Association of Children's Museums

Association of Children's Museums is a professional organization that serves and advocates for the interests of children's museums worldwide, with a focus on United States, Canada, and Mexico. The organization was founded in 1962 by a group of visionary museum professionals, including Michael Spock, who was the director of the Boston Children's Museum. Today, the Association of Children's Museums has over 400 member museums, including the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Please Touch Museum, and Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus. These museums serve over 30 million visitors annually, providing a platform for hands-on learning, STEM education, and arts education, inspired by the works of Maria Montessori, Jean Piaget, and Lev Vygotsky.

● History

The Association of Children's Museums has a rich history, dating back to the 1960s, when the first children's museums were established in the United States, including the Brooklyn Children's Museum and the Boston Children's Museum. During this period, the organization was influenced by the works of John Dewey, Rudolf Steiner, and Eric Carle. In the 1970s and 1980s, the organization experienced rapid growth, with the establishment of new children's museums, such as the Children's Museum of Houston and the San Francisco Children's Museum. This growth was fueled by the support of organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts, National Science Foundation, and Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Association of Children's Museums has also been shaped by the contributions of notable museum professionals, including Shirley Brice Heath, Howard Gardner, and Ellen Langer.

● Mission_and_Objectives

The mission of the Association of Children's Museums is to support and advocate for children's museums, with the goal of providing high-quality, interactive exhibits and educational programs for children, inspired by the works of Seymour Papert, Alan Kay, and Nicholas Negroponte. The organization's objectives include promoting best practices in museum management, providing professional development opportunities for museum staff, and advocating for the importance of play-based learning and child-centered education, as supported by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, American Academy of Pediatrics, and World Health Organization. The Association of Children's Museums also partners with organizations like the National Association of Elementary School Principals, International Reading Association, and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics to advance its mission.

● Membership_and_Programs

The Association of Children's Museums offers a range of membership benefits and programs for its member museums, including the Children's Museum of Manhattan, Portland Children's Museum, and Minnesota Children's Museum. These benefits include access to professional development opportunities, such as the American Alliance of Museums and Association of Science-Technology Centers conferences, as well as resources and support for museum management and operations, provided by organizations like the Getty Conservation Institute, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and American Institute for Conservation. The organization also offers a range of programs and services, including the Museum Assessment Program, Collections Assessment for Preservation, and Conservation Assessment Program, which are supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Humanities.

● Advocacy_and_Initiatives

The Association of Children's Museums is a strong advocate for the importance of children's museums and the role they play in supporting child development and education, as recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, World Bank, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The organization works to promote the value of children's museums to policymakers, educators, and the general public, through partnerships with organizations like the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, and National Parent Teacher Association. The Association of Children's Museums also supports a range of initiatives, including the Every Student Succeeds Act, No Child Left Behind Act, and Head Start Program, which aim to improve educational outcomes for children, as supported by the National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress, and Program for International Student Assessment.

● Conferences_and_Events

The Association of Children's Museums hosts a range of conferences and events throughout the year, including the Interactivity Conference, Association of Children's Museums Conference, and Hands On! Conference, which bring together museum professionals, educators, and researchers to share best practices and discuss the latest trends and research in the field, inspired by the works of Sylvia Earle, Jane Goodall, and Neil deGrasse Tyson. These events provide opportunities for networking, professional development, and collaboration, and are supported by organizations like the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and NASA. The Association of Children's Museums also partners with other organizations, such as the American Museum of Natural History, Field Museum, and Smithsonian Institution, to host events and conferences that promote the importance of science education, arts education, and cultural education.

● Awards_and_Recognition

The Association of Children's Museums presents a range of awards and recognition to its member museums, including the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, Muse Award, and Excellence in Exhibitions Award, which recognize excellence in museum management, exhibits, and programs, as supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, American Alliance of Museums, and Association of Science-Technology Centers. The organization also recognizes the contributions of individual museum professionals, such as Shirley Brice Heath, Howard Gardner, and Ellen Langer, who have made significant contributions to the field of children's museums, through awards like the National Award for Museum Service, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Distinguished Service Award. These awards are supported by organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Ford Foundation. Category:Children's museums