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KEARNEY — When it comes to patrons who visit the Kearney Area Children’s Museum, staff have one goal in mind. It’s about learning through play.
“The medical and dental exhibits allow people to learn about going to the doctor’s office and even prepare for emergencies,” said Janelle Brown, the museum’s executive director. “They can also role-play about their future. They can imagine themselves becoming doctors, surgeons, and nurses one day.”
The museum recently opened a reimagined medical exhibit with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. As soon as the ribbon cutting ended, the dozen or so children who had been patiently sitting on the floor rushed into the exhibit hall and began exploring the new elements.
Brown understands the value of experiential learning for children. Her own 7-year-old daughter recently injured her finger and went to her emergency room.
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“I didn’t expect it to get to the point where I needed an X-ray that day,” Brown said. “When her daughter was sent to the X-ray room, she was so scared. When I tried to tell her what she was doing, she said, ‘Oh, like a children’s museum.’ Ta. Yes, exactly. It really helped us allay her fears that day. ”
The renovated area of the Kearney Regional Children’s Museum includes a new maternity care area, dental office, clinic, and a new ambulance. Activities in the exhibit include a life-size version of the game “Operation,” an interactive tooth-brushing experience, and more.
The renovation cost approximately $112,000 and was supported by a DED Shovel-Ready grant and by Kearney Regional Medical Center, Sandhills Orofacial Surgery, CHI HealthGood Samaritan, Kearney Pediatric Dentistry, Prairie Meadows Dental, Modern Obstetrics and Gynecology, Otolaryngology and others. Funded by sponsors. Kearney Physicians Glen Powell & Family, Longo Family Orthodontics, and Kearney Pediatric Dentistry Specialists.
Brown noted that museum attendance is currently at pre-pandemic levels.
The museum is designed to stimulate children’s interest and features a circular walkway of exhibits.
“On the other side of the museum, it’s set up like a farm-to-fork path,” the director said. “We have an agricultural section that explains the journey from farm to grocery store to home, a train exhibit, and a water table. On this side of the museum, we have a veterinary hospital, clinic, and post office. , laid out like a town with classrooms, police and fire departments.”
Brown explained that when families stay together at museums, children tend to be more engaged in activities.
“The more they see families interacting together, the more they stay focused,” she said. “They can do a little more role-playing within the area. We also combine some things. You can see our post office is here, but there are post boxes all over the museum. So kids can continue that play in the museum. There are areas where they interact intentionally, and there are areas where they are less intentional.”
With an emphasis on learning through play, the staff maintains the museum around the concept of how children interact with the exhibits.
“We strive to create activities that respect children’s limited attention spans,” Brown said.