons. While you are removing the paper, it’s a good time to pre-heat the oven to 275 degrees. Most of the paper from ours was already missing. After the paper wrapper is removed, sort the crayons into different colors. Unless you want rainbow crayons, then just toss them in the cupcake tin. Once sorted fill the cupcake tin about ¾ of the way.

Place the crayons into the oven for about 10 minutes, or until they look melted. It doesn’t take long. When they are finished take them out and let them cool for about 15-20 minutes.

We used cupcake liners for most of them. It’s easier to pop them out. If you don’t have cupcake liners, I’d suggest greasing the pan just a bit. We’ve found that these recycled crayons fit better with younger hands, and they’re perfect for our tots who are developing their motor skills!

Erin Go Bragh! Irish Dancers @ CMOM!

2011-03-09T11:46:00.000-06:00

Celebrate St. Patricks Day a wee bit early with CMOM. This Saturday(March 12) The Children's Museum of Memphis will have a performance by Inis Acla Irish School of Dance students. These young dancers will take the Little Oprheum Stage at 1pm. These are some very talented Memphians and CMOM is glad to have them back. Don't know what Traditional Irish Dance is? Think Riverdance...except awesome-er! See you this weekend!

Fabulous Fine Art with Frida on Friday!

2011-03-03T11:23:00.000-06:00

As seen by the title of this post, I love alliteration. Frida Kahlo (1907 – 1954) was a Mexican artist who often painted self-portraits. And she’s the subject of tomorrow’s Fabulous Fine Art! Come join us tomorrow at 10 a.m. for this exciting program! And if you can’t make it tomorrow, Fabulous Fine Art is every Friday at 10 a.m. Hope to see you there!

All About Saturdays

2011-02-18T11:09:00.000-06:00

Thinking of something fun to do with the kids this weekend? Come to CMOM! Here’s what we’ve got going on this Saturday:

11 a.m. Heart Art—For the month of February, we’ll be making “heart-y” projects. Last week, we made Valentines. Come find out what we’ll do this week!

1 p.m. Okie Dokie Karaoke—Were you looking for an opportunity to belt out some Hannah Montana tunes? Stop by the Little Orpheum stage and sing for everyone.

2 p.m. Welcome to Oz—Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been doing art projects based on the “Welcome to Oz” exhibit.” In the past, we’ve made lion magnets and Wicked Witch of the West hats. Come see what we’re doing this week!

3:30 p.m. Super Science—We always have interesting science experiments brewing.

And, in addition to our programs, we’ve got the aforementioned “Welcome to Oz” exhibit, plus “Out on a Limb.” Stop by and see us!

What to do When CMOM's Closed...

2011-02-09T19:09:00.000-06:00

Thursday is another snow day for Memphis and the metro area. We are usually a creative and educational refuge for kids (and parents) with the Cabin Fever. However, because of the inclement weather and the impending morning road conditions, The Children’s Museum of Memphis will be closed tomorrow February 10, 2011. But just because you can’t come to CMOM doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some great hands-on activities at home! Here are a few ideas from the brain trust that is your programs department.

Snowpocolyps 2011 Painting

A fresh snowfall is the perfect canvas!

Go to the kitchen and grab these materials:
* Food coloring
* Bowls or Ice cube tray
* Water
For each bowl or section of ice cube tray use a different color of food coloring. Mix 1-2 drops of water per 2-3 table spoons of water. Use old paint brushes to apply the paint to the outside snow. You can also use spoons to splatter the snow with color if you want a Jackson Pollock look. You’re front yard will look amazing!!!

To change it up, add the food color and water to old spray bottles and spray the snow different colors.

From experience, food coloring is generally NOT washable so either be careful, or wear old clothes that you don’t care about!

Ice Fishing
Don’t wanna venture outside? Try one of CMOM’s popular science experiments and learn about freezing points and the chemical NaCl. When it snows, what happens to everything? When the streets get icy, we call out the salt trucks and they pour salt on the roads. But why does it work?

Here’s what you need:
* Ice
* Water
* Pieces of string or yarn
* Salt
* A bowl
Fill a bowl with ice. Then fill the bowl about a third of the way with water. Take the pieces of string and lay them across the ice cubes. Next sprinkle the salt onto the string and ice. When the hits the ice it actually lowers the freezing point. Do you know what temp water turns to ice? 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The salt lowers that a few degrees so a water and salt solution will freeze at 30 degrees instead of 32.

Next, pull up on the string and see how many ice cubes you caught. The salt lowered the freezing point. It created a pool of water on the ice cube. The water salt solution became more diluted, so the freezing point rose, and the strings froze to the ice cube

Edible Finger Paint
Don’t want to do anything that has to do with snow or the cold? Try this recipe for edible finger paint.

Go to the pantry and grab that box of vanilla pudding. Don’t have pudding? Try condensed milk or cool whip. Mix in a little bit of food coloring. One drop is really enough…but remember the advice from above: food coloring probably will NOT wash out of clothes. If you don’t have old clothes to wear or smocks, try to use fruit juice or powdered jello as your dye.

Enjoy your day in! And send us pictures of your snow day adventures to Loni.Wellman@cmom.com

Toddler Art!

2011-01-31T10:30:00.000-06:00

It’s the process of creating, not the product!

Thursday’s are the messiest days at The Children’s Museum of Memphis! This is because every Thursday at 10am is Tot Art! Tot Art is a time for parents and toddlers to get down to the basics of art. And the basics are usually messy!

During Tot Art, kids get to experiment. This past week we experimented with textures! We mixed finger paints with different elements. The red finger paint was mixed with bird seed while the blue finger paint was mixed with glitter. The final color purple was mixed with shaving cream. The toddlers really got into the painting, some picking their favorite colors other picking their favorite textures.

Coming up with the idea’s is also an experiment in CMOM’s Programs office! No doubt you’ll find different types of arts and crafts at any giving time; many in the experimental phase. A lot goes into developing process based projects for toddlers. Luckily our office is a haven for creativity!

A great idea may not translate into a fun creative project for our youngest visitors. When creating our Tot Art projects, we aim to introduce our visitors to new mediums. We also want to do stuff that our parents are too scared to try at home!

Tot Art is EVERY Thursday at 10am at The Children's Museum of Memphis!

What's your favorite children's book quote?

2011-01-25T13:42:00.001-06:00

Lately, we've been putting quotes from children's books on the dry erase board that lists our daily programs. One of my favorites is from The Cat in the Hat Comes Back:

When our mother went
Down to the town for the day,
She said, "Somebody has to
Clean all this away.
Somebody, SOMEBODY
Has to, you see."
Then she picked out two Somebodies.
Sally and me.

What's your favorite children's book quote?

We're off to see the Wizard!!! This Saturday!

2011-01-13T13:14:00.000-06:00

This Saturday will be the grand opening of our newest exhibit! The Wonderful Wizard of Oz! We know you have seen the characters floating around the museum lately, and now it is time for you to experience the books first hand!

Follow the yellow brick road and step into the pages of the book, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," with the artwork of W.W. Denslow, at The Children's Museum of Memphis January 15-June 12, 2011. Perfect for children and adults of any age, visitors feel like they're walking through a storybook as they learn about science, art and history against the backdrop of the first American fairy tale.

We are excited to share this exhibit with you and hope to see you on Saturday, January
15th!
The exhibit is included with museum admission. For more information, visit CMOM.COM.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree Rock with Santa!

2010-12-05T11:37:00.000-06:00

Happening this Saturday, December 11, 10am – 1pm !

This Saturday Santa will be visiting us at the Children's Museum of Memphis!! Do you know what the coolest part of it is...Can you guess!? He will be arriving in a helicopter from the NORTH POLE!!

To celebrate his arrival we will have all sorts of fun activities! We will have horse and carriage rides with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa’s Workshop, plenty of crafts, Christmas Tree Lane, caroling, and a performance by the University of Memphis’ Suzuki String Program.

The event is included with museum admission and FREE for members!

CMOM Love!

2010-11-30T10:04:00.000-06:00

Spotted: This succinct love letter to our beloved museum was found in the Art Smart Studio on Saturday. Thanks so much for your words of appreciation, Sydney! You rock, too!

NEW HOURS!!

2010-11-27T11:58:00.000-06:00

Have you heard the good news!? Well the word out is that......

CMOM will now be OPEN 7 days a week from 9-5!

Now there will be more hours to fly the airplane, go fishing, read a story, play dress-up, shop in our grocery, climb the skyscraper, see yourself on TV, and much much more! We are so excited, and we hope you are too!

Ezra Jack Keats

2010-11-24T14:58:00.000-06:00

If you have joined us recently for Storytime, you have probably heard an Ezra Jack Keats story. Many people are familiar with The Snowy Day, which won a 1963 Caldecott Medal. However, Keats was a prolific children’s book author, and this classic is just one of many great stories from the author. Lately, we’ve read A Letter to Amy, Peter’s Chair, Whistle for Willie, and Pet Show!.

Ezra Jack Keats was born in Brooklyn in 1911, and New York City serves as a backdrop to his stories. The stories feature children from diverse backgrounds who face timeless childhood dilemmas, like how to adjust to a new sibling (the issue at hand in Peter’s Chair.) Check out one of Ezra Jack Keats’ classics soon!

Congrats to Lena!

2010-11-11T08:58:00.000-06:00

A very belated but highly sincere congratulations to Lena, our cashier/programming expert. She won our staff costume contest, dressed as Leftovers!

Come Hang with Spongebob and the Gang at CMOM this Saturday!!!!!

2010-11-09T15:11:00.000-06:00

Spongebob Squarepants will be at CMOM this weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving! You will get the chance to meet with Spongebob and play Fry Cook Games, try your luck in the Bikini Bottom Hula Hoop Contest and bounce in Spongebob’s Moonwalk! Lots of door prizes, fun and excitement for everyone! There will be plenty of awesome crafts like Ziplock fish bowls, Picture frames, and jelly fish! This event is included with museum admission and is FREE to members!

DONT FORGET!!! Spongebob will be here from 10AM-1PM! We cant wait to see you there!

Think Pink

2010-10-04T15:22:00.000-05:00

October is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Here at The Children's Museum of Memphis, we're showing our support in a BIG way! CMOM's iconic building block letters will get a new hue for the month of October. On October 4th, museum CEO Dick Hackett started painting the letter "C" pink. We pick C to stand for Cure!!! The pink C is followed by the letters MOM. Check out these pictures of Dick Hackett getting his hands dirty and showing support fo Breast Cancer Awareness! For more infromation of Breast Cancer Awareness Month check out:

http://www.nbcam.org/about_nbcam.cfm

http://www.cancer.org/

25 More Things to Do at CMOM

2010-09-28T13:07:00.000-05:00

Since everybody loves a good sequel (like The Cat in the Hat Comes Back and Knuffle Bunny, Too), here are 25 more things to do at CMOM. Enjoy!

1. Come to Tales from the Land of Gullah exhibit.
2. Count the honeybees in the Honeybee Hives.
3. Spot a Lady Gouldian Finch.
4. Hear a story and make a craft during My First Book Club (Tuesdays at 10 a.m.) and Bookworms (Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.).
5. Ride down the slide on the school bus in Playscape.
6. View currency from other countries.
7. Admire Frida Kahlo’s awesome unibrow (and mustache) in the Art Smart Studio.
8. Play art palette twister.
9. Make a souvenir penny.
10. Crack the code to the safe in the bank.
11. Count the number of animals on the Once Upon a Time quilt.
12. Guide a plane to a safe landing in the air traffic control tower.
13. Take a picture with the Dalmatian near the fire truck.
14. Play “AutoZone” bingo.
15. Make a paper tree in the Treehouse.
16. Design your dream room in the Architect’s Office at Your House, My House. And while you’re there…
17. Wear a UT hardhat (do this one at your own risk!)
18. Write a poem using the magnets on the magnet wall.
19. Find out how many whiskers a channel catfish has.
20. See an indoor rainstorm in the Rain Room.
21. Learn about the food pyramid and the importance of healthy eating in the grocery store.
22. Participate in stupendous hands-on science experiments during Pint-Sized Science (Wednesdays at 1 p.m.) and Super Science (Saturdays at 3 p.m.)
23. Put your brain to use during Family Trivia (Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m.)
24. Take silly pictures in the Photo Booth.
25. Chill out with some ice cream or a snack at the Kid’s Café.

Gifts

2010-09-14T13:55:00.000-05:00

This past week we have received a few gifts generously donated by a local store.

Our admissions desk will be replaced in October with this lovely castle so your little ones will be able to feel like prince and princesses on entering the museum!

There has also been a new addition already added to Playscape Park. This tike sized school bus equipped with a slide, play area, and steering wheel is super fun for the little ones.

For Further Reading...

2010-09-14T11:11:00.000-05:00

Fabulous Fine Art (Fridays at 10 a.m.) is one of my favorite programs (and hopefully those who have attended have enjoyed it as well). For all the budding artists (young and old) out there, here are some suggested books for further reading on the artists we've explored.

Georgia O’Keeffe
My Name Is Georgia: A Portrait by Jeanette Winter (children)
Through Georgia’s Eyes by Rachel Victoria Rodriguez (children)

Frida Kahlo
Frida by Jonah Winter (children)

Gustave Courbet
Gustave Courbet by Gerstle Mack (adults)

Marcel Duchamp
Duchamp: A Biography by Calvin Tomkins (adults)

Friday’s (September 17) Fabulous Fine Art will focus on Alma Thomas.

Alma Thomas
Alma W. Thomas: A Retrospective of the Paintings (adults)

Hopefully we'll see you there!

September is Grandparents Month!

2010-09-02T16:09:00.000-05:00

We will be offering free admission to Grandparents all Mondays in September - September 6, 13, 20 & 27 - if accompanied with a paying guest (no other discounts may be applied to this offer). We will have special grandparent programming and the grandparent will get a VIP button to wear as well.

In addition to this, the museum is also offering a new Grandparent Membership! The Grandparents Membership has all the benefits of a CMOM Membership with a few extra incentives. The membership will allow up to four people admission during each visit. Also with the purchase of this membership you will get $10 off the purchase of gift certificates/memberships. This Grandparents Membership is available now to purchase for $90. Call (901)-458-2678 with any questions regarding membership.

What a DEAL!!!

2010-08-28T11:03:00.000-05:00

Teach your children to help others in need!

In our continued effort to collect canned goods for Memphis food banks, we are now offering 50% off admission Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays thru September 29th, 2010 if you bring in a canned good or dry good (peanut butter, dried beans, etc.). One can/good equals 50% off one admission, limit one can per person.

Link to coupon : http//www.cmom.com/sites/default/images/ACoupon.pdf

25 Things

2010-08-26T10:40:00.000-05:00

Since our address is 2525 Central, we thought of 25 things to do at CMOM!

1. Play dress up at the Little Orpheum Theatre.
2. Sing karaoke.
3. Be a pilot in our Going Places Exhibit
4. Learn how to make a paper airplane in the Tree House.
5. Have a hula-hoop contest.
6. Shop for groceries.
7. Learn about different countries during Around the World Wednesday.
8. Curl up on a beanbag chair with a good book in the Bookatarium.
9. "Arrest" your parents and put them in the back of the police car.
10. Be a fireman or firewoman.
11. Give a weather report at CMOM-TV.
12. Star in a music video.
13. Learn about the Mississippi River at WaterWORKS.
14. Sing along with Hootin' Andy and learn about train safety.
15. Brush Pearl E. White's teeth.
16. Write a check in the bank.
17. Be a Memphis Tigers football player.
18. "Drive" a minivan in the AutoZone Garage.
19. Help build a house at Your House, My House.
20. Shoot hoops in Playscape Park.
21. Get lost while climbing up the Skyscraper.
22. Show off your dancing skills in Sir Dance-A-Lot.
23. Create a masterpiece in the Art Smart Studio.
24. Play the Hum Drum.
25. Check your blood pressure.

Back to School!

2010-08-24T13:33:00.000-05:00

Have you had a chance to check out our Back 2 School art the past Saturdays of this month? Well if you havent be sure to check out the last Back 2 School art this Saturday at 11am!

This Fridays artist for Fine Art Friday is Gustave Courbet so dont miss this fabulous chance to show your little ones the joys of fine art, and maybe learn a little bit about an artist for yourself!

Introducing Tamara!

2010-07-27T14:34:00.000-05:00

Meet Tamara is our new Program Specialist.

Tamara is a Memphis native who received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in English from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Be sure to say hello when you see her around the museum. You can catch her during the week at Super Sing-a-Long (Tuesday afternoons at 1pm), Around the World (Wednesdays at 3:30), R&R Storytime (Wednesdays at noon), Fabulous Fine Art (Fridays at 10am), Saturday Art (Saturdays at 11am), Okie Dokie Karaoke (Saturdays at 1pm), Celebrate CMOM (Saturdays at 2pm through the end of August), and Super Science (Saturdays at 3pm).

Potato People!

2010-07-22T11:07:00.001-05:00

Here are some of our creations from last weeks bookworms!

Some great potato creators!

Two very pretty potatoes.

Our friends from Silver Springs, MD made these awesome potatoes and left them with us to display!

Thanks guys!

Be a Bookworms regular!

2010-07-15T14:54:00.000-05:00

To all of our regulars who come to the musuem, and even our first timers. Do you know exactally what Bookworms is all about!? It is one of our all ages art programs, and sure to be fun for the whole family. Bookworms happens every week on Thursday afternoon at 3:30. Bookworms consists of storytime+a craft so it is a 2 for 1 deal! We gather at the Little Orpheum Stage and read a book, and after that the whole group heads over to the Art Smart Studio and we make a craft about the book.

Bookworms of the past:

We read Do you do a Didgeridoo?>and we made paper towel roll Didgeridoos.

We read Danny, the Angry Lion > and we made lion masks.

We read Carry Me> and made rag dolls.

We read James in the House of Aunt Prudence > and we made Rat King crowns.

Next week, July 22nd we will be reading Flight of the DODO and making parachutes to drop from the plane! You really don't want to miss it! So fit us into your CMOM schedules.

See y'all at Bookworms!

Hot July

2010-07-01T16:29:00.000-05:00

Wow has Memphis been super hot for the past few weeks! It feels like it is already August and its just July 1st. CMOM has definitely been the cool place to play during the summer heat. Don't forget to check out our daily programs listed on the main page of our website > www.cmom.com It will let you know when and what is happening at CMOM. Once you are here just listen for the announcement to know the location of the program.

This months Saturday art will be centered around the heat. Our " July Hot Art" programs will be every Saturday morning at 11am. So be here to make some really hot crafts.

DON'T FORGET! We are still collecting cans to teach children to help others in need. When you bring in a can of food you get a dollar off the price of admission (limit one can per person).

Stay cool and come play at CMOM!

April Showers bring May flowers

2010-04-24T09:22:00.000-05:00

Hey all, lots of new and exciting things have been happening at the Children's Museum of Memphis lately! Did you know we have 2 new flat screen TVs in The Little Orpheum!? Not only will you get to see the words to your favorite songs during Super Sing Along (Tuesdays at 1:00pm) and Okie Dokie Karaoke (Fridays at 3:30), but you will also get to dance along with different videos from around the world and see yourself on the TVs! It is super fun for all ages, you can probably catch me up there dancing in my free time!

With a new month brings new Saturday art projects, during the month of May with will have May flower art! Maybe we will even make a ship! get it, the Mayflower? Anyways, we will be making crafts to do with flowers, and they will all be super fun..and flowery!

Bookworm planning and CMOM Easter Egg Egg-stravaganza

2010-03-31T08:10:00.000-05:00

So Here goes my first Blog entry.

I couldn't be happier with my new position in the programming department. I have mainly been working on the Bookworm program that happens Thursdays at 3:30. So far we have read Spoon, and made our very own Spoon to show how special being a spoon can really be. We have also read Eggbert: the Slightly Cracked Egg, and made slightly cracked eggs painted as Eggbert would approve. (being a fabulous egg artist and all...) This week we are reading Leonardo, the Terrible Monster, and we will be making MONSTER CARDS!(decorated with all sorts of not so scary things, because hey...Leonardo is a terrible monster.

Also don't miss our Easter Egg Egg-stravaganza!

ITS THIS SATURDAY!

We are all getting pumped about the Easter Egg Egg-stravaganza that is happening THIS SATURDAY!

Saturday, April 3, 10am-1pm
Have fun with the Easter Bunny on the museum's front lawn during the Easter Egg Egg-stravaganza! Children play bunny games, hunt for prize eggs, decorate Easter crafts, eat sno-cones and popcorn, jump in the moon bounce, and get their photos made with the Easter Bunny at this “eggs-tra” special event. There will also be a special egg hunt for the parents/adults to enjoy and win prizes! Advance tickets are $5 for museum members and $7 for non-members. Tickets at the door are $10 per person. Admission to the museum is NOT included in the event price. Space is limited – advance reservations are encouraged. For details and tickets, call 901-458-2678.

Buy your tickets today! You don't want to be the only one in the neighborhood without them!

Introducing....Lena!

2010-03-11T14:46:00.000-06:00

Hey Everyone,

CMOM has a new program specialist. Well she's not really new. You might have seen her at admissions. She's now going to be helping the program department a few days a week. If you see her, welcome her to the programs family!

Chick-Fil-A finds a home at CMOM

2010-02-10T14:17:00.000-06:00

Chick-fil-a has moved into The Children's Museum of Memphis' Kids Cafe!

Every Monday-Saturday you can enjoy some delicous Chick-fil-a food from 11am-2pm! YUM! Right now you can get Chicken sandwiches, salads and their famous Chicken Nuggets! The menu will expand soon to bring more great treats to your mouth! We'll also be offering Chick-fil-a birthday packages as well as packages for school groups! Hope to see you in the Kids Cafe gobbling some chicken!

ohhhh la la! It's Cirque du CMOM

2010-01-27T10:42:00.000-06:00

Everyone is asking!

Are you coming to Cirque?

The Children's Museum of Memphis' biggest fundraiser also happenes to be the most fun!

Cirque du CMOM is sure to be a blast in 2010!

This year's theme is:

Spectacular! Spectacular! C'est Magnifique!
A Parisian Extravaganza
Celebrating 20 Wild and Wonderful Years of CMOM

Need the details for the best party in town?

It's Saturday, February 6, 2010. Doors open at 7:30pm! The dress is festive tres chic attire! Top hats, Boas and the like are encouraged!

Truth * Beauty * Freedom * Love
-Fabulous French cuisine by Chef Cullen Kent of Cafe Society
-Stupendous Open Bar
-Fantastique BIG Toy Auction
-Twirl and Swirl to the tunes of "The Plaintiffs"
-Featuring les femmes fatales Dina Martin & Jenny Vergos
-Lyra performance, jugglers, dancers, flame throwers & more!

Need an invitation? Get one here: http://cmom.com/sites/default/images/2010Invitation.pdf

Make sure you RSVP:
http://cmom.com/sites/default/images/2010ResponseCard.pdf

Don't be caught in the cold. Come to the Children's Museum of Memphis for the hottest party!

Here are some highlights from last years Cirque du CMOM

Feel the love generation...

2010-01-22T10:56:00.000-06:00

More great news!

CMOM is proud to announce that your generous donations given at the front entrance this past weekend have allowed us to contribute another $1800 to Save the Children Haiti Relief Fund! Thanks - You guys are the BEST!

THANK YOU!

2010-01-21T13:19:00.000-06:00

We've always known our CMOM visitors are the best, but now you guys have given us another reason to brag about you...thanks to your visits this past weekend ($1 for every admission price sold went towards this effort), we were able to send nearly $2,000 to God's Littlest Angels Orphanage (http://glahaiti.org) in Port-au-Prince, Haiti! With a nursery, a toddler house, and a new orphanage complex on the way, this organization has been dedicated to taking care of Haitian children since 1994. CMOM has a special connection with GLA, too...one of our previous employees is in the process of adopting a little boy from the orphanage. Your contributions will help provide little Wadson and other children in need with food, shelter, and other everyday necessities. So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

Some of the sweet children from the God's Littlest Angels Orphanage in Haiti.

"...and the world will be as one..."

2010-01-14T09:18:00.000-06:00

This week, after one of the worst earthquakes in recent history, the world has joined together to support the people of Haiti...and CMOM wants to help, too. That's why we've dedicated this holiday weekend to a special "Helping Hands for Haiti: Children Helping Children" program. A portion of every admission sold will go to the relief effort. There will also be special jars at the admissions desk where kids can learn the virtures of charity and helping others by donating coins from home. Plus, we'll have a special card-making session Saturday afternoon for kids to express their support in a creative way. So bring your mini-philanthropists this Saturday, Sunday and Monday and make a difference!

Pictures from New Year's at Noon!

2010-01-07T13:28:00.000-06:00

We always have fun here at CMOM, but New Year's at Noon was a TOTAL BLAST!

We got the morning started off right with a magic show...everyone loved it!

There were crafts galore (hey, that's my back!).

I think I was just as excited about the "Junkanoo" theme as the kids!

Busy, busy, busy!

Man, look at that crowd! Everyone lined up for the countdown.

Here's my favorite HR guy ever, Cliff- he and I got to stand on the top ledges to throw out prizes at the strike of noon.

We had a special all-girls guest band-- The Hot Pink Paper Clips -- to end the day...they were awesome!

"I Have a Dream..."

2010-01-06T14:52:00.000-06:00

Join us for

Martin Luther King, Jr's

Birthday Celebration!

Monday, January 18

10am-2pm

In 1963, Dr. King's revolutionary "I Have a Dream" speech inspired our country by reminding us that the U.S.A. was founded on the basis of freedom. Come help us celebrate this hero with our annual MLK birthday party. With face painting, arts & crafts, games, and our own "peace quilt," this is sure to be a party to remember!

Goodbye 2009, HELLO 2010!

2009-12-31T13:56:00.001-06:00

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...

2009-12-29T09:06:00.000-06:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!Come ring in 2010 with CMOM's annual New Year's at Noon "Junkanoo Parade" celebration! Get your personal passport and experience the New Year traditions of Caribbean cultures while visiting each country. Make masks, costumes and noisemakers - then line up for the Junkanoo parade and dance down to Time Square for the countdown to the New Year and the traditional goody toss!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-24T11:42:00.000-06:00

Happy Holidays from all us folks at CMOM!!!

The Scoop on Saturday with Santa!

2009-12-16T09:41:00.000-06:00

The Christmas season has officially arrived...and so has Santa! Mr. Claus made a special stop at CMOM Saturday- his sleigh was in the shop for last minute paint touch-ups, but we lent him a helicopter to make sure he made it to Memphis on time!
Here are a few more pictures from the day - it was so much fun! Special thanks to all our volunteers (shown helping with crafts & caroling and visiting Santa, too) who helped make the day so great!

♪Santa Claus is coming to town...♪

2009-12-09T09:59:00.000-06:00

More specifically, SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO CMOM! And he's ready to "rock out!"

Join us this Saturday, December 12, for Carol Karaoke, crafts in Santa's Workshop, Christmas games, and photos with the Big Guy in Red himself! There's also going to be a special drawing for members only, so go ahead and get that membership (and don't forget--they make GREAT Christmas gifts for those special families in your life!).

JINGLE BELL ROCK WITH SANTA

Saturday, December 12, 10am-1pm

The Village Toymaker has arrived!!

2009-12-08T09:28:00.000-06:00

CMOM is proud to announce our newest addition to the museum : the best toystore/gift shop EVER!

This past Saturday, CEO Dick Hackett, along with some of our great board members, celebrated the arrival of Memphis's own Pat Monz and her Village Toymaker Shop with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Kids themselves had the official job of cutting the ribbon and also entered a drawing for some of the awesome toys available at the shop. YAY for TOYS! Don't forget Christmas is coming up - get ready to make your kids super happy! Stop by and check out it out!

Thanksgiving at Bikini Bottom = AWESOME

2009-12-03T09:46:00.000-06:00

Wow...I know it took WAY too long to get these up, but they're totally worth it. Spongebob's visit to CMOM was a blast - take a look at some of the pictures and see for yourself!

Look at the line! Over 1,000 people showed up to meet the Bobster(we became such good friends he even let me use that awesome nickname I came up for him).

Look at this guy...he was so excited he brought his own Spongebob to meet the real deal. Cute!

Even the grown-ups were happy to meet Mr. Squarepants!

Bouncy things! I love them, especially when Spongebob gets to hang out, too!

Craft time! We made all kinds of cool things to take home - here, some kids colored picture frames for the photos they had taken with the most popular guy from Bikini Bottom.

Everyone loved the games...here, my friend Alden joins in the Sea-side Sack Race.

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea...?

2009-11-03T16:07:00.000-06:00

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!

Thanksgiving at Bikini Bottom

Saturday, November 21

10am-2pm

CMOM is ready to celebrate Thanksgiving - under-the-sea style! Come play games, make crafts, get your face painted, and take pictures with Spongebob! There's also a members-only raffle...membership AND prizes? A total win-win situation! Mark your calendars now and don't miss giving thanks with the coolest dude of Bikini Bottom!

Thanksgiving...a time to give back!

2009-11-02T11:47:00.000-06:00

November is a time to give thanks for all the good things in our lives, but it's also a time to share those blessings with those who have less. CMOM's making it easy for you to give back to your community...Starting this Saturday (November 7), the Children's Museum of Memphis will be hosting a canned food drive to benefit the Midsouth Food Bank and its fight against hunger in the Memphis area.

To show our appreciation for your kindness, CMOM will be offering the ultimate "thank you" gift (because we like to give back, too!)...for every 2 cans of food donated, visitors will be entered into a drawing to win 4 tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the FedEx Forum! Don't miss your chance to be both a giver and a receiver- the drive only runs until our fantastic "Thanksgiving at Bikini Bottom with Spongebob Squarepants" (another event to mark on your calendar!) on November 21. Giving back never felt so good!

Two new weekly programs...Get PUMPED!

2009-10-28T09:23:00.001-05:00

Hey, guys! Starting this November (that's next week!!), CMOM will be adding TWO new programs to our weekly calendar! I'm pretty proud of them, and hopefully you'll find them just as exciting...

Around the World Wednesdays
“I am not born for one corner. The whole world is my native land.” –Seneca
“The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.” –Albert Einstein
Kids will be introduced to various countries from around the world. They will learn about the language, customs, dress, food, and other important facts about other countries to help them appreciate both similarities and differences between their own and other cultures. With each lesson, our little global citizens will get to participate in hands-on activities that incorporate what they've learned about the world around them.

November: North America

4: Canada

11: United States

18: Mexico

December: Central America

2: Puerto Rico

9: Jamaica

16: Guatemala

23: Cuba

30: Panama

Fabulous Fine Arts Fridays
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” –Pablo Picasso
“The artist's world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep.” –Paul Strand
Each week, children will learn about a specific art movement or visual artist and their special techniques that made them famous. Our own little masters will also use what they've learned to inspire their own beatiful work of art to take home.

November: Early Renaissance

6: Giotto

13: Ghiberti

20: Masaccio

27: Brunelleschi

December: High Renaissance

4: da Vinci

11: Michelangelo

18: Raphael

Can't wait to see you there for these awesome new educational programs!

The votes are in...

2009-10-12T12:41:00.000-05:00

The kids have spoken! With an impressive 45% of the vote, AC Wharton is the top choice for Memphis mini-voters. Jerry "the King" Lawler received the number 2 spot in our polls, with John Willingham placing in third. For those of you who missed it, CMOM had a very impressive showing of some of Memphis' leading political and professional leaders. Special thanks to those who came to "kick it" with our wonderful CMOM kids and parents: Randy Cagle, Charles Carpenter, Carol Chumney, Wanda Halbert, Constance Houston, Dewayne Jones, Jerry Lawler, Detric Stigall, Kenneth Whalum, Jr., A C Wharton, and John Willingham. Thanks also to Joey Sulipeck of Fox 13 for hosting the candidate interviews, the Booker T. Washington ROTC for their impressive performance, all our wonderful volunteers that helped make this special day happen, and of course all of you who came out! Check out some of the what the local media had to say: http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/101009_Kickn_with_the_Candidates
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/oct/11/uphill-from-here/ (check out the picture to the left)
http://memphisnewsblog.com/2009/10/wharton-is-the-winner-of-childrens-museum-faux-election.html
http://www.tennviews.com/node/549

And for more viewing pleasure, here are some pictures from Saturday:

The audience listens as weatherman Joey Sulipeck interviews the candidates. Kids even had the chance to ask their own questions.

Uncle Sam hats, patriotic face-painting, and make-your-own city seal were big hits.

My vote: Former mayor, CEO of CMOM, and my boss, Dick Hackett! What a cool guy.

Children's Choice: VOTE for MEMPHIS!

2009-10-07T09:06:00.000-05:00

"Kickin' with the Candidates"

October 10, 2009

10am-2pm

As you've probably noticed, Memphis has caught the election bug, and now it's time to hear what the kids have to say! Come meet the mayoral candidates and witness our city's future voters (ages 2-15) let their voices be heard in CMOM's own special voting booths. Kids will learn even more about the election process by receiving voter registration cards, making campaign buttons and hats, and hearing a presentation by the Booker T. Washington JROTC. Take advantage of one of America's greatest privileges: VOTE!

SUCCESS!

2009-10-06T12:38:00.001-05:00

Clifford was a total success! Check out these pictures:

A bit blurry, but Clifford and I quickly became BFF's. Can't you tell?

Professional face-painters? Umm...YES PLEASE!

Pretty butterfly!

Doggy ears! Isn't she cute?

Our CFO Jenny and I had a bit TOO much fun on the Moon Bounce.

So you missed out on Clifford? Don't worry...Spongebob Squarepants is making an appearance at CMOM November 21! We'll have crafts, games, and picture time with the coolest guy from Bikini Bottom! Stay tuned for more info...

I <3 Saturdays!

2009-09-25T09:17:00.001-05:00

SUPER SATURDAY AT CMOM!

(Because who doesn't love Saturdays?)

So, I love Saturdays in general, especially at CMOM, but this Saturday (tomorrow, September 26) is going to be super exciting because we've got programs going on ALL DAY!

10:00-12:30 Kids in the Kitchen Join our special guests in the group entrance (in front of the Malco) to learn about eating and cooking healthy and enjoy some special snacks.
11:00 Animal Art Come get creative and make something wild! Choose between a cute panda, a silly hippo, or a wise owl!
12:00 & 12:30 Music Makers Join our friends from the Memphis Youth Symphony as we jump in to the world of music. Hear a young musician play a famous instrument, learn about its sounds, and get the chance to play it yourself!
1:00 Building Brainstorm Workshop Ever wondered what it's like to be an architect? Come help us celebrate the arrival of our new "Building Brainstorm" exhibit with an educational--and fun!--activity using toothpicks and marshmallows.
3:00 Eco Kids Club Yay planet Earth! Explore and investigate the world around us! Learn about the migration of monarch butterflies and find out when you can see them fly through Memphis!

See why I'm so excited? Hope to see you tomorrow! (And don't forget...next Saturday is another reason to celebrate: CLIFFORD IS COMING TO CMOM!)

Check this out and WIN STUFF!!!

2009-09-17T12:28:00.000-05:00

It's always fun to win stuff (especially in today's economy), right? What's even better is winning something as fun as

THE INCREDIBLE FAMILY FUN GIVEAWAY!

CMOM has teamed up with the Incredible Pizza Company to give you & your family the chance to win all kinds of cool prizes!

Grand Prize (Worth $280)

-TWO $79.99 Family Fun Packs from Memphis' Incredible Pizza Company, valid for up to 8 friends/family members

-SIX tickets to CMOM

-ABC Book

-Museum Gift Shop Toys

Silver Second Prize (Worth $210)

-TWO $59.99 Family Fun Packs from Memphis' Incredible Pizza Company, valid for up to 8 friends/family members

-SIX tickets to CMOM

-ABC Book

Incredible Third Prize (Worth $170)

-TWO $49.99 Family Fun Packs from Memphis' Incredible Pizza Company, valid for up to 8 friends/family members

-FOUR tickets to CMOM

-ABC Book

To register, simply go to www.incrediblepizza.com/contests/cmom.php

Want to save even more money? (I know, I know- you're saying, Duh! Who doesn't??) CMOM is offering a special offer for both new memberships AND renewals! Not quite sure you're ready to join yet? There's also a special $1 off admission coupon, too! To take advantage of these great deals, go to the CMOM webpage (cmom.com), scroll down to the "Download" section on the right side of the page, and click on "Membership Coupon" and/or "Admission Coupon."

I'M BACK...and just in time for Clifford!

2009-09-16T13:24:00.000-05:00

Meet Clifford the Big Red Dog!

Saturday, October 3 11am-2pm

Hey, guys! I'm back from my 3-month stint in Europe, and super excited about the upcoming events in store here at the museum...especially meeting Clifford the Big Red Dog! Join us Saturday, October 3, for pictures with Clifford, fun crafts, giveaways and other dog-related activity stations. It'll be a doggone good time!

"It's so hard to say goodbye."

2009-08-12T16:33:00.000-05:00

Greetings everyone! I finished up my amazing internship on Saturday, but I wanted to put one more blog post up before I moved on to the next chapter of my life, which is student teaching and then graduation in December!

I just wanted to say what a blast I had working at CMOM this summer. I got a chance to met all the great staff members and a lot of great children and parents while I was there. Thanks to everyone who helped make my internship a terrific experience! This summer I learned a lot! Especially about making toys, about circuits, international currency, and how to do fun science experiments. I even learned about several different musical instruments each Saturday through the Memphis Youth Symphony's program, Music Makers. My favorite ones where the bassoon and the harp. You've got to go to CMOM on Saturdays at 12 and 12:30, so you can learn about instruments too.

So, before I say goodbye, I would like to wish all of you the best of luck for this school year. Children: think positive...school can be a lot of fun. Parents: keep supporting your children because it makes a difference! I would also like to leave you with a few tips for the school year:

Interact with your children and ask what they are doing in school. Help them with their homework and do a fun activity when their finished.
Let them help with the grocery shopping, meal planning, and cooking. It gives you a chance to spend time together and it can be a lot of fun!
Encourage children to find the place that they belong, whether it is dancing, sports, gymnastics, drama, art, chess, or band, it's important for them to get involved in something that they like to do and to find a place to make friends, especially if they are home schooled.
I know things will get busy with football and dance practice, piano and swimming lessons, etc..., but I think it is extremely important to have at least one family night a week at home where things can slow down and you can eat together, talk together, and maybe even do a craft or play a game together.
On holidays and weekends, take them to CMOM!!!!!!!! Then you can spend time with them, interact with them, and help them learn things (and the great part is...they don't even know they are learning, they just think they are having fun!).

Well, I guess that's it for me. I'm going to miss posting every week and running programs in the museum, but I know I am leaving you in the capable hands of the other members of the program department. I know they'll take good care of you. :) I hope you and your family have an excellent school year and maybe I'll see you back at CMOM one day. Take care!

There's always something new and exciting at CMOM!!!!!

2009-08-01T14:46:00.000-05:00

Happy August! I know everyone is getting ready to go back to school soon, but I wanted to remind all of you not to forget to come visit the children's museum. It is open everyday from 9 to 5. The museum only closes on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, so there is plenty of time for you to come and visit again and again. Next Saturday we are going to have a special back to school day from 11 to 3 and we will have several different activities that day to help you prepare to go back to school.

I also wanted to let you guys know that since I've been at the museum this summer, I have noticed that there is always something new and exciting going on at the Children's Museum. Everyday is different and every couple of months there are brand new exhibits to check out! Here's what's new right now and what's coming soon:

Several months ago, the growing healthy exhibit was converted into our new Kroger shopping area.
The old Kroger area is going to be a new exhibit called CMOM TV where children can dress up and do the news, traffic, or weather report sitting at a news desk or in front of a green screen where it will look like they are live at the scene.
The storm knocked out one of our sound systems earlier this summer, but we have a brand new one, so Okie Dokie Karaoke is back on every Friday at 3:30 PM.
The rain room has been updated and it is back open now as the Thunderstorm room where it rains and storms and there is a weather report that tells a little about how storms work.
There is a new Totally Tubular activity in the Your House My House exhibit where children can stick ramps and tubes unto a Velcro wall in different ways and then watch different size balls go down the tube maze. **Just remember to leave the balls in the box next to the wall, so they don't go missing!**
Also inside Your House My House, is our new Bookatarium Library that I got to watch being painted. It's got a great mural of sea life reading books. It's a great place for parents and children to come and read or to come for one of our literacy programs.
In the Van Vleet Gallery, there is a new exhibit every couple of months. Right now, there is an exhibit called, Top Secret: Mission Toy. Children can play with different toys and explore how they work and learn about toys from around the world. Don't miss it...it will only be in Memphis until September 13th. After that, you'll have to come back again between September 2009 and January 2010 because we will have another exhibit called Building Brainstorm where children can build and learn about architecture from around the world.
Soon, our bank will have lots of new things to see and do too. There will be money from all over the world that children can try to match with the country on a map and there will be several other hands-on activities that will help teach children fun facts about money.
Also, a new exhibit is being built right now called Brain Train Station that will show how to be safe at a railroad crossing. It should be opening in the next few weeks.

So, as you can see there is always something new going on at CMOM. Make sure to come back and visit often so you don't miss out on any of the fun!!!!!!!

Helpful websites for parents and children

2009-07-25T16:14:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! Are your children looking for some fun things to do at home before school starts back? Are you looking for some creative activities you can do at home with your children or homeschool group? Well, you've come to the right place. During my time at CMOM this summer I have come across several great websites that have good craft ideas, helpful hints and resources for parents, or fun online games and activities for your children. Below is a list of the ones that I thought I would share with you guys. Enjoy!

Websites:

Also, if you have enjoyed a program that your child did while visiting the museum on a Thursday or Saturday and you would like to know where I got that idea, feel free to e-mail me at ashleyniven@cmom.com or ashleyniven@hotmail.com. I would be happy to help you come up with some fun and creative things to do with your children at home because I know you can't come to the museum every week. Eventhough that would be tons of fun. :) Plus, I think it is really important for children to interact with their parents, to explore new things, learn about art, science, and reading, and experience many different opportunities and you can do that right from your own dining room table, family room floor, or play room area.

Do you love to read?

2009-07-18T16:35:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! I hope you are having a great summer!!!!!! I know I am, what better way to spend the summer than working at the Children's Museum of Memphis?

Are any of you spending your summer days reading some great books? Here is a list of a few of my favorite children's books: Commotion in the Ocean, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, The Color of Us, Love You Forever, Today I feel Silly, The Little Engine that Could, Shapesville, Sideways Stories from Wayside School (older children), Give a Mouse a Cookies (series), What Makes a Rainbow, The Cookie Counting Book, and any of the Little People books.

My favorite children's book authors are Tomie Depaola and Robert Munch. When I choose children's books I try to find ones about zoo animals, ocean animals, books that talk about traveling or ones that can teach me something about another part of the world.

If you would like to come to the museum and hear us read some of our favorite books you can come during one of our literacy programs. I hope to see you here for one of our programs. When you come, you can tell me what your favorite books are.

11:30 AM on Mondays is Tales and Tunes (Story and Song)

10:00 AM on Tuesdays is My First Book Club (Story, craft, and snack)

12:00 PM on Wednesdays, Thursday, and Fridays is R & R Storytime

3:30 PM on Thursdays is Bookworms (Story and Craft)

Books are great! They can help you imagine a tower of ice cream or what its like to live in China or how to be a princess. Some books can teach you about shapes, colors, history, sharing, caring, animals, and SO much more. So...if you are bored this summer, just fall into a good book and enjoy wherever your imagination takes you! Happy reading!