The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (CMNH) was recently awarded a $140,000 grant via a partnership between the Granite United Way and the Community Development Finance Authority to support play-based learning for family-based childcare providers across New Hampshire.  With this funding, CMNH is providing play-based learning (PBL) kits of materials, activity guides and training, workshops and ongoing support for 100 at-home providers throughout the state, impacting the 846 children that they serve. 

This project is the next step in a progression of initiatives to advance knowledge and utilization of PBL in childcare centers and classrooms in NH.  “The Children’s Museum is an expert in play-based learning—which is simply learning through play,” said Xanthi Gray, Director of Education at CMNH.  “We have been working for several years with partners across the state to share that knowledge with childcare centers, preschools, public libraries and family resource centers to support their utilization of PBL.  The end goal is helping all children be better prepared to succeed in school, and beyond.”

The current project aims to support the many providers operating small family-based childcare centers out of their home.  “These providers face unique challenges in operating as a small business and educator with limited support or flexibility to attend in-person professional development activities,” said Melissa Latham, Director of Communications and Policy at CDFA.  “The Children’s Museum has developed a series of creative outreach activities to deliver important training for these providers, which in turn furthers CDFA's goal of supporting family-based childcare providers with resources and meaningful connections to a network of educators.”  The CMNH project offers in-home providers ongoing support with 10 months of PBL activity guides, virtual workshops with information catered to their at-home environment, an online community to share ideas and network, and in-person workshops both at the Museum and in locations throughout the state. 

“We are grateful to the Community Development Finance Authority for their support of this work,” said Jane Bard, CMNH President. 

“With every initiative we undertake to expand the use of play-based learning, we positively impact children who will pass through those classrooms for years to come.  Family-based providers are filling an important gap in childcare right now, and we are happy to be able to support their efforts.”

Over the next few months, CMNH will be hosting PBL workshops in every county of the state, open to participants in this program as well as other family-based providers.  Workshops have been confirmed in Portsmouth on November 12, Keene on November 19, Plaistow on December 3 and Rochester on December 4^th—all workshops will be from 6-7:00pm and held in that town’s public library. Details about additional upcoming workshops will be posted to the Museum’s website when available.  You can learn more about the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire and their play-based learning resources online at www.childrens-museum.org.

Kids in our Afterschool STEAM Club created these coral habitats and hid wooden fishes with color camouflage! Can you spot the fish, because we are stumped by some of them! What a fun project!

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Popular Dover Museum expanding with two new exhibits opening in 2025

The Children's Museum of New Hampshire in Dover, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, was chosen to be a recipient of The Brook's charitable gaming proceeds for a ten day period in June 2024. This is the second year the museum has been chosen as a recipient, and the donation comes in time to support their expansion efforts.

"A very big 'Thank You' to The Brook, an employee-owned family business, for choosing CMNH as a recipient of charitable gaming proceeds," said Monique Deforge, CMNH's Director of Development & Community Engagement. "This donation of $154,935 will support the expansion of our second floor this fall, helping us to serve more families. We are so grateful and look forward to welcoming you to our new exhibits!"

Construction on the museum's two new exhibits begins this September, and will be ongoing through the remainder of 2024, opening in early 2025. "Little Farmers" is an exhibit designed for children ages 0-5, and caters to young children's fascination with farms and farming. "The Play Loft" is a creative open space dedicated to flexible and changing exhibits that inspire movement and gross motor development. The expansion plans were developed by ARQ Architects, and construction is contracted through DeStefano & Associates, Inc. The museum will remain open during the majority of the construction.

IMAGE: Monique Deforge, Children's Museum of New Hampshire Director of Development and Community Engagement, holds a check from The Brook, an employee-owned family business, representing a donation of charitable gaming proceeds.

An emotional well-being initiative for families will launch in the Fall

In recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (CMNH) has announced a new emotional well-being initiative for families they are designing called “Wonder & Wellness”, funded by a generous $30,000 grant from the Kennebunk Savings Bank Foundation. 

“We need to prioritize children’s emotional and mental wellbeing in the same way we prioritize their physical health,” said Brad Paige, CEO of Kennebunk Savings. “The Museum’s ‘Wonder and Wellness’ initiative will provide children and their caregivers with the tools they need to foster positive social-emotional wellbeing through playful enrichment experiences. This is a powerful initiative that will do a lot of good in the community.”    

As part of a planned expansion project happening this fall, CMNH surveyed daily visitors and members to help identify the changing needs of families with young children and how this expansion could best support those needs. Among top desires was an exhibit focused on supporting children’s emotional well-being. This, in addition to the persistent news covering the sharp rise in mental health concerns in children post-pandemic, and a greater incidence of emotional challenges in younger children, solidified the intent to incorporate a mental health component into not only the new exhibits, slated to open in early 2025, but to go further and also overlay positive emotional health educational information, strategies, and take-home materials for families throughout the Museum.  

While not a substitute for professional services, CMNH serves as a partner in a network of mental health support systems for families. “The Museum is seen as a safe place, free of stigma, and strives to normalize family discussions about mental health and emotional well-being,” shared CMNH Education Director, Xanthi Gray. “Offering information and activities at a place of play will provide a pathway to opening up these conversations that is friendly and accessible.”

According to CMNH President, Jane Bard, funding received will support a multi-faceted approach to incorporating ‘Wonder & Wellness’ strategies at the Museum. “We’re excited to offer these tools and jumping off points to help families discuss emotional well-being,” said Bard. “We are grateful to the support from the Kennebunk Savings Bank Foundation, who recognizes the importance of supporting children’s emotional health and the impactful role children’s museums can have in doing so.” 

Wonder & Wellness plans include installing new signage to be unveiled this Fall highlighting ways parents can support their child’s emotional well-being during everyday activities, plus the release of a take-home educational piece for families. Additional Wonder & Wellness programs are being planned for 2025 including a speaker series and the opening of a low sensory calming space within the new exhibits for children or adults who need a place to recharge during their visit, providing additional educational resources and activities for families.

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Makers of all kinds take over museum exhibits for a day of discovery

This year's annual NH Maker Fest, organized and hosted by the Children's Museum of New Hampshire in downtown Dover, on Saturday, June 1, 10am-3pm, will feature a Rube Goldberg machine expert, bug motels and seed balls, a marimba petting zoo, roaming robots and dinosaurs, a jump rope team, and will culminate with a foam dance party.

"It's a fun and affordable day of discovery for all ages," said Neva Cole, CMNH Communications Director. Admission into the Fest, which takes place inside the museum and outside in the adjacent Henry Law Park, is by a suggested $5 per person donation. Pre-paid donations can be made online, but are not required to enjoy the Fest.

Some Makers will be set-up inside the Children's Museum of New Hampshire's many unique exhibit spaces, like Laura and Sarah from the Creative Guts podcast, or Zach Umperovitch, the Rube Goldberg machine expert. Some Makers will be outside in the museum's Play Patio, like volunteers from Seacoast Permaculture offering bites of wild edible plants or helping to build bug motels. Some makers will be out in the park like volunteers from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard helping to drive SeaPerch robots around a huge pool. Some Makers will be performing on the stage like Patti and the Pop Tarts musical ensemble. And some Makers will be roaming inside and out, like Star Wars cosplayers from the 501st New England Garrison and a life-size dinosaur puppet from Sages Entertainment. Fat Pockets food truck will be parked along Washington Street and serving authentic falafel pockets.

The education team at CMNH also offers up several drop-in activities and challenges like Tile Tie Dye, a Parachute Challenge, a Bubble Bin, and make-and-take upcycle stamps.

The Children's Museum of New Hampshire, open since 1983, is an award-winning museum featuring two floors of hands-on exhibits for kids ages birth to age 12. The museum's mission is to actively engage families in hands-on discovery. "The NH Maker Fest is just one way we offer up hands-on fun to our visitors," shared Xanthi Gray, CMNH Education Director. "It's fun to mix it up for a day-long event, and invite all ages to take part in the discovery. We hope to see just as many adults as kids enjoying the Fest-ending Foam Dance Party." The Foam experience will be provided by another Fest Maker, Sages Entertainment.

The Museum would like to thank it's 2024 NH Maker Fest Sponsors including Breezeline, NHPBS, Granite State Development Corporation, The State of New Hampshire on behalf of the UNIQUE College Investing Plan, Sprague, Albany Engineered Composites, Chinburg Properties, Eversource, QA Cafe, Novocure, Beswick Engineering, Calling All Cargo, and Martel Plumbing & Heating.

CMNH to offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer

The Children's Museum of New Hampshire in Dover announced it will again join museums nationwide in the Blue Star Museums initiative, a program that provides free admission to currently serving U.S. military personnel and their families this summer. The 2024 program will begin on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, 2024. Learn more and find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/BlueStarMuseums.

Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and participating museums across America. The Children's Museum of New Hampshire's free military summer is sponsored exclusively by Service Credit Union.

“We are proud to once again partner with the Children’s Museum to sponsor free admission for active military families this summer,” said Jaime Yates, Service Credit Union Community Relations Manager. “At Service Credit Union, we have a longstanding history of supporting our military members, veterans and their families, and this program is one of the ways we can give back to those who have given so much to us."

"We are grateful to the Children's Museum of New Hampshire for participating in this summer's Blue Star Museums program, and we hope military families will take this opportunity to create meaningful, lifelong memories," said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. "Whether you are traveling this summer, getting know a new duty location, or exploring what your community has to offer, Blue Star Museums is a wonderful opportunity to create connection and find inspiration."

"Military families love Blue Star Museums, and we couldn't run this program without the National Endowment for the Arts and the museums across the nation who show they care by participating," said Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet. "Access to museums enriches military families, creates wonderful family memories, and helps us feel connected to our communities so that we can thrive and do the hard job we have to do for the country. I am delighted for us to launch the 14th year of this very special program."

In addition to The Children's Museum of New Hampshire, the Blue Star Museums program includes children's museums, art, science, and history museums, zoos, gardens, lighthouses, and more, and hail from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The current list of participating museums will continue to grow over the summer as organizations are welcome to register to be a Blue Star Museum throughout the summer.

The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.

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While veterans are not included in the free admission Blue Star Museums program, CMNH does offer veterans and their immediate family members half-off admission, with ID, year-round.