Make your child’s room a mini-museum exhibit

written by

BRITTANY WEDD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DISCOVERY STATION AT HAGERSTOWN INC.

It's fair to say that between the pandemic and the series of snowstorms that hit our region this winter, we've all been cooped up and staring at the same old walls a little too much. Now is the perfect time to add unique touches to your home, and if you have children, this column is for you!

One of my favorite aspects of my Discovery Station work is designing and installing new exhibits for children to enjoy. We create exhibit spaces where children can fully immerse themselves in little worlds while they learn. When we first updated our dinosaur exhibit to make visitors feel like they were walking into a Jurassic jungle, I remember thinking how easy it would be to turn a child's bedroom into a small dinosaur world just by painting the walls green and hanging fake vegetation.

Between Pinterest and Youtube tutorials, nothing is out of reach for at-home improvements. So consider this spring to be a chance to turn your child's bedroom into a mini-museum by following these simple tips.

Whether museum or bedroom, it's crucial to focus on a theme. For Discovery Station, our hands-on exhibit themes come from our mission of promoting STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) learning. When considering a new bedroom design, plan for it to flow around your child's interests. My friend's son was enamored with a particular geometric print of Mickey Mouse. When she redid his bedroom, she painted a similar geometric pattern on one of its walls. The accent wall allowed for the Mickey Mouse print to come alive for her son and for his play to be immersive. Just keep in mind that a child's interests vary with age, so be prepared to "rotate out" designs for the mini-museum bedroom.

An exhibit is only an exhibit if it promotes learning and engagement. When designing the room, think about potential decorative elements and how they can help your child develop. Another friend of mine has a daughter, Sophia, who is obsessed with outer space. Her mother painted constellations on the walls surrounding her bed. That simple addition to the room provided Sophia with opportunities to learn about stars and how people used them to navigate the oceans before GPS was invented, all from the comfort of her bed.

Costumes go a long way. Dramatic play is an important component of learning, and one we fully embrace when planning new exhibits. Whether your child is a budding pilot, astronaut or deep-sea diver, you can make or acquire costumes and accessories so he/she can truly get immersed in the theme. Costumes also can double as pajamas, and that’s a win-win when it comes time for kids to stop playing and go to bed.

When Heather Holman’s son fell in love with a geometric print, she decorated a climbing wall in his bedroom with the print. Submitted photos

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Add a slide. The best children's museum exhibits are ones that keep children active – mentally and physically. A slide not only encourages movement, but will encourage your child to get out of bed in the morning. If the room's theme is a jungle, add a blue slide so the child can pretend to be an explorer who has gone over the edge of a waterfall.

Keep in mind that children need space to play. Through play, children discover the world around them and develop knowledge about language, math, science, engineering and the creative arts in meaningful ways. The more space you leave for them to engage in play, the more they'll learn. Use themed storage items to help keep toys off floors in between moments of downtime. For instance, is your child a pirate fiend but reluctant to tidy toys? Make a treasure chest fit for a buccaneer to hoard the booty as part of the game. After all, what self-respecting pirate would leave treasures for others to steal?

One mini-museum is great, but a whole building of them is even better. Visit Discovery Station and let our exhibits inspire your planning. — Places

Lizzie Dattilio painted constellations on the wall for her budding astronaut daughter, Sophia.

The Discovery Station's Reading Room can be replicated in the corner of a child's bedroom with cushions, bean bag chairs and décor.