Adam Woodworth, the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn’s Executive Director, recently asked me if I would like to do a “blog”.  Yes, at my age I did actually “kind of” know what that meant.  And I agreed because I firmly believe that trying new things is a great way to fight the turning of the pages on the proverbial calendar. 

And….I LOVE the museum!

Recently, I was honored by being elected President of the Board of Directors of the Museum.  But that is not where the story begins.  So, let’s travel back in time, about 20 years ago.

As Principal of Harnew Elementary in Oak Lawn, only once did I have a parent ask to observe our preschool.  Our district was one of the first public schools to have a 3 and 4-year-old preschool, so it didn’t really surprise me.  I spoke to our preschool teacher, Diane Falkenthal, and she readily agreed to welcome the mom in to observe.  BTW, Diane is one of the finest teachers I have had the pleasure to work with.  After the observation, I met with the young mom, Carol Marsh, and she spoke glowingly about her observation and immediately not only signed up her son but also had made plans with Diane to help in the classroom.

She also shared with me her mission to have a children’s museum on the southwest side of Chicago.  Now that really interested me.  She raved on about how the “nearest museums were in downtown Chicago, far west in Naperville/Wheaton and south in Bourbonnais.”  All we had were “McDonald’s ball pits”!  She had me! 

​Being a principal of a school of 600 or so students and about 50 staff is definitely a FULL time job, but I just had to be a part of this fantastic “madness”.  My husband and I had never been fortunate enough to have children of our own, but that only increased my love of children and all the things that help them grow.

I need to tell you that the very first mention of a children’s museum in Oak Lawn actually came in 1993.  Politicians were divided on what to do with the historic Cook School building, which was no longer needed.  Cook School was probably built in the early 1900s and was located at 95th Street and Cook Avenue.  One side wanted to bulldoze it for a parking lot and the other side felt that the building should be preserved and renovated for community use; one of several possibilities was a children’s museum.  At that time, no one stepped forward to spearhead the idea and renovation proved to be quite costly.  So, the politics of the time brought the idea to a screeching halt!

By April of 2000, Carol Marsh had put together a proposal without naming a location (other than Oak Lawn).  She did not want to get involved in the no-win situation of Cook School.  Carol was an excellent writer and lacked the “reverence” that many of us have for people in authority ----- so she knocked on the mayor’s door and the doors of all of village trustees, continually phoned local state representatives and attended any group meetings where they didn’t throw her out!  Along the way she gathered a diverse group of individuals who thoroughly supported the idea.  Actually, several of those people (besides myself) remain active board members and supporters of the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn to this very day.

In May of 2000, the Oak Lawn Park District voted to provide the museum a temporary home in a tiny, rundown, virtually unused 900 sq. ft. facility for $1.00 per year.  The location, 9600 East Shore Drive, is in a scenic residential area. By rundown, I mean that when we held meetings there and it happened to rain, we had to lift up our card tables and chairs to avoid the waterfalls coming through the ceiling! 

In June, we had our first Board of Directors meeting, a great bunch of people with a common purpose: to somehow create a small children’s museum.  In July, we came up with the kite “Explore and Soar” logo.

In October, we held our first public event, the Harvest Home Festival.  To this day, we still have a fall festival!

In February of 2001, I chaired the first meeting of the Academics and Exhibits Committee and within the year we agreed upon a tree house theme for the tiny facility and had pencil drawings and concepts for 9 exhibits.  We hired an exhibit designer and in 2002 he completed professional drawings based on our suggestions.  Next came a fabricator who would build our exhibits for $175,000.  In March, we hired our first (part-time) director, Elizabeth Gelman.  We also hired two other part-time employees, a floor supervisor and an administrative assistant.  In May of 2003, we opened our doors for the very first time and were gratified to see lots of children and families come to our tiny museum.

Our first birthday came and with it an unbelievable offer we couldn’t refuse.  In the local papers it read:  Oak Lawn announced the first tenant of the “controversial” commuter train station proposed for downtown: the children’s museum. 

Had we planned on growing this quickly?  Absolutely not!  Our heads were spinning from opening one year earlier.  But our feeling was we just had to keep moving forward.  But like most things in life, money became an integral piece of our puzzle.  Also, “politics” entered the challenge of making our dream of having a larger children’s museum come true. To this very day, I must admit that it still amazes me how we accomplished all that we did, and I am so proud that we persevered.

In February of 2006, we hired our current executive director, Adam Woodworth.  My head spins with the number and scale of things that came at us as we climbed the “mountain” of making a new regional museum come to life.  We had to do a tremendous amount of fundraising.  We had to hire a professional exhibit designer; we chose Becky Lindsay, of Mindsplash.  We had to hire architects, builders, etc.  Exhausting…but exhilarating!

In April of 2009, just when we thought things were the darkest and maybe it would NOT happen, we were told about a fledgling children’s museum in Knoxville that was closing.  We were able to purchase their almost brand new exhibits (very close to what we ourselves had planned) for a portion of what they would have cost us. 

But the thing that SAVED us, were our loyal supporters.  So many people saw what we had done and more importantly what we planned for the future and they “bought into” our dream literally by donating the funds needed.

In July of 2009, the doors opened to the children’s museum at Oak Lawn station. 

To this very day, every time I walk through our museum, I take great pride in having been there at the very beginning and continuing to be an active supporter of the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn. 

It might be compared to watching a child grow up.  What a thrill!  And we’re not finished yet…I continue to love working with the museum to help make it the best place for families to play and learn together. 

I personally invite you to please join us by contributing your time, talent and treasure; because we would not exist without your support.

If you haven't read "It's Science:  Reading the same books to your child over and over makes them smarter," give it a read.  It's written by Ashley Norris, a former preschool teacher and now a faculty member at East Carolina University in the Birth-Kindergarten Education program. 

Upon reading the article, it got me thinking about the importance of repetition. We, as parents, have this desire to give our children a plethora of experiences.  Consider for a moment that instead of running ragged all summer trying to get as much in as possible, that you do half as much... but more of it.

A few months after opening our doors at our new location, way back in 2009, I started finding myself in conversations that continue to this day.  They often play out like this:

Visitor:  "Hey Adam, we're here again!"
Me:  "It's great to see you."
Visitor:  "Yeah, we asked her where she wanted to go and she said the Kite Museum."
Me:  "I'm glad she has fun here!"
Visitor:  "We suggested about six other places because we were just here a week ago, but she wanted to come here."
Me:  "Well, you know, children like repetition right?"
Visitor:  "Really?"
Me:  "Yes...."  

Then, I go into why children like repetition.  There is a mastery in play that children aspire to.  Think about a child who has blocks at home.  Do they play with those blocks once and then they are done?  Not usually.  If that were the case, why buy blocks, right?  No, children will build and be creative with new ideas and new designs.

The same is true at the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn.

A child may come to the museum and pretend shop in the grocery store, mimicking what they see you do at the supermarket.  The next few visits to the museum, they might do the same thing, but on one of those visits, they discover something new.  The thought crosses their mind, "What if I take the food over to the kitchen across from the grocery store?"  

Now they have their cart in the kitchen, putting food in cabinets and pretending to cook food.  "But wait, there is a picnic table, what if we had a picnic?"  And... the experience changes every time with different children in the market.

This is true no matter what the exhibit.  As children grow older and with each regular visit to the museum, you'll notice subtle changes in how they play.  

Just as the article by Ashley Norris states, ask questions!  Each exhibit has a "Talk About it!" sign.  Inside the signs are ideas of questions to get you started.  If you are in the market exhibit, you might ask:

• What vegetables do you want to buy?
• Can you find a food that is green?
• For older children, "How much do you think this costs at the store?

Open-ended questions get children thinking.  Go beyond the yes or no questions and get them thinking about the "why" of what they are doing.

Instead of:  "Are you having fun?"
Try:  "Tell me what you are doing."

Instead of:  "Do you like the museum?"
Try:  "What was your favorite thing to do today?  What did you like best about it?"

By asking these types of open-ended questions, you'll be opening up a whole new dialogue with your children and they'll let you into their world.

Maria Montessori once said:  "It is exactly in the repetition of the exercises that the education of the senses exists; not that the child shall know colors, forms or qualities, but that he refine his senses through an exercise of attention, comparison and judgment."

- - - - - - - - - -
Adam Woodworth is the Executive Director of the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn.

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

How many things do you read in one day? It goes without saying that phones have given us access to a wealth of information at our fingertips. You have most likely read a news article or an article on social media within the last day or so.  But, when did you last read a book...for fun?
 
We often hear children say they hate reading and yet adults say they can’t find the time or motivation to read. Since February is “I Love to Read” month, we think it's important to understand why reading needs to be a bigger part of your day, no matter your age. 
 
Reading to Babies & Toddlers
 
As parents, it can be challenging to find the time to fit in household responsibilities along with things we would like to do with our children. However, taking at least a short time out of your day to read to your children should be a priority. 
 
Parents with children of all ages, even babies, should make reading together part of their routine, because it has impact. In fact, researchers found that babies made more speech-like sounds during reading than during puppet or toy play. Therefore, due to the fact that babies respond more to this activity, they are most likely learning more.
 
One of the most well-known benefits of reading is that it builds language skills. A recent study found that parents or caregivers who read to young children are giving them a language advantage of eight months. It is important to keep in mind though that there are books that are more likely to help your child’s education than others.
 
How would you describe the characteristics of the books you read to your young child? They most likely include a lot of pictures and one word per page in a large font. We can argue that books like these help young children increase comprehension. However, books with simple sentences are actually more impactful in early development. By reading books with more than just a few words per page, children begin to understand sentence structure, for example.
 
Children not only gain social skills when they are spoken to, but they learn different words. Books are a great tool to help parents in this way by introducing vocabulary naturally. One study found that babies whose parents spoke to them a lot scored higher on standard tests at age three than children whose parents weren't as verbal.
 
By instilling positive reading habits in your young child, you are also helping to build their knowledge in other subjects, like math. However, stories do more than entertain or help with language skills. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that books develop how children perceive reality. Studies have shown that children develop their perspectives on aspects of identity such as gender and race before five years old. Therefore, the books that your child is introduced to can change how they think about such aspects. 
 
Additionally, placing an emphasis on reading in your household has more than just educational benefits. Reading together gives parents and children an opportunity to bond – especially one-on-one. This time together allows parents to get to know what their child likes or what scares them. If you would like to engage your child while you are reading aloud, consider asking them questions. Many times children will also ask clarifying questions while a story is being read to them, which  presents a teachable moment.
 
Consider asking your child:
 
·         What do you think is going to happen? Why?
 
·         Why do you think (character) is sad/mad? How do you think (character) feels?
 
 ·        What would you do? Do you think (character) did the right thing?
 
·         Have you or a friend dealt with a similar situation?
 
·         Do you think this story had a lesson to teach us? What was it? 
 
Asking questions such as these opens a dialogue between you and your child. When you ask your child what they would do, it allows them to reflect inward. You may find this as a great time to discuss possible solutions in case they deal with something similar. Furthermore, these questions build upon the impact that stories can have on our brains and developing a child’s empathy and emotion. 

​Another benefit that stories provide is giving readers the opportunity to connect to real-life circumstances. Consider the impact of reading a book that deals with the subject of bullying. If a character is bullied in the story, young readers can learn how bullying makes others feel. Therefore, it might make them less likely to pick on children themselves. Children may also learn not only that they should be compassionate to children who are bullied but kind things they can do.   

By asking questions such as the ones above, you can help your child benefit further from the reading material. For example, making predictions about character’s emotions or what is going to happen helps them make conclusions from context clues.  
 
Reading to School-Age Children (Ages 5+)
 
It is easy to see why parents or caregivers should make an effort to read books to young children. But, once children are old enough to read by themselves, parents often leave kids to read independently. In fact, the tendency of parents to read aloud to their child drops significantly after children reach the age of 5 and again after age 8. However, while it's great to encourage independence and to have some extra time to yourself, there are many benefits to reading together even at these ages. 
 
Older children can use their parents' help when reading for fun because after the age of eight the percentage of children who say reading books for fun is extremely or very important drops. By carving time out of the day to read it will let children see that it is something that is important to you.
 
At an older age, stories give children the opportunity to be more creative by encouraging them to exercise their imagination. More often than not, illustrations tend to disappear from books written for older audiences. Although the pictures tend to disappear, authors begin to give more of a description of characters, places or objects. Despite the descriptions giving readers an idea of what the author wants them to see, there is still plenty left up to the reader’s imagination. 
 
In fact, a 1984 study found that a child’s reading level is not the same as their listening level until approximately eighth grade. This means that young readers can comprehend complex stories and understand them better when an adult reads them aloud compared to when they read independently. 
 
One of the first things you may notice when you are involved in your child’s reading habits is what they enjoy. Once your child finishes reading one book series, it may spark ideas of what next book series to start with them. However, if your child only reads certain types of books, you may pick something they might not choose themselves. This is a great way to encourage your child to “not judge a book by its cover”. By actively taking a part in your child’s reading, you will know that they will finish the new book. Overall, this is a great lesson that translates over when they meet new people who may seem different. 
 
 
Setting Up a Reading Routine 
 
There may be days where there is simply too much going on to make the time to read with your child. If this happens, do not get discouraged. If you don't think you will be able to keep a reading routine, consider getting your child to help. For example, mention to them a goal you have of how many books you want to read together in one month. After setting a goal, let your child know that if this goal is reached there will be a reward for both of you to do something else fun together. By mentioning this goal to your child, you will feel more accountable to develop the habit or complete the goal. Also, if you’ve heard your child say they hate reading, an incentive might be just what they need to be more open to reading a book. 
 
Ultimately, by getting your child more involved, it makes them look forward to reading and they may take initiative as well. For example, instead of you needing to initiate story time, your child may remind you that it’s time to read. Perhaps the best time to plan on reading with your child is before bed to give them time to calm down so they can fall to sleep easier. It also makes it easier to get them away from screens before bed. 
 
Reading to your child at an early age definitely sets them up for future success. In fact, according to analyses of the PISA exam (Programme for International Student Assessment), which is given to 15-year-olds worldwide, the biggest factor influencing higher scores was whether or not a child was read to on a regular basis when they were young. 
 
Reading as Adults
 
There are always new things to learn even as adults, and therefore we should be reading too! One of the most well-known benefits that reading books gives to young children (new vocabulary) is applicable to adults as well. 
 
First of all, teenagers and adults can benefit emotionally from taking time to sit down with a book. This is because books can allow readers to escape from reality by transporting them to a different place. When compared to other activities used for stress relief such as listening to music, reading a book works better and faster. In addition to emotional benefits, there are health advantages as well. One important thing to know is you do not need to set aside a significant amount of time to read a day to reap the benefits. In fact, those that read regularly for as little as half-an-hour a day can add two years to their life. 
 
As we age, we begin to think seriously about the decline of our brain and memory. Although it may seem like a natural part of life, books can possibly help. For example, adults who develop the habit of reading regularly may see it begin to slow the decline of their brain function. 
 
Ultimately, we know that children follow the example of those that they are around most. Therefore, if you want your child to read, you must be a role model and take the time to do so yourself. One issue that keeps students from meeting expected reading levels is accessibility to books. More than half of parents in one study claimed that they have less than fifty books at home. If you find that there aren’t many books around your home, make it a routine to regularly visit the library with your child. Don’t forget to pick up some reading material for yourself as well! 
 
Do you and your children have a set time to read together? What are some of your family’s favorite books to read together? 

Dear Friends of the Museum,

Over the past year, our Board of Directors and staff have worked to identify the core values that we adhere to as a nonprofit organization.  These are the things that our nonprofit believes in when it comes to serving children in way that promotes childhood development.  We identified four essential components:  Play, Community, Children and their Families, and Acceptance. 

The following graphic is a visual representation of these core values:

As we look back on 2018, we simply want to say thank you.  Thank you to:

• our visitors for bringing your children to the museum.
• our members who have committed to a year of learning for your children through your membership purchase.
• our donors and sponsors who invest in educational programs and exhibits for our children.
• our community partners who work with us to create that critical support system for childhood learning.
• our volunteers who freely give of their time and talent to strengthen our circle of expertise.
• our educators who bring their students to the museum and who see the value of play and how it is essential to learning and childhood development.

Our appreciation is deep and we value all of you.  Have a safe and meaningful holiday and we look forward to continuing serving your children in the new year.

Sincerely,

Adam Woodworth
Executive Director

​ 
5 Reasons to Make Time for Play Over Winter Break
This is one of the busiest times of the year for children (and parents too)! When school is in session, the hours afterwards are often spent completing homework or attending extracurricular activities. As a result, children are more likely to become stressed as well.
It is common for parents to make time and place an importance on their child’s success in school and participation in clubs/sports. However, do you set a specific time in your family routine (especially during the holidays) for your child to play? If not, here are just a few reasons you need to start:
 
1) Help Your Child Develop Their Personality
It is great for your child to know that they should try their best at school. However, there is more than good grades to raising happy children that become successful, independent adults.
When a child is given the time for free play, it allows them to develop their own personality.  At first, they practice decision-making by choosing what they want to do.  Also, depending on the activity, there are many different skills they can develop or build upon such as their creative or logic skills.
 
2) Manage Your Child’s (and Your) Stress
How do you feel as an adult when there is no time to sit down and relax after a hectic day? Kids should have time to enjoy being kids, rather than just focusing on rushing from store to store for last minute shopping or from house to house for holiday gatherings. An overscheduled life for kids can lead to future emotional problems including depression and anxiety.  
Too many activities can be simply overwhelming. The truth is that as a parent, you need to manage your stress and take time out for some fun too!
 
3) Focus on Your Child’s Physical Health
When school is out for winter break, children may replace sitting down at their desks with sitting around on the couch. One of the times that children are supposed to have time to for play during school – recess – is disappearing in the U.S as early as kindergarten.
As a result, it is up to parents or caregivers to make sure children live an active lifestyle when they are home. Adults should be aware of and limit how much time their children are spending on electronics whether watching T.V. or using a phone/tablet. When the weather is nice, plan to go to the park or encourage your child to play in the backyard. In the winter or when it rains, look for places to go that they can walk around or burn off some of their energy (like a children's museum-hint, hint).
 
4) Effectively Educate Your Child After School
As a parent, there are many things you want to teach your child they won’t learn at school or will further what they learned at school. Although learning is important, it doesn’t always sound “fun” to children (especially when they spent a whole week learning at school). How can you teach your child in a way that will get them to positively respond?
It is often easier (and more fun) to learn when you aren’t focusing on committing it to memory. If your child is playing, there are many opportunities to engage with them in an educational way. Also, children may even present the opportunity for a parent to educate by asking questions.
 
5) Make Time to Bond with Your Child
There are times when being a parent can be overwhelming and you’ll want to take a break. However, your kids will not be young forever. As everyone gets older, it gets hard to work around everyone’s schedules to be able to see each other.
Therefore, take advantage of the time while your child is young and the time in their day isn’t filled up with priorities. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a great time. Instead, just take the time to play or complete an activity your child thinks would be fun to do together. Overall, making time to play with your child is a great way to form a strong relationship and make long-lasting memories!
 
Do you have a family schedule that includes time for play this winter break? 

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.