What does the opportunity to visit the museum through Museums for All mean to you and your family?

Many families, myself included, come across times of uncertainty. Our visits to the museum are possible because CCM invests in Museums for All. I can bring my son to the museum any day of the week, any time of the day. CCM has opened new worlds for him – and for me.

Not only do we all have fun at Chicago Children’s Museum, but it helps us as parents to learn more about how to create a stimulating environment for our children at home. We learn just as much as our children do about art, self-expression, STEAM, and more!

How did your child react the first time they visited the museum?

My child was in awe! From pretend play, water play, playing with children his age, and seeing all the interesting art – so much to explore! My son loved all the fun hands-on experiences – especially dressing up as a firefighter and pretending to drive the fire truck.

How do you think your family has grown or benefited from their experiences at the museum?

Over the last few years, CCM has enriched my life and the life of my 2-year-old son in ways I can hardly begin to express. Because of our time together at the museum, I’ve seen my son, Elijah, grow in confidence, learn to play with other children, make art, and explore the world around him. As a family, we are better because of Chicago Children’s Museum.

Why should people support the Museums for All program?

I think all parents can agree that they want the best for their children. CCM provides safe and enriching experiences that inspire children to see more in themselves, which helps break the cycle of poverty, as well as the barriers that I had to endure as a child.

When people support Museums for All, they’re not just helping Elijah, they’re lighting up the lives of so many Chicago children who otherwise would never come to experience the awesome programming and exhibits that inspire a love of learning!

Hi. I’m Tom Smurr. I am a husband, father, and I have lived with PFFD since birth - resulting in my left leg permanently being short and my need for a prosthetic and wheelchair for daily life. I am also a regular participant in Chicago Children’s Museum’s Play for All program.

You might think it odd that I, as an adult, would attend Play for All. For those who don’t know, this is a monthly Saturday morning program where the museum opens early and dedicates time, special programming, and other resources so that children with disabilities can enjoy the museum, free of charge, in an environment which meets their specific needs.

Well, that’s only part of the story. Play for All is designed for families living with disabilities. Families like mine.

I bring my 4-year old son, Michael, who does not have a physical or cognitive disability, to Play For All for three very important reason:

First, it gives us the opportunity to play as a family in a space that is designed to welcome ALL adults and children; it accepts my family as we are and makes the necessary accommodations for us to laugh, play and learn in ways best suited to our needs.

Second, it is normalizing for my son, the fact that people – adults and children – come in all shapes, sizes, colors and with varying abilities. AND

Third, he is learning to accept and play with children who may be hearing impaired, or without vision, or who are exploring the museum in a wheelchair.

One of the great things about Play For All is that it joins once a year with the organization, Dare2Tri, and transforms the museum into a space where children can have a fun-filled adaptive sports event, complete wheelchair races, hand-cycling, wheelchair racing, roller-sled hockey, Judo, yoga and explore a See & Touch Prosthetics display.

It was at one of these events that I was able to expose my son to the wonderful world of disability, accessibility, and sport. These events also expose these young people to new friends and resources, like my prosthetist who changed my life forever, making me a prosthetic leg far surpassing the ability of any previous prosthetics I’ve had.

Because of Play For All, my son is becoming a more empathetic human being. And, isn’t that what we, the human family, need?

How have you seen the impact of learning beyond the classroom with your students?

I see it through conversations with colleagues at recess and in the lunchroom, when we have our collegial conversations, or in our school-wide professional development meetings. The intermediate upper-grade teachers will say, “Well, my students told me that they learned that concept in second grade,” or “They did this learning beyond the classroom.”

In the Curiosity Classroom, some reluctant learners are curious enough to pick up something beyond the rhetoric or beyond the concept that the teacher is giving. Because they see it in real life, it opens the door for those willing to explore. Students see continuity of learning: I can go in this space, I can go in that space, I can explore this, I can see it, I can visualize it, I can touch it. Those things enhance and impact the learning the students are doing in the classroom.

When students make those connections, that’s the most valuable part of it. They’re making connections for example between what they learned in the classroom, the activities within Curiosity Classroom, a field trip they’ve gone on, and so much more.

How long have you been involved with Curiosity Classrooms and Chicago Children's Museum

Approximately three years. Even before our installation in 2021, we took field trips to Chicago Children’s Museum, especially with our preschool kindergarten classes. And the Curiosity Classroom is like a mini–Chicago Children’s Museum!

Can you share how your Curiosity Classroom fosters an environment of play and learning for your school?

I like to think of it as a multi-tiered approach. We're a neighborhood school where family and community engagement is really important. When we have events, they’re often school-wide events. When we have family event nights, the momentum is infectious. If we're having events that are germane to the modular building, we try to integrate the Curiosity Classroom into what we're doing.

For example, we have a partnership with an after-school program which has monthly parent meetings. The coordinators for the program asked, “Can we have our parent meeting in the Curiosity Classroom?” Absolutely! I mean, it’s an inviting space. So, it was an opportunity to have them explore the space and learn ways that parents can help reinforce what their children are doing.

Is there anything else you want to share? 

We love our Curiosity Classroom. From the grassroots level of the teachers utilizing it with their students, as well as allowing them to go in and just explore. Sometimes teachers don't always have an agenda. It's fluid in that way. When they make those conscious efforts to connect the Curiosity Classroom to what they're currently teaching, we think it’s powerful.

Chicago Children's Museum has been wonderful, supportive and encouraging. I can't say enough good things. Bouchet International greatly appreciates the Curiosity Classroom!