The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum, spreads some love this Valentine’s Day and offers various educational programs for parents and kids.

Written by Dylan Lopez

February 14, 2019

Children sprint past their parents to grab a seat at the semi-circle table in the art studio to prepare for the Valentine’s Day yarn heart making event. All smiles and happy faces fill the room as the program event begins and materials are handed out.

Sitting around the table in the small red plastic chairs, parent’s help to pull the yarn apart as the kids begin to lace it through their pre-hole punched red hearts.

“In the past we decorated cookies, that was always popular, but we didn’t feel it was the best example to set because we try to do a lot of healthy stuff” explained Peter Jacobson Director of Education. This year the children’s museum decided to try something new for Valentine’s Day to be more health conscious.

Despite the museum not serving cookies anymore, “We do little cooking demonstrations and cook different things usually with fresh produce, and then let the kids taste it” said Jacobson. In hopes of encouraging a healthier diet Jacobson believes, “the most effective way is to cook good food with kids and let them try it.”

Another way in which the museum encourages a healthier diet is by helping kids grow their own food. “We also have a garden, where kids can plant things and then come back and pick it” cheerfully said Jacobson. Unfortunately the garden is seasonal and opens in the spring when it’s warm out.

As an education director Jacobson takes great pride in creating and facilitating various educational events and programs for the children. He even participates in teaching some of the workshops. “I do a science show where I dress up as a superhero called captain bubble. We teach about liquids, solids, and gases and we do stuff with dry ice. We do science experiments called color changes.”

Jacobson highlighted some other holiday events he organized. “We do a big event for New Year’s eve called new year’s at noon, where we do a countdown at noon for the kids.” Along with, “a little St.Patricks day event with a leprechaun hunt.”

For the most part the typical visitors at the Children’s Museum are between the ages of zero to the age of six. In addition to its regular visitors the museum also offers programs for larger groups.

Jacobson discussed that, “For our drop in programs it tends to be preschool ages, and our school groups can be preschool kindergartens, first and second graders.”

All kids are welcome to join in on the festivities offered by the museum even the older kids. Jacobson emphasized that even though the museum is not equipped for older kids, he still encourages them to come and help out their younger siblings or family members.

The children’s museum is taking a real initiative to educate kids through the use of art and creative workshops. In addition to the children’s events Jacobson also offers programs for parents.

He offers, “Family learning nights with parents and kids, where the kids can do a fun activity and then we try to teach the parents about why that activity is educational and how they can do it at home.”

It’s definitely never a dull moment at the children’s museum, Jacobson really enjoys the work he does with the children’s museum. “I appreciate it because it’s a very creative job, I get to make up new things for the kids to do. It’s something different every day because we can always have different events and different programs going on.”

He says the atmosphere here at the Children’s Museum is, “fun, friendly and creative.”

However one thing Jacobson is really excited to mention is, “the museum might have the opportunity to expand.” The buildings in the immediate area of the Mid-Hudson children’s museum have been donated to them. “We are looking to do a study to see if we can turn those into museums, to have a whole campus of children’s museums.”

One more step in the right direction toward creating a more inclusive museum for all ages. He believes, “Everyone is focused on the goal of making this place better.”