Building on the Past, Looking to the Future at Cheshire Children's Museum

As we move forward into the autumn months of the year, the staff and board of directors of Cheshire Children's Museum of Keene are building a new chapter that both reflects its established past as a vital resource for the region's children and caregivers while also looking toward the future needs of our community.As Cheshire Children's Museum looks toward this next chapter, the organization hopes to expand its role as a community resource for children and families while highlighting the powerful connection between play, learning, and well-being.As part of that effort, Executive Director Jocelyn Goldblatt recently joined Dr. Gina Pasquale, executive director of MAPS Counseling Services, for a podcast conversation exploring childhood trauma, the healing power of play, and the importance of trauma-informed spaces for children and families throughout the Monadnock Region."Play is more than entertainment for children. It is how they learn, process experiences, build relationships, and develop resilience," said Goldblatt. "The conversation with Dr. Pasquale highlights why creating welcoming spaces for families is such an important part of our mission."The discussion reflects a broader evolution taking place at the museum as we work to strengthen partnerships, continue to support inclusive access, and increase programming opportunities for local families. You can listen to the full podcast online at youtube.com/@mapsnh.Research consistently demonstrates that play-based learning contributes significantly to children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development with more museums across the nation recognizing their role as community builders and connectors for families.The Association of Children's Museums (ACM) describes children's museums as part of a broader ecosystem of community services and notes that museums increasingly collaborate with schools, health providers, and social service organizations to serve families and community needs. ACM's "The Case for Children's Museums" argues that children's museums provide inclusive spaces where families and communities connect, contributing to community well-being in addition to learning and development outcomes. Additionally, the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) has highlighted the growing role of museums as "community spaces" that foster belonging, strengthen community cohesion, and build connected communities.To support more families, the Open Doors Program of Cheshire Children's Museum offers discounted daily admissions and memberships to seniors, veterans, teachers, active duty military members, first responders, and WIC/EBT cardholders. These discounts are utilized by more than 60 percent of our annual visitors.We also partner with local organizations like Rise for baby and family, Monadnock Family Services, and Keene Housing Kids Collaborative, as well as local libraries, to better connect families using their services to the museum. To increase participation and access, the museum's staff has been working to implement a robust schedule of monthly programs, as well as making efforts to increase programming for homeschooling families, and is in conversations to collaborate on providing much-needed playgroups in the near future.Many of our area nonprofits are facing financial pressure amidst funding cuts as they also budget for cost increases, making community support, grant funding, individual donors, and partnerships with local businesses and nonprofits more crucial than ever to continuing the work of our mission.The museum is appreciative of recently renewed exhibit sponsorships by Savings Bank of Walpole and Fenton Family Dealerships. Generous community sponsorships like these provide the funding necessary for museum upkeep, exhibit maintenance, and access to play for all children. Several levels of sponsorship opportunities are currently available.The museum welcomes discussion with any area individuals, groups, businesses, or nonprofits regarding partnerships and support. It is only through the investment of our region's community members that we will thrive and strengthen our mission of providing a space for all children to play, explore, and imagine. Cheshire Children's Museum, at 149 Emerald St. in Keene, is a play-based children's museum for ages 1 to 10 and their caregivers. It is a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving families in the Monadnock Region by offering free and discounted admission through its Open Doors Program to ensure that all children and their caregivers have access to play, explore, and imagine. For more information about programs and membership, sponsorship opportunities, or to donate, visit Cheshire Children's Museum online at cheshirechildrensmuseum.org or reach out to operations@ccmkeene.org or 603-903-1800 with questions.