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Years of Play at Glazer Children’s Museum
By Sarah Cole, Glazer Children's Museum CEO
In the spring of 2010, a new building was being completed in downtown Tampa. It would become the new home for a children’s museum. A small team of staff, myself included, moved our offices from a small rental on Jackson Street into this beautiful new building, and got to work getting ready to welcome kids. It had gone by a few names over the years, but today the community knows it as Glazer Children’s Museum. Whatever name it’s known by, the children’s museum has brought joy to children for decades. The words museum and play might not go together naturally in most people’s minds. The word “museum” in its Greek form means “home of the muses.” Museums are literally houses of inspiration. A children’s museum brings inspiration to families through play ful interaction and learning. In a traditional museum, guests may take time to contemplate art or history while reading information or listening to a tour. In a children’s museum, kids play, and by doing so, learn about the world around them. You may have heard the quote, “Play is the work of childhood” from psychologist Jean Piaget. Or from our favorite neighbor, Mr. Fred Rogers: “Play is serious learning.” These quotes guide our work and help us remember that play is not just respite for children, but is actually brain-building learning.
Sarah Cole, wife Annie and twins Bobby and Betty, 7.
The new building opens to the public in 2010 Glazer Children's Museum today
The new building under construction downtown
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TampaBayParenting.com AUGUST 2020
