Anastasia Lewis

Children's Museum of Manhattan

The mission of the Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) is to inspire children and families to learn about themselves and our culturally diverse world through a unique environment of interactive exhibitions and programs. Last year, CMOM served more than 350,000 people, which included 65,000 children who visited the Museum as part of a school group or through one of the Museum's off-site partners. CMOM is committed to making its exhibits and programs available to all, and with nearly 50 sites around New York City, we continually reach thousands of families who might not otherwise be able to benefit from our services. CMOM's four priority areas are meant to impact children in ways that will last a lifetime: early childhood education prepares children to enter kindergarten; creativity in the arts and sciences inspires creative and analytical thinking skills for lifelong learning; healthy lifestyles programs provide a blueprint for a family's physical, emotional and environmental well being; and the exploration of world cultures gives children awareness, understanding and context for the diverse society they are part of. These priorities are met through exhibitions, classes, workshops, performances and Museum-sponsored festivals. CMOM's programs and exhibits are designed to address the multiple ways children learn and to help parents understand and support their children's development. This approach is reflected in all the Museum's exhibits, including the celebrated PlayWorks™ floor for pre-schoolers, Gods, Myths and Mortals: Discover Ancient Greece designed as an introduction to art, science and literature; and the Healthy Living programming produced with healthcare providers to encourage good nutrition and daily exercise. Professional Development training is offered to early childhood and school educators as a means to broaden CMOM's influence in reaching children and their families effectively.