All Play and No Work...

"Play is to early childhood as gas is to a car," say Roberta Michnick Golinkoff and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek authors of Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How Our Children Really Learn--and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less.

The Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, New York provides the perfect setting to test their theory. It worked - not only Kari but for his mom and dad as well. "Play energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.”-Stuart Brown, M.D., Contemporary American psychiatrist.

Take it from me, you want to take your kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews (go by yourself if you have to) to the National Museum of Play. They say it is the only collections-based museum in the world devoted solely to play!

The museum offers:

• Engaging, hands-on exhibits
• The National Toy Hall of Fame
• Fun-filled educational programs
• Gift shops, and a food court
• A working carousel from 1918 and the Strong Express passenger train
• Upstate New York’s only year-round, indoor butterfly garden
• A Preschool
• A circulating library
• Teacher development opportunities

After paying for our tickets, Kari discovered that a "Chew Chew Train" was available. So, for the entire time, his sole interest was in riding the train. Luckily for me, we had to pass a number of exhibits and fascinating places such as Sesame Street, a super hero hall of fame, and a dancing video game (which we played) before we got to the 'train station'. The train ride itself was very short (less than 5 minutes). You go around a track about five times. At the end of the ride, Kari would not move. I believe he was in shock at the brevity of experience. He was actually about to cry so I promised to take him back before we left (which I did).

Another hit with Kari was the Kids' Supermarket. The Kids' Supermarket is nice replica of a real supermarket but with fake products. It is a nice way to prepare your 4 year-old for when he has to go shopping on his own because mommy and daddy just doesn't feel like it. At the Kids' Supermarket, he selected his cart, visited the different sections (such as meats, fruits & vegetables, and diary), and went to the cashier (on this day, his Auntie was the cashier) to pay for his goods. We all had fun.

I was very tired (probably not accustomed to so much playtime) and so it was me who decided that our time playing must come to end. And so we (at least my wife and I) re-entered the real world where work takes precedence and even tries to restrict play. Tisk...Tisk.

Anyway, the National Museum of Play is an exciting, hands-on, and fun place to play and enjoy some quality family time (see video below).