Global Perspectives on Children in Museums – serie

International Thinking on Children in Museums introduces current research, theory, and practice about young learners in museums around the world. The book imparts vital knowledge about the nature of childhood and children’s learning that will improve understanding of the very youngest museum-goers.Including contributions from practitioners, scholars, and consultants around the globe, this volume examines museum practices and children’s learning across a range of distinct cultural and geographic locales. The framework of the book is based on research and current thinking in the realm of developmental psychology, sociology, and anthropology, allowing the contributors to examine the evolution of early learning and children’s programs through a sociocultural lens. This broad-based look at international museum practices for children offers a rare view of the field from an important, but oft-neglected perspective: that of society and culture.International Thinking on Children in Museums will broaden understanding of museum practice across cultures and geographic regions and, as such, will be of interest to scholars and students engaged in the study of museum education, museum studies, and early learning. It should also provide a much-needed source of inspiration for museum practitioners working around the world.

International Thinking on Children in Museums introduces current research, theory, and practice about young learners in museums around the world. The book imparts vital knowledge about the nature of childhood and children’s learning that will improve understanding of the very youngest museum-goers.Including contributions from practitioners, scholars, and consultants around the globe, this volume examines museum practices and children’s learning across a range of distinct cultural and geographic locales. The framework of the book is based on research and current thinking in the realm of developmental psychology, sociology, and anthropology, allowing the contributors to examine the evolution of early learning and children’s programs through a sociocultural lens. This broad-based look at international museum practices for children offers a rare view of the field from an important, but oft-neglected perspective: that of society and culture.International Thinking on Children in Museums will broaden understanding of museum practice across cultures and geographic regions and, as such, will be of interest to scholars and students engaged in the study of museum education, museum studies, and early learning. It should also provide a much-needed source of inspiration for museum practitioners working around the world.

Museums, Children and Social Action examines the role that museums play in reaching, teaching and inspiring children as global citizens of the world and, looking to the future, argues that the sustainability of museums will come from strengthening relationships with young visitors. Presenting a diverse range of programs, exhibitions and outreach from museums across five continents, Shaffer highlights how museums are already serving children and making a difference in their lives. Arguing that museums have a unique responsibility to connect this audience with relevant social issues and challenges, such as social injustice, racism, climate change and poverty, Shaffer simultaneously acknowledges that a large number of children are still on the margins of the institution and its mission. Recognizing the ways in which museums are currently serving children, the book also considers what museums could and should be doing as they plan for the future, raising critical questions about core values, community partners and social agendas.Museums, Children and Social Action is essential reading for academics and students engaged in the study of museums, social justice and childhood. It encourages museums to make it their mission to educate and serve this audience and their families for the good of children, as well as museums, while also considering what their institutions can do to make a lasting impact on children and their families.

Museums, Children and Social Action examines the role that museums play in reaching, teaching and inspiring children as global citizens of the world and, looking to the future, argues that the sustainability of museums will come from strengthening relationships with young visitors. Presenting a diverse range of programs, exhibitions and outreach from museums across five continents, Shaffer highlights how museums are already serving children and making a difference in their lives. Arguing that museums have a unique responsibility to connect this audience with relevant social issues and challenges, such as social injustice, racism, climate change and poverty, Shaffer simultaneously acknowledges that a large number of children are still on the margins of the institution and its mission. Recognizing the ways in which museums are currently serving children, the book also considers what museums could and should be doing as they plan for the future, raising critical questions about core values, community partners and social agendas.Museums, Children and Social Action is essential reading for academics and students engaged in the study of museums, social justice and childhood. It encourages museums to make it their mission to educate and serve this audience and their families for the good of children, as well as museums, while also considering what their institutions can do to make a lasting impact on children and their families.

Museum Design with, by, and for Children makes an important contribution to contemporary museum theory and practice by focusing on the role and rights of children in museums from a new angle: design.At a time when museum practitioners are challenged to work within their particular buildings and contexts to help the children in their communities feel welcome, invited, and involved, this book presents alternative approaches that are being implemented across the world and pushing the museum field further in its commitment to children, starting with design. This book provides inspirational insights into large- and small-scale ways that children can participate in museum design and therefore exercise their human rights, gain agency, develop their sense of belonging, and form part of museum communities. Drawing on case studies from Argentina, Australia, England, Italy, Mexico, and Paraguay, and theoretical insights from the Reggio Emilia Approach, constructivism, designerly learning, laboratory-style design, and the work of Paulo Freire and Francesco Tonucci, this book explores the extent to which museums’ design processes are child-centered and how children’s material culture can be reflected in the museum design work that will ultimately shape their own early learning experiences. This book explores museum design as a process that involves key stakeholders in procedural planning and associated tasks and discussions, such as those regarding color, light, shape, form, space, and building materials.Museum Design with, by, and for Children will be valuable for museum practitioners, students, and researchers with an interest in children’s experiences in museums, particularly how children can be empowered as active participants with rights to the museum.

Museum Design with, by, and for Children makes an important contribution to contemporary museum theory and practice by focusing on the role and rights of children in museums from a new angle: design.At a time when museum practitioners are challenged to work within their particular buildings and contexts to help the children in their communities feel welcome, invited, and involved, this book presents alternative approaches that are being implemented across the world and pushing the museum field further in its commitment to children, starting with design. This book provides inspirational insights into large- and small-scale ways that children can participate in museum design and therefore exercise their human rights, gain agency, develop their sense of belonging, and form part of museum communities. Drawing on case studies from Argentina, Australia, England, Italy, Mexico, and Paraguay, and theoretical insights from the Reggio Emilia Approach, constructivism, designerly learning, laboratory-style design, and the work of Paulo Freire and Francesco Tonucci, this book explores the extent to which museums’ design processes are child-centered and how children’s material culture can be reflected in the museum design work that will ultimately shape their own early learning experiences. This book explores museum design as a process that involves key stakeholders in procedural planning and associated tasks and discussions, such as those regarding color, light, shape, form, space, and building materials.Museum Design with, by, and for Children will be valuable for museum practitioners, students, and researchers with an interest in children’s experiences in museums, particularly how children can be empowered as active participants with rights to the museum.

Children’s Boards in Museums outlines the innovative concept of a “Children’s Board”, in which children actively participate in a museum by sharing perspectives that expand the typical circle of voices and decision-makers.Drawing on research conducted with children between the ages of 7 and 12 from diverse socio-economic contexts, and cultures over the last decade, the author presents some of the most inspiring examples of children-centred museums around the world. This book describes the many ways in which children can improve the museum, explaining how they can help to transform it into a friendlier place that is closer to the needs of the community, more respectful of nature, and capable of listening to and valuing every visitor. This book offers an innovative way of thinking about children in museums and explains how children's participation in areas of the museum that have otherwise been considered exclusive to its staff - such as strategy, human resources, funding, management, and evaluation - can enhance those areas, making the museum a significantly better place.Children’s Boards in Museums is essential reading for academics and students who are engaged in the study of museums, heritage, culture, and children. It will also be of interest to professionals who are looking to facilitate a new kind of relationship between their institution and the children who visit it.

Working with Young Children in Museums makes a major contribution to the small body of extant research on young children in museums, galleries and heritage sites. Bridging theory and practice, the book introduces theoretical concepts in a clear and concise manner, whilst also providing inspirational insights into everyday programming in museums. Structured around three key themes, this volume seeks to diverge from the dominant socio-cultural learning models that are generally employed in the museum learning literature. It introduces a body of theories that have variously been called new materialist, spatial, posthuman and Deleuzian; theories which enable a focus on the body, movement and place and which have not yet been widely shared or developed with the museum sector or explicitly connected to practice. This book outlines these theories in an accessible way, explaining their usefulness for conceptualising young children in museums and connecting them to practical examples of programming in a range of locations via a series of contributed case studies. Connecting theory to practice for readers in a way that emphasises possibility, Working with Young Children in Museums should be essential reading for museum practitioners working in a range of institutions around the world. It should be of equal interest to researchers and students engaged in the study of museum learning, early childhood education and children’s experiences in museums.