By: Sarah Strobel, Play Coordinator at the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn
​
What subjects do you place the most importance on your child learning in school? There has always been much discussion about the significance of educating children in math, science and writing.
Alternatively, how often does your child just take time to pick up crayons, glue materials together or paint? When there is a struggle to meet a school budget, it is common to hear of art programs being cut from the curriculum. However, art can help children in their success in school and develop important life skills.  

1) Allows for Self-Expression
One factor that distinguishes art from other subjects such as math is that there is no wrong answer. Art allows for those of all ages to freely use their imagination rather than focus on logic and memorization. Instead, people are able to explore their minds and think about how they see things or would like things to be.
It is not uncommon to have a problem at times understanding how your child is feeling. This can be an issue particularly if your child doesn’t know how or is not comfortable expressing their feelings with words. Therefore, one option to consider is asking your child to draw their thoughts through picture. If they need help getting started, consider asking them to draw things such as the best or worst thing about their day. 
While art can help people express themselves without words, it can also aid in their verbal expression. For example, when children are asked to describe what they have created, it can help develop their language skills.

2) Encourages Decision-Making
Whether or not you realized it before, there are a lot of decisions that go into making a piece of art. The first decision involves thinking about what is going to be made. Once that is decided, it is time to think about what colors or materials to use. The artist is also the one who decides when the project is complete!
Art projects are a perfectly safe way to give your child the power to make decisions. When children get the opportunity to make even small decisions it can help them feel independent. Also, when their art is complete they can feel proud of themselves seeing the result of their decisions.

3) Encourages Planning Skills
There are a lot of different situations in life where order and organization matters and art is no exception. Imagine if you were to glue two pieces of paper together and then try to cut only one of those piece of paper to a different size.  Adults can work with children to help them organize their thoughts before they begin for a smooth process. 
Those working with young children can first work with them to sort materials of different shapes, sizes or colors. Once children are older, adults can ask children to describe how they plan to complete their project.

Consider Asking Your Child:

• What supplies are needed to complete this project?
• What do you think needs to be done first, second and last?

 
4) Develops Fine Motor Skills
A child’s development comes from more than just the big things that they do. In fact, when children pick up a paintbrush or crayons, it helps them develop motor skills they need for other tasks. For example, the controlled movements they get used to making are also necessary to be able to button a coat and to write.
Often, working on an art project requires a lot of focus to make things look just how one would like them. As a result, there are many small movements that one makes when they are working. In addition to paintbrushes and crayons, there is another tool children use at craft time that improves their fine motor skills. As early as preschool, the ability to use scissors is emphasized as it can also help children with dexterity needed for writing.

 Incorporates Math and Science
When children create art, there are many things that they can learn, especially when parents take part in the process. In terms of math, young children can practice counting different materials. Older children can work on measuring the length of materials such as string, yarn, ribbon or cloth.

Consider Asking Your Child:

• How many (triangles/circles/squares) do you see/ do we have?
•  How many more yards of material do we need?

​Parents can also use art to get young children excited about science by teaching them about experimentation and cause and effect. For example, parents can mix two colors together and show that it results in a different color. Furthermore, adults strengthen their older child’s observational skills by instructing them to study an animal, plant or object and then draw it.
 
Does the thought of your child making an art project instantly make you think of a big mess? Instead of dreading clean up, use this time to enjoy your child’s youth and explore your own creative side!

By: Sarah Strobel, Play Coordinator at the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn

How do you encourage your child to get involved in the world around them and learn skills?  One great opportunity that is often overlooked aside from when it is required by schools is volunteering. Although volunteering focuses on helping others, there are many personal benefits that even children can gain by getting involved:
 
1) Teaches Appreciation
As adults, we understand that not all people are in the same family or financial situations as ourselves. However, for children, this idea can be more challenging to understand.
Especially during the holiday season, volunteering is relevant as many people are primarily focused on what they hope to receive. Therefore, if children were to volunteer and help the homeless they would learn they are very fortunate to have a home, loving family and food on the table.
 
2) Enhances World Perspective
Volunteering can help children learn that the world includes more than just their home or school. This can help them understand why it is important to get involved in the community and take actions that benefit everyone. When children develop this awareness, they may become inspired more frequently to get involved and think about how to make a difference without your urging.
 
3) Inspires Giving
The act of volunteering can show children they can make a difference even when they don’t have money. In fact, in many cases, it is just giving our time to others that matters. For example, children can volunteer at a retirement home and spend time with the elderly who have no family members. When they know they have made a difference in someone else’s life, they will be excited not just about receiving but giving as well. 
 
4) Introduces Life Skills
When children are exposed to different environments and situations, they can learn many different things. Different volunteering roles can teach young children the importance of listening to directions, for example. These roles can also teach older children to take responsibility through leadership or to listen to the thoughts of their peers. One very important skill all children learn from volunteering is how to work together as a team.
 
5) Builds Social Skills
Parents are often concerned about their children meeting friends, especially if they are shy. Additionally, when children do make friends it is normal to worry about their habits and personalities and how they will influence our child. However, when your child volunteers it opens the possibility for them to be able to engage with people over similar activities and interests. Volunteering also enhances the chance for them to meet with people of different races and backgrounds.
 
6) Benefits Physical Health
For many parents, it can be difficult to get children to be physically active if they don’t enjoy playing sports. However, volunteer opportunities commonly involve individuals to spend time outside on their feet. What’s great about volunteering is that children can improve their physical health whether they are aware of it or not. In 2013, one study showed that 10th graders who volunteered in an after-school program lost more weight compared to their non-volunteering peers.
 
7) Influences Balanced Habits
It can be difficult for busy parents to find ways to entertain their child that does not involve technology. As a result, children may spend hours playing video games or watching television that has no beneficial value. Volunteering gives children the opportunity to put their time towards something which can help emotionally, physically, socially and intellectually. Overall, when children have different hobbies other than spending time on technology, their lifestyle can be more beneficially balanced.
 
8) Develops Sense of Purpose
When we give our time to people or causes that need it most, it helps us feel good about ourselves. In a big world, it can be difficult to know where we fit in and or how we can start making a difference. By volunteering, people can see that actions which might seem small can make a big difference in the lives of others. As a result, getting involved in giving back to their community can help develop self-esteem.  
 
9) Improves Self-Awareness
By taking a part in trying to change the world, people become more aware of their habits. As a result, it becomes easier to complete future positive actions.  For example, someone who has spent time with the homeless may be more likely to first think about donating old clothes instead of throwing them away. Children who have spent time planting trees or flowers and making their community look better may be less likely to litter.
 
10) Shapes Their Future
Those who give their energy and free time to causes are working for a better future for everyone. However, volunteering can also help your child build a positive future for themselves personally. Both the child and parents can learn more about what the child enjoys leading to future activities.
 
Whether child or adult, there is always potential to grow and learn something new one by getting involved. Did you volunteer as a child or in your teenage years? What benefits do you believe it has given you?

It is terrible watching those you care about struggle especially if you know you can’t do anything to help.  Parents naturally want their children to achieve great things and be happy in life. Therefore, when they encounter difficulties, it is common that parents want to step in and take control of the situation.

One of the newest parenting labels that is receiving a lot of negative attention is the lawn mower parent. If you haven’t heard of this type of parent, they are described as eliminating the struggles, challenges or difficulties their children face in life.  Ultimately, while they mean the best, lawn mower parents are hindering children from being successful, well-adjusted adults in several ways:

Leads to Underdeveloped Coping Skills It is a well-known fact that life commonly doesn’t go the way we want it to or how we expect. This can be incredibly difficult for children to understand especially the first time things don’t work out in their favor. Lawn mower parents work to shelter their children from these negative parts of reality, making it hard to adjust into adulthood. One story of a lawn mower parent involved responding to a child’s request to bring her forgotten insulated water bottle to school. The adult listened to the request despite knowing there are water fountains on school property. Ultimately, the child’s unnecessary request was validated while this could have been an opportunity for her to learn how to deal with what was a minor, less-than-ideal situation.

Discourages Problem-Solving Skills It is clear that when lawn mower parents protect children from problems, they are keeping them from thinking for themselves. How can a child know how to approach a problem if their parent always resolves it for them?

The next time your child explains a problem that they are facing consider reacting differently and taking a step back. While you may want to take charge of the situation, ask the child what they think they can do themselves to solve it. This can help the child feel empowered and help them examine all possible scenarios even if some are suggested by adults. As time goes on, they will hopefully be able to think of all possible ways to cope with their problems independently.

Encourages Dependency It is important to note that children may not always be able to handle all their problems independently. However, think about what they should be able to handle. Consider the example of a student who has his mom handle things such as rescheduling his make-up tests. Due to his parent’s behavior, he is not learning responsibility. Overall, lawn mower parent behaviors teach children to be lazy or that if they make a mistake, mom, dad or the like will always come to their rescue. 

Gives a Sense of Entitlement You have probably heard that younger generations seem to think everything should be given to them.  One example is the idea that all children should receive a trophy no matter how well they did so no one feels left out. Lawn mower parents help develop their child’s sense of entitlement by giving them everything they ask for and making life generally easier. As a result, children do not learn that hard work and dedication are necessary if they want to improve skills and reach desired goals. As adults, we do not expect that the same consideration for a promotion would be given to a worker that does the bare minimum and one constantly striving to improve.

Damages Their Confidence
How would you feel if someone was always working to solve your problems for you? Young children may not think twice about parents solving their problems. However, as they get older they may begin to ask questions. For example, why their parents feel the need to always step in and come to the rescue.

​Ultimately, the well-intentioned parent can leave their child feeling as though they don’t believe their child is capable of solving their own problems. Consequently, children may also face other negative emotions including increased anxiety and low distressed tolerance. While children may not always make the right decisions when faced with challenges, we must give them the opportunity to try.

In the end, responsibilities, disappointments, mistakes and unideal situations are parts of life. These elements are what eventually help children grow into well-adjusted, independent and knowledgeable adults.

​Sarah Strobel is a Play Coordinator at the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn.  She graduated from Lewis University in 2016 receiving a B.A. degree with Honors. She spends her time writing and creating online content for businesses and volunteers with organizations across the U.S. You can reach her at sarah@cmoaklawn.org.

Each year, we're very fortunate to have so many incredible volunteers at the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn. Every one deserves our admiration because we wouldn't be where we are today without them.

On Thursday, August 9th, we will recognize four special individuals as well as our Community Partner of the Year at our Volunteer Recognition DInner. You can purchase tickets for this event at Garden Chalet Banquet in Worth, IL by following this link: https://e.givesmart.com/events/7XQ/.

​Bill serves Turnbridge Financial Group and Turnbridge Consulting Group as Executive V.P.  His experience includes over 35 years working with a range of small businesses to large corporations, helping owners, directors and the rest of the employees preserve and grow their incomes. 
During the past 10 years he has served on business advisory boards, consulted for non-profit associations and unions, and helped individuals and organizations with their professional and business development.  He brings a wealth of experience since he has owned and run three businesses in transportation, food production and management consulting.  From this experience he knows well how to conduct all of the critical functions in business, helping to grow their financial bottom line while reducing their tax liabilities.  He has also been a faculty member at local community colleges and National Louis University providing education in human relations, business analysis and ethics.  He has also written two books—one in management development and the other a children’s reading primer: “Breakfast with Sammy”.  Since joining the financial services industry 12 years ago, he now utilizes his range of experiences to help owners of businesses and their employees protect and grow their finances and their peace of mind.  He received a B.A. in Psychology from Wooster College; M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Psychology and Organizational Development from Case Western Reserve University. 

​Jamie Makuch serves on the Museum’s Board of Directors but over the past two years, Jamie has gone “Above & Beyond” with our Princess Ball Event.  Jamie took on the role of Fairy Godmother of overseeing the Special Princess Initiative related to the event.  It’s a volunteer role we’ve had for years, but Jamie sprinkled fairy dust on it and took it to the next level.  Donors step forward to sponsor a princess.  This princess is a little girl who, otherwise, would not be able to attend the event.  Jamie handles every detail from meeting the princesses at the store to buy their dress, shoes, and jewelry for the event.  This last year they even had a special ice cream treat, organized by Jamie.  This initiative is no small task.  Imagine gathering 12-14 little girls and their families in the mall, at the same time, to take them all shopping.  Jamie is our Fairy Godmother for the special princesses.  Jamie takes these families under her wing to make sure they have a magical experience throughout.  For the last few years, the Princess Ball has included STEM programming, aligning with our mission.  This initiative has us now talking about how we might integrate it with our Museums For All initiative to provide yearly memberships to families in need.

​Linda has been very dedicated to the museum since she started with the Board of Directors back in 2004.  She always volunteers for whatever comes up.  Linda was very instrumental in the capital campaign kickoff dinner for the current location.  Whenever Linda isn’t at Trinity Lutheran Church working with students, she is helping with events like the Museum’s Princess Ball, Casino Night and Fall Fun Fest.  She’s always wherever we need her.  Linda can be found behind the museum booth when we are out promoting the museum or at some of our outreach opportunities.  Linda also serves on the Oak Lawn Community Partnership which is an organization that works to help Oak Lawn residents.

​School District #123 is the Museum’s Community Partner of the Year recipient.   This partnership continues to grow and flourish.  District 123 was instrumental in an “On the Table” grant the museum received a few years ago to provide a parent education session around the importance of parent engagement and play.  The Museum has attended science nights in the district, as well, providing hands-on learning at these events.  The Museum has been fortunate enough to have had School District #123 staff participate in discussions and meetings around exhibit planning, to ensure that the exhibits we bring into the Museum or have built supplements classroom learning.  The partnership with School District #123 helps advance our mission of learning and it’s a partnership we cherish.

​The Children’s Museum has had our new Topography Table open for periodic testing over the last couple of weeks and we will officially be opening the exhibit on Monday, July 30th, kicking off a Members-Only Monday at the museum! 
 
The Topography Table is an augmented reality sand table that projects colors on the sand based on elevation of the sand!  Think of it as an interactive topographical map where when you move the sand, the topography projection changes based on the new landforms you created!  Dig a hole in the sand and create a lake.  Add a high point of sand in the middle of the lake and create an island!  At this exhibit, you shape the landscape! 
 
Back in the spring of 2017, our Executive Director, Adam Woodworth was at a family dinner talking with his brother-in-law, Bill Kane, about this exhibit.  Bill is a teacher at Lockport Township High School and was telling Adam how their school had just built the augmented reality sand table for their STEM lab.  Adam floated the idea about the possibility of having CAD students design the exhibit and the rest is history.  Not only did CAD students design the exhibit, but students in the buildings and trades classes built the exhibit.  Ted Kozlowski who runs our Build-It Workshop most days and oversees exhibit repairs/maintenance took charge of the electronics and Bill Kane worked with Ted on the programming.
 
“This exhibit is a very unique, interactive experience that gives children the opportunity to learn about landforms,” said Woodworth. “We were so thrilled to partner with Lockport Township High School students on this exhibit.  It’s something these students can put on their resume as something they had a hand in creating.  And to think, it all came together as a result of a dinner conversation with my brother-in-law.”
 
Exhibits like this can only happen through the generosity of our donors.  If you would like information on how you can support the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn through a donation towards an exhibit, a vehicle donation, a stock donation or maybe you just want information on how to include us as a beneficiary in your will or insurance policy, reach out to us at (708) 423-6709 ext 201.  Donations can be made through our website, too, at www.cmoaklawn.org.

It all started, as these things often do, with an act of volunteerism. For some reason, I found myself helping out at an event at our recently opened, original location, in Lakeshore Park. It was a small building, previously used mostly to store tables and other Park District property, but there was real excitement in the air. The place was packed with families, mostly children. This was just the beginning. After volunteering for several other Children’s Museum functions, Jim Buschbach approached me with one of those offers you can’t refuse. He saw that I enjoyed pitching in at these affairs, so he suggested I might want to take it to the next level and join the Board. There was only one answer to such an offer—of course!
 
Since that day, well over twelve years ago, it has been quite the journey. The Museum outgrew the Lakeshore Park space and I outgrew my “basic” board position. Once again, I stepped up to serve as Board President. In my travels around the region and beyond, I have had the pleasure of serving as an ambassador for the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn. If there’s another children’s museum anywhere nearby, I make a point to visit. Whether in Chicagoland, Minnesota, Anaheim (California) or Rome (Italy), I have seen amazing child focused facilities firsthand!
 
At each visit, I am reminded just how fortunate we are to have such a dedicated and talented staff here in Oak Lawn, led by our tireless executive director, Adam Woodworth. Also my gratitude for our supportive community partners and donors is reinforced as I see other museums face their share of financial challenges. Beyond that, I am truly inspired by the diverse, magnificent programming and exhibits these fine institutions bring to the children in their communities. I’m always on the lookout for great ideas to bring home to Oak Lawn.
 
This brings me to the question, after fifteen years, what’s next? We all like to dream big. I see ever-expanding possibilities for the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn—more cutting edge exhibits, additional space, outreach into other venues and communities, as we seek to better serve the families in our region. 
 
It has been said, the best presidents know when it’s time to step aside for new leadership and fresh perspectives. I am confident, that under the guidance of the next person to step into this role, we will continue to explore and soar for many years to come. But don’t fret, you’re not getting rid of me that easily. I’ll still be around, happy to volunteer as needed, whether on the Board or at other Children’s Museum events.  It doesn’t get any better than that!
 
Kevin Mathers
Board President

It's hard to imagine that just 15 years ago, our Children's Museum opened its doors in a small, 900-square foot room in an Oak Lawn Park District building. Three years after we opened, I was hired with the goal of moving the museum from that small facility to a new, nearly 12,000 square foot space.

Our origin story begins, however, prior to opening our doors in 2003. It begins in the late 1990's with a mom, Carol Marsh, who had an idea:  to have a Children's Museum in Oak Lawn. She began talking with people and soon, had recruited a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of business professionals and educators. Carol recruited the right people at the right time and a few of those original board members are still on our Board of Directors 15 years later. 

In 2004, Mayor Ernie Kolb approached our little nonprofit Children's Museum's Board of Directors and suggested we needed a bigger space, a space that would be available in a new development going in on 95th Street. In 2006, I was hired as the organization's second Executive Director. It was at that time that a capital campaign was started to prepare for our move. We'd need a lot more exhibits and experiences moving from 900 square feet of space to 12,000 square feet and that was going to take money. We brought in educators to help us insure that our exhibits had educational value and we recruited volunteers to assist us in the fundraising.

We signed the lease with the Village of Oak Lawn on the new space in 2007 and on July 27, 2009, we opened our doors at 5100 Museum Drive. A lot has happened since then:

• In 2013, our museum brought forth a community discussion around the idea of the over-scheduled child which included panelists from Governor's State University and Oak Lawn Community High School.
• In 2015, we created a formalized Education Advisory Board. This group largest project included going through the museum exhibit by exhibit to analyze the following:
  • How each exhibit aligned with the current learning standards.
  • How each exhibit, with a change or addition, could align with current learning standards.
  • Offer suggestions on how children and parents could interact at each exhibit to help teachers in the classroom.
• In 2016, we partnered with the Chicago Community Trust to hold our first "On the Table" discussion, inviting key educational partners to the museum for a discussion about the importance of play when it comes to learning. This lead to a grant where we were able to put on a parent workshop.
• In 2017, the Museum was asked to participate in the Children's Museum Research Network by being interviewed for the research and this year we will continue that participation as a site for some of their observation work.  More information on that research work can be found here.
• Recently, our Board of Directors formed a subcommittee to begin the process of developing a learning framework for the museum in partnership with St. Xavier University.

We are very grateful for the opportunity to serve children and their families at the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn. We are not afraid of the word "play" in our doors because play is not trivial. Play is the foundation of how children learn and develop the necessary skills to get through life. Critical thinking skills, conflict resolution skills and social skills are just three of the skills developed through play. 

If you ever would like to get involved with our organization through volunteering or making a donation, reach out to me. We are always looking for people who want to support our mission:  to positively impact a child's potential in life through play-based education.

Yours in play,

Adam Woodworth
Executive Director
​

At the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn, our mission is to positively impact a child's potential in life through play-based education. Every now and then, something peripherally comes along that impacts children and families and we have to ask, "Is this mission related?"

With all of the political noise in the media this week, I learned that Utah passed a law that is being called the "Free Range Parenting" law and it is the first legislation of its kind in the United States.

At its heart, the law specifies that "it is not a crime for parents to allow kids who display maturity and good judgement to do things like walk to school alone or play outside without supervision."  Maturity would be worked out on a case-by-case basis by police and prosecutors, assuming an issue arose with the child.

The law basically protects the parents if they allow their children more freedom.  An article about the new law cited the following as reasons why it was necessary:

• A Maryland couple made headlines in 2015 after they were accused of neglect for letting their two children, ages 10 and 6, walk home without adult supervision.
• In 2014, a Florida mom was arrested on a felony charge for allowing her 7-year-old son to walk to a nearby park alone. (That charge was eventually dismissed.) 

Sen. Lincoln Filmore (R), the Utah bill’s chief sponsor, said “I feel strongly about the issue because we have become so over-the-top when ‘protecting’ children that we are refusing to let them learn the lessons of self-reliance and problem-solving that they will need to be successful as adults,” Filmore told Yahoo Lifestyle last week.

Another state, Arkansas, tried to pass a similar law but the bill failed.

Certainly, every child is different, every neighborhood is different and every parenting style is different. Do you think we, as Illinoisans, are too hard on parents who don't closely supervise their children? Do you think a law like this makes sense in Illinois? Is it necessary?  I'd love to know what you think. Comment below or send me an email (director@cmoaklawn.org). 

Co-founders of EarlyVention, Melissa and Elizabeth Ames, are teaming up with the Executive director of the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, Adam Woodworth, to provide sensory support bags for our visitors with sensory processing disorder (SPD). Melissa and Elizabeth have extensive background experience involving special needs children and adults. They started EarlyVention to help make life easier for those who struggle with disabilities by creating products for enjoyment and stimulation.

Each bag includes a book to prepare the child for his/her visit to the museum, along with lots of visual support to help children better communicate their needs and wants while enjoying the exhibits. Other tools, like noise-canceling headphones and fun fidget toys are also included to help children adjust to their surroundings and calm the senses. Melissa cites that and more businesses are recognizing the need to accommodate those with autism, and we're thrilled to help the museum, a non-profit organization, join this movement. It is so needed!

Besides the sensory items, the bag also includes different guides to help make your museum experience even more joyful. These guides consist of an informational booklet, the sensory bag contents, the “My Guide” and the picture support cards which are attached to the side of the bag. You can read the “My Guide” social story before or while you enjoy the exhibits to prepare your child for the museum’s different sensory experiences.

​At the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, we are continuously putting forth the effort to make everyone’s experience at our museum enjoyable.

"As a parent of a child with a disability, I know how stressful outings can be," says Adam Woodworth, the Museum's Executive Director. "This partnership with Earlyvention will hopefully take some of that stress out of your visit, utilizing the various items in the Sensory Bags.  And, as you use the bag, if you have ideas for other items we might want to include, let us know. We'd love the input."

​CEO of Earlyvention Elizabeth Ames stated, "Last year, the museum posthumously recognized our mom, Jennifer Ames, for her volunteer work to help adapt exhibits for young children with special needs. We are honored to continue her legacy and help the museum become an even more inclusive environment. After months of designing the Sensory Support Bags, we are ecstatic to see them put to good use by children sensitive to environmental stimuli, especially those with autism and sensory processing disorder."

The Museum has a few sensory bags at the front desk that you can check out. There is no charge to check out the bag. Simply give your photo ID to the front desk to check one out during your visit.