Learning Skills
Gross Motor
The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon believes that opportunities for literacy development can take place in all areas of learning. Visitors may notice that most exhibits include children’s books and written language related to the exhibit. By providing children with as many opportunities as possible to acquire language, recognize print, and phonological awareness, we are creating lifelong learners.
Diversity and Inclusion
All children are unique, special and amazing! At The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon we believe that all children are welcome and all children deserve to see their community represented. When children can learn to celebrate uniqueness and value diversity, we are creating an inclusive space for all children to grow and learn.
Literacy
The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon believes that opportunities for literacy development can take place in all areas of learning. Visitors may notice that most exhibits include children’s books and written language related to the exhibit. By providing children with as many opportunities as possible to acquire language, recognize print, and phonological awareness, we are creating lifelong learners.
Language & Communication
The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon has built over 25 exhibits that promote early language and communication skills in children. Each exhibit is designed to foster interactions between children and adults. When children pretend to be a cashier in the Farm to Table exhibit, or when children work together to operate the Wind Lab, children are participating in high levels of communication. Children are testing new vocabulary, understanding conversational dialogue and learning how to communicate with people outside of their home. Language and Communication skills are critical to a child’s lifelong success.
S.T.E.A.M.
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STEAM learning stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. When children have opportunities to engage in open-ended experiences that support these areas of learning, they are practicing problem-solving skills, creative thinking, and developing a better understanding of the world around them. Using their senses to explore their surroundings will create a deeper understanding of their environment. The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon offers many exhibits that give children the chance to practice making predictions, collaborating, and asking questions about the world around them.
Nature Exploration
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At The Children's Museum of Southern Oregon children can engage in countless interactions with the natural world. Through indoor and outdoor exhibits, children do everything from zooming in on leaves through a high-powered microscope to bird watching from a treehouse. Providing hands-on experiences for children to explore and engage with nature helps develop scientific inquiry skills, problem-solving abilities, and a deeper understanding and connection to the natural world around us.
Social & Emotional Development
Early interactions during the first years of life provide a critical foundation for children’s social-emotional development.
By providing children with an environment that nurtures a developmentally appropriate sense of self, and opportunities to practice compassion and empathy, children are able to build lifelong skills. Exhibits within The Children’s Museum will provide children with opportunities to develop trusting relationships with caring adults who model positive self-esteem and positive interactions. Children will be able to practice self-regulation skills through a wide variety of sensory-focused activities. When children feel good about themselves, have confidence in their abilities, and have a strong sense of worth, they will engage more fully in learning opportunities and play with others.
Health & Nutrition
From picking their own fruits and veggies in the Farm to Table exhibit to cutting them up and eating them in the Culinary Studio, there are many opportunities for children to learn about health and nutrition at The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon. Understanding the importance of taking care of their mind and body is a skill that will benefit a child’s lifelong wellness. Developing a healthy relationship with nutrition, exercise, and mental health practices are all skills that can be developed at a young age.
Fine Motor
Many of the activities that your child participates in daily, like eating, getting dressed, and basic play, require control of small muscles in the hands. Many of the exhibits within The Children’s Museum provide incredible opportunities for children to build these skills. For example turning on switches, building with Legos, sensory bins, and using writing utensils. By building these muscles and practicing fine motor skills children can be more prepared for writing, using a computer, or playing a musical instrument.
Arts & Creativity
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The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon provides countless activities for your child to be creative and get their hands messy! Playing with slime, painting to music, and building sandcastles are all wonderful ways for children to engage in process-based creativity. Young children need opportunities to participate in activities that encourage innovation, imagination and creativity. Painting, building, dramatic play, dancing, singing, and putting on a puppet show are all ways that children can express their creativity at The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon. Creative play provides children with opportunities for experimentation, imagination, and freedom of expression.
Cognitive & Mathematics Development
Young children practice mathematical skills by exploring the world around them. Measuring and comparing their height to others, observing and repeating patterns in books and materials, and working to solve problems, such as how many blocks do I need to complete the tower? Understanding mathematical concepts can feel very abstract, by providing children with access to materials that explore shape, size, patterns, and numerical awareness, we are helping to connect abstract concepts to the real world.