Make the Most of Your Visit to CMTM!
Blown away in Have a Ball!
- Play with me!
- This is a place for the young and young at heart! We encourage you to play and interact with your child throughout the Museum. You are your child's teacher and playmate, so use your imagination and imitate animals through sound and movement, make up a story in our Dress-Up Theatre, ring the bell on the fire truck, get rolling with Have a Ball! create something wonderful with paint, crayons and clay in the Explore Some More room and ask questions to further your child's learning (e.g., Why does the starfish in the Touch Tank have five arms?). The options are endless, so have fun!
- Take me by the hand...
- Allow your child(ren) to decide where you go in the Museum. Watch carefully what your child chooses to look at, touch, listen to and observe. The choices your child makes will inform you of his interests and grant you the opportunity to learn even more about what gets your child's curiosity going!
- So many choices...
- There are so many things to do and see here at the Museum! As you enter our front lobby, make sure you and your child(ren) check out our spinning exhibit wheel in the front lobby. Take a spin and see where your adventure will take you! Please do not feel you must see the entire Museum in one visit. In fact, it is beneficial for your child to spend more time in one exhibit so she can become further engaged in discovery and learning.
- Walking Feet, Memories to Beat!
- Encourage your child to walk through the museum to help us maintain a safe environment. Consider mentioning to your child that if he runs in the Museum, he not only makes it unsafe, but he might miss the most exciting thing here if he runs past the exhibits! We want all of our visitors to enjoy their time here and get the most from their outing, so please use walking feet to keep your children and others safe, happy and ready to experience all there is to investigate!
- Trade your Cell Phone for Cells and Bones!
- When exploring animal artifacts and activities in the Ranger Station (as well as everything else in the Museum), power off your cell phone and power up on learning and play! The simple act of turning off your cell phone can make a visit to the Museum more valuable for your child. Giving him your undivided attention will enhance your time together and allow you to make time for play, which is nature's way of helping kids experiment with ways of thinking, solve various problems and discover how the world works!
- Food, Clothing and Restrooms
- Although we do not allow eating in the Museum's exhibit areas, there is a cafe located on the lower level with drink and snack machines to satiate snack attacks! This space is also an ideal place to share a lunch from home and engage in conversation during your Museum visit. Make sure to talk with your child about what you have already done together and ask questions to get her thinking about what you are planning to check out before you leave. Restrooms are located on the lower and second levels. All are equipped with changing tables.
- Consider bringing an extra change of clothes with you to the Museum.
- Lots of our activities involve messy play, which can lead to paint smears, soaked sleeves and huge grins. While you might need to make a quick switch to a different shirt after your child's completed a project, these activities help to stimulate children's senses, grant them hands-on opportunities to try new things and encourage them to learn how to express themselves. Worth the swap? You bet!
- Seeing Red...in this case, a good thing!
- All of our staff and volunteers wear red aprons and nametags. Look for us if you have any questions or concerns and we will be happy to help you the best way we can.
- Lost Children (and Adults!)
- Please notify a staff person as soon as you know of a child becoming lost in the Museum. We have a specialized procedure to follow for lost children. Before visiting the Museum, talk to your child about what to do in case he gets lost. Come up with a common meeting place (such as the front desk) for you and your child to meet in the event that you and he are separated. Encourage your child to notify the front desk if he has misplaced a parent or guardian - adults can get lost, too!
- Out the Door, Play and Learn Some More!
- Just because you leave the Museum does not mean you have to stop play and learning! Encourage your child to talk about her visit to the Museum. What did she enjoy most? Did she learn something new? What would she like to learn more about? Why was the Rock Wall her favorite exhibit? After visiting We Are Maine, would she like to learn how to make the sesame noodles featured in the video about China? Be sure to check out the Online Activities section on our website, as well as our Book Lists, for ideas to inspire you to continue pretending, creating, drawing, laughing, climbing and acting at home!
