“The enjoyment of parent and child relationships is fundamental to giving children the very best start in life. Simply taking the time to enjoy their children – to play with them and discuss what’s going on in their world – is the best thing parents can do for their children’s minds, and emotional development, to guarantee future success.”

–Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Temple University Professor, Author and CMOM Advisor 

 “Early childhood family learning is the single most important investment we can make for the education of our children. It is the investment with the greatest return in terms of each child's development and the costs of remediation in our educational systems. Because very few organizations work directly with families with young children, CMOM has made PlayWorks™ the first and largest space commitment in a multi-year plan to redo the museum.”   - Andrew Ackerman, CMOM Executive Director

PlayWorks™ is made possible by the generous support of Judith and John J. Hannan, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, New York City Council Member Gale Brewer, Former State Assemblyman Scott Stringer, Institute of Museum and Library Services, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Dormitory Authority.

 

 

 

Ages birth – 4
For photos of PlayWorks™ click here.

PlayWorks™ is a unique play-based learning environment created by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM). Informed by recent advances in our understanding of early childhood education and development, the space has been designed by experts to underscore, support, and substantiate the central value of play in the lives of young learners and their families. As children explore PlayWorks™, they build the skills necessary for pre-school readiness—emergent physical, social, math, art, science, literacy, and problem-solving abilities—as well as the self-confidence, independence, awareness, and excitement necessary for them to become lifelong learners. Through interactive messaging, educational seminars, take-away materials, and hands-on experience, a visit to PlayWorks™ makes visible precisely how and what young children learn through play, and motivates parents, caregivers, and young children to seek and find everyday opportunities that nurture play and a love of learning. 

PlayWorks™ … because children learn best through play! Play makes learning a fun and rewarding experience for children, enabling them to absorb and understand new concepts and information. Play provides a context for learning that leads to the development of a strong foundation upon which later learning is built.