The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has always been a place for kids. But did you know that children played an important role in helping the museum start its collection 100 years ago?
In 1925, museum founder Mary Stewart Carey sent a letter to Indianapolis teachers to share with their classes. The letter explained that items tucked away in students’ homes and attics, likely forgotten about, could be valuable to the museum.
Students heard the message loud and clear. The Orchard School alone donated eight boxes full of treasures.
A century later, as part of its centennial celebration, The Children’s Museum offers two yearlong opportunities for children and families to help their community. These philanthropic acts are easy enough for kids to take part in and can lay the foundation for a lifetime of giving back.
“We know how important social-emotional learning and development is for young children,” says Elyse Handel, early childhood educator at The Children’s Museum. “Many educators and parents help young children understand what it means to be a kind, empathic, supportive and respectful friend. It is also important to begin teaching lessons on what it means to be an active, supportive and caring community member.”
Slices of Happiness
The next time you go grocery shopping, encourage kids to bring their allowance money and spend it on a box of cake mix (specifically chocolate or vanilla), a can of frosting or candles.
Then, bring them into the museum and place them in the donation bin in the Welcome Center, right by Bumblebee. They’ll be packaged with a baking pan and a can of soda, which replaces the wet ingredients needed to bake a cake, and distributed by Gleaners and the Mid-North Food Pantry so all children can experience a “pop” of joy — and a tasty treat — on their birthdays.
It’s also an effort to raise awareness about food insecurity in the community. According to Gleaners, more than 57,000 children in Marion County alone are food insecure, meaning they don’t have enough to eat and don’t know where their next meal will come from.
By donating, kids can help the museum help others and bring a smile to other children on their special day.
Change is Good!
Visitors have loved the museum’s Roll-a-Coin machine for years, but it has a new centennial look and is now located in the Welcome Center, next to the cake donation bin.
Kids can support the museum by bringing their spare change and sending it for a ride, an easy and exciting way to give back to a place they love.
“Children will be invested in the experience if they feel personal connections,” Handel says.
Of course, it wouldn’t be The Children’s Museum without a dose of learning too — the Roll-a-Coin machine is a fun demonstration of velocity and gravity.
Stay up to date on the museum’s centennial by going to childrensmuseum.org/centennial.
