Crafts, storytelling, a teddy bear clinic, and a magician’s visit will be among activities planned for the Celebration of the Young Child from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, April 28, at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, which is at 461 West Outer Drive.
Magician Danny Gillette will entertain with mystifying magic tricks from 11:30 a.m.-noon, engaging the audience in his family magic show. The Oak Ridge Fire Department will lead a fire safety program, and the Oak Ridge Police Department will present a stranger danger program.
Children’s author Adele Roberts will tell stories from her Sammy the Skunk series of books, accompanied by her Sammy puppets. Her stories are designed to stimulate children’s imaginations and to teach character values based on the situations the animals encounter.
Children may be “kids in motion” with the National Fitness Center’s obstacle course, and they may bring their teddy bears to the clinic hosted by the Methodist Medical Center. Children can make a wind chime craft at the Museum, and take materials to make a Chinese dragon and a hovercraft at home.
The day will end with a visit to the gym for activities with Peppy Pepper, the mascot for the Museum’s newest exhibit, Kids in Action! Healthy Living, which opened April 22.
Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee will invite the museum’s young gardeners to “plant” a garden of pinwheels for prevention, a symbol of child abuse prevention, in the Environmental Learning Center and Gardens.
Among participants in the event are Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and the Knoxville Area Model Railroaders, who will open the World of Trains exhibit to visitors on Friday. Exhibits will be open throughout the Museum.
The Celebration of the Young Child is supported by the Tennessee Arts Commission.
As part of the Week of the Young Child celebrated April 24-28 across the country, the Children’s Museum is honoring young children and all those who make a difference in children’s lives with its celebration. The Week of the Young Child is sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Admission is the museum’s regular admission fee, $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for children 3 and older, and free for children under 3 and museum members. The Children’s Museum, offering children and families the opportunity for learning through play, is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, see the Children’s Museum website at http://childrensmuseumofoakridge.org/ or call (865) 482-1074.
Celebration of the Young Child Schedule:
- 10-10:30 a.m. – National Fitness Center with the NFC Obstacle Course Challenge
- 10:45-11:15 a.m. – Methodist Medical Center Teddy Bear Clinic
- 11:30-noon – Magician Danny Gillette
- 12:15-1 p.m. – Oak Ridge Fire Department firefighters talk about safety and give a tour of a fire truck
- 1:15-1:45 p.m. – Oak Ridge Police Department officers talk about stranger danger
- 2-2:30 p.m. – Adele Roberts tells stories of Sammy the Skunk’s adventures
- 2:45-3 p.m. – Peppy Pepper play time in the gym
Children will leap through an obstacle course at the Celebration of the Young Child at the Children’s Museum.
This press release was submitted by Kay Brookshire.
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