10:45 – 12 Safe As Necessary, but Not As Safe as Possible
Kia Karlan – Madison Children’s Museum
Carly Baumann - Providence Children’s
Aaron Goldblatt, Metcalf Architecture & Design
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Synopsis:
This was a good program! I give it an A-. The Madison museum was a presenter (they presented in several sessions, as well as Chicago – I think they were the stars this year). The point of this program was to talk about the importance of designing exhibits that allow children to feel a certain element of risk, which is a critical part of their development. It’s called an “executive function” to be able to make judgments and determine if one is able to safely maneuver their environment. The example she gave – I can jump off this boulder and be safe, but not this cliff. Children cannot develop that function without the opportunity for experience. The trick is how do we balance providing that experience, while still being safe enough for parents and insurance companies.
Kia Karlan from the Madison children’s museum had some wonderful ideas they were using at their museum. Obviously, the main importance is 1st to tie in to the mission of their museum (being as green as possible), what’s best for the children, and what the community wants.
Best exhibits – gerbil wheel (looks very dangerous and people do get hurt), also look like a lot of fun. They handle the risk with signage and museum attendants. Good training for floor staff and key component is professional staff always being available to handle situation.
- Rooftop garden – grow organic produce, invite local chefs to prepare fresh eggs from chicken coop (it would be really cool if we could do this – perhaps we could partner with Grapeland elementrary and their school garden)
Carly Baumann
Providence Children’s
Best exhibits – Luckey climber!
Aaron Goldblatt, Metcalf Architecture & Design
Morse Arboretum – Philidelphia (in conjunction with University) –
http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/gardens_treeadventure.shtml
Created a structure that would walk guests down a long walkway, taking them high into tree tops. Once at the top of the tree tops, giant (almost invisible) net structures are like large swimming pools where children and families can look down and lay amongst the trees. P.S. The tree trunks sway – I think as much as 3 ft with the wind. There is also an “inclusive” experience – wheel chairs can ride onto a narrow walkway that “disappears from site” and allows them to feel like they are a part of the experience.
This feeling of risk promotes social connection – people talk to strangers and stay and socialize and bond over amazing experience.
Really unique idea! Great point to think about as we perculate on what happens with the second floor and the importance of providing these experiences. And helps us to think about space in a new way – if these people can create something in the tree tops – what areas do we have that we haven’t thought about?
Maeryta was also in this session and raised the question at the end of the session – what about an inclusive experience for all? How do you deal with not or providing this experience to be “inclusive” (special needs, autism, wheel chairs, etc). for all?
The museums dodged this one a bit – saying that not all experiences were for all visitors. Important to think about when designing – will all be inclusive – just some – modified experience?
Also interesting to note – there are guidelines for program safety, guidelines from the Smithsonan, and other agencies on safety of design. Apparently it is critical for museums/exhibit designers to know these guidelines and to work with fire/risk management – but that not all of these safety guidleines will apply. Apparently a slide (depending on it’s size and incline) – must have 4 feet of “fall space”. There is apparently technical training/certification on playground safety guidelines.
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Notes / long version:
About sharing. 1992 – Madison – started as floor staff. 1995 Bay Area Discovery Museum – saw soap box derby, saw candle making. Programming ever since at Madison. Madison open for 35 years. Opened newest facility – from 9,000 to 25, 000 sq. ft.
1999 – First Green exhibit Early Learning Space: safer healthier space for young children, looking at materials used in environments (health issues from off gas chemicals), All hard surfaces – museums upset all hard surfaces, adults kept falling on stairs that had odd pitch for young children walking
The City Museum, St. Louis, MO (very cool) – open ended, risk tolerant museum, climbing experiences
Decline in emergency room visits – now obesity on the rise “Last child in the woods”
One in five kids suffer depression (ages 9-17) – 80% go untreated – American Academy of Pediatrics
Executive function (jump off rock ok, cliff not fine) – todays 7 year olds have executive function of a five year old
2010 August, New MCM – no rules, minimum signage, early learning space up high )suspension bridge over trees nest, water play, climbing area and slide (parent concerned email –child thought slide too fast – early learning coordinator sent email – developing self regulation skills will be al the more exciting for her when she’s ready), problem is floor staff respond - yes, your’re right – rope off slide – need work).
Signs – ages 5 and under
Possible-opolis open ended for kids – the wayback machines, floor has as much salvage material as possible
Climber – hodge podge mahal, recycled pieces, freak outs inside top point , parents cant grab kid, kids help each other, toddler shave jeep climber, have climber monitor, added wings and spiderwebs to keep footholds off, did make signs (talked about comfort level)
Gerbil wheel – just over first floor (can see through down to first floor), first accident report was director of dupage museum with executive director of Madison running gerbil wheel, sign 4 years and up, only two at a time, no running, carrying children into wheel, start slow
Rooftop ramble – live animals, chickens, parents glad when chickens peck – teach children, germ swab elevator, stairs, and chicken
Cook food from garden and solar oven (some parents upset not packaged) – no problems, have guest chefs come
Woodworking classes
Resources:
www.free range kids.wordpress.com
www.childrenandnature.org
www.tinkeringschool.com
www.citymuseum.org
wwww.madisonchildrensmuseum.org
Carly Baumann
Providence Children’s 162,000 visitors in 2010, 17,000 sq. feet
Luckey climber outdoors! Nooks and crannies not conducive to adults, gives kids a chance to play and breathe, spooky and scary (skulls and bugs), was scared now not, programs important to risk taking, get daring with materials tools and mess, animal programs, kids practice with tools, hammers
Don’t just staff risk places, communicate with adults our feelings on risk, open to how people experience, parents so worried, integrated in training, mentoring sessions, shared language. Play watch captures stories about play.
Toddlers injured on ladder – we need to do a better job communicating to public. Recommended age 4 and older - design what makes sense to viewer.Teach parents what developmentally appropriate. Climb arch mat. Gave power back to kids
Risk is fundamental element of play. Without some level of risk, will not want to play. Arboretum – ask kids – what will be fun – climb trees (can’t let kids climb trees). 450 ft. long, pavilion in center, 50 ft. off ground, invisi-net, can’t see it, like a giant hammock , mission – help love trees, experience tress in a new way, bird’s nest, with giant eggs, dangle feet in net, trunks are moving, net moves, social setting, allows crossing boundaries of social hood.
Philidelphia Arbortium – Morse Arboreteum (deals with University)
At please touch museum – wild thing.
Risk taking – promotes social bonding (ex. Elevators here)
So worried about litigation – ladder access point in highest area (in event of terrorist point), insurance carrier (have good relationship – they will help do risk analyses), code officials - , suspension bridge climb up and over top (tight weave) curved so no problem, no railings in football stadium (42 high) – no kids climb, cameras make kids and parents feel better (interact, can see kids), reassure parents 9parenting in public – don’t let kids climb)
How measure own comfort/safety level (parent ok / staff not) (ex. Playdome mistake in design – looks like climb outside – added foothold blockers) - design in key (always observe / watch – redesign)
Museum should know all guidelines from consumer product safety commission – irresponsible not to now them. Look at context – museum not playground. They are guidelines – museums will have different guidelines (trained playground safety), what is your risk level, work with insurance company, how much liability will you take, number of visitors, cultivate dialogue with city/fire/ everything early – partners in effort
Climber inside – playground rules, but not playground, ada rules? (Maeryta?) climb ladder to access (Smithsonian guidelines)
Madison – not every exhibit has an experience e- look holistically for viewers
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