Why We Updated Our Vision and Education Statement — And What It Means for You

At the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, our mission has always been clear: to positively impact a child's potential in life through play-based education. That belief remains at the heart of everything we do and it’s why we’ve proudly chosen to keep our mission unchanged.

But as the world around us evolves with new research in child development, changing family dynamics, and a growing need for creative and inclusive educational spaces, we recognized that our vision and education statements needed to grow, too.

At our most recent Board of Directors meeting, we officially adopted new statements that better reflect where we are now and where we’re headed.

Our New Vision:

The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn will lead the region in innovative, play-based approaches to childhood development, serving as a hub for creativity, collaboration, and discovery. Through hands-on experiences that spark imagination and lifelong learning, we will be a trusted partner to families, educators, and our community.

This updated vision acknowledges that our role goes beyond just providing a fun place to visit. We are a resource, a collaborator, and a leader. Through our exhibits, programs, and everyday conversations, we don’t just support a day of play — we support the whole child and the whole family. As a trusted resource hub, we connect families to early childhood services, developmental tools, and community support, making the museum not only a place to play and learn, but a place to find guidance, connection, and confidence on the parenting journey.

Our New Education Statement:

At the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, learning through play is grounded in purpose. Programs and exhibits are thoughtfully designed to align with Illinois Learning Standards, ensuring that our experiences complement classroom learning while nurturing curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. We are proud to serve as an incubator, generating ideas that foster an engaging, developmentally appropriate educational journey for all children.

We’ve always believed that play is powerful — but this updated statement clarifies how deeply intentional that play is. Everything your child sees, touches, builds, imagines, and explores here is connected to real learning. We’ve aligned with the same standards used by schools, but we’ve added our own unique twist: a commitment to curiosity, imagination, and joy. We also see ourselves as an incubator — a space where educators and early childhood professionals can test new ideas, pilot innovative approaches, and explore what learning looks like when it’s driven by engagement, not just outcomes.

What This Means for Families

These updates don’t change who we are — they are a reaffirmation of our values and a promise to the families who walk through our doors:

• Your child will learn here. Not just academically, but socially, emotionally, and creatively.

• You’ll be supported here. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or educator, we want to partner with you.

• Your voice matters here. These updates reflect input from our staff, our board, our early childhood partners, and the community we serve.

  
  

Our museum is more than a place to play — it’s a place to grow. And with these updates, we’re making sure that growth continues for years to come.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

At the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn, hands-on sensory play like this sparks imagination, builds fine motor skills, and brings children together through joyful discovery.