Toddler Takeover, Discovery Museum
Discovery Museum’s first ever Toddler Takeover was on Wednesday 14 September with over 100 toddlers and their families attending.
Part of the museum’s Tiny Sparks programme which aims to inspire and stimulate pre-school children, the Toddler Takeover had specialised learning staff on hand from Discovery Museum, Great North Museum: Hancock, Laing Art Gallery, North Shields’ Stephenson Steam Railway, Gateshead’s Shipley Art Gallery, and the National Literacy Trust.
“It was a sight to behold – over a hundred exuberant small children and their siblings were let loose across the first floor of the museum, which in total is four large galleries.
“We devised different stations with a variety of stimulation and fun for the little ones. The Light Boxes were a big hit and the construction areas too. We love to welcome our youngest visitors and will be continuing with our Tiny Sparks sessions on a smaller scale during term time.”
Discovery Museum is shortlisted in the national Family Friendly Kids in Museums Awards 2022 for Best Medium Museum and is up against Museum of London Docklands, Museum of Making, Derby, and The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent, with the winners being announced in October.
Amy runs the Tiny Sparks session in blocks during term times on Wednesday mornings. They can be booked as standalone session or in blocks, via Discovery Museum’s website here. Tickets cost £3.50 per child or £12 for all four sessions.
Discovery Museum is an ideal family destination with free entry, spaces for buggies, accessible toilets including a Changing Places toilet, packed lunch areas, water dispenser and plenty of space for young children to roam and investigate different things.
To make sure children got the most out of their visit, the learning team were supported by learning colleagues from Great North Museum: Hancock, Stephenson Steam Railway, Laing Art Gallery , Shipley Art Gallery and South Shields Museum & Art Gallery. Friends from the National Literacy Trust were also at the event.
Discovery Museum has plenty of space and is highly accessible. With three floors of galleries to explore it is just a short walk from Central Station in Newcastle. People hoping to park may find the Pay & Display car parking immediately outside the museum fills up very quickly, however there is the Grainger Town multi-storey car park located on Waterloo Street (opposite side of St. James’ Boulevard to Discovery Museum).
For more events please visit our what’s on guide here
