ERIC Number: EJ1476526
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1059-8650
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Available Date: 0000-00-00
Promoting Early Interaction and Communication through Interactive Play in the Museum Context
Victoria Hulks; A. Hoose; C. Croke; A. Hendry
Journal of Museum Education, v50 n2 p235-246 2025
Experiencing broad play and interaction opportunities is known to support children's learning and development and engagement with museum collections has the potential to stimulate enriching learning opportunities for even the youngest enquiring minds. Here, we describe the development of Toddler Time; a museum-based early years program developed by the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK, in partnership with researchers (including a speech and language therapist and a developmental psychologist). The program lead was trained to promote responsive interaction strategies within its gallery-themed sessions. Such strategies included "waiting to see what the child is interested in first" and responding to child initiations through "repeating back and expanding." Opportunities for self-reflection and review of adherence supported program refinements and enabled the lead's implementation to shift from using more traditional didactic practice during earlier sessions to providing increased opportunities for responsive interactions later in the program's delivery. Accommodating different ages and stages of development also progressed over time.
Descriptors: Museums, Toddlers, Interaction, Interpersonal Communication, Communication Skills, Family Programs, Program Effectiveness, Language Skills, Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Play
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A