Ask a magician, and they’ll tell you that the key to any good magic trick is focus. That’s something The Magic House uses every day to spark the imagination of kids and families. For more than four decades, the Kirkwood children’s museum has actively engaged children of all ages in their education through hands-on exhibits and activities that pique curiosity, enhance creativity and develop problem-solving skills.
The gala directly benefits the museum’s Access for All initiative, which provides free or reduced admission, field trips, outreach programs and family nights for children in need. “Access for All makes visiting The Magic House possible for people who otherwise would not be able to afford it, such as children in foster care, military families and Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs,” Toney says. “It’s important to give families a place to learn, have fun and lift their spirits. We want to ensure more kids have access to the wonderful exhibits the museum has.”
Currently, museum visitors can explore the great outdoors of Alaska with an exhibit based on the PBS Kids series Molly of Denali. Children can learn about Alaska native life, traditions and language while engaging with activities like driving a snowmobile, navigating a snow maze in snowshoes, caring for sled dogs and ice fishing. The exhibit is just one example of how the museum teaches children how to be global citizens by encouraging them to learn about other cultures. “The Magic House meets kids where they are in their development stage but always encourages them to think of life outside of their current circumstances,” Toney notes. “They can learn about the world and how children’s experiences may be different depending on where they live. It expands their imagination and teaches them things that may not be covered in school.”
For Toney, The Magic House’s programs are more important than ever since the pandemic put limitations on how students can engage with their education. Remote learning made hands-on learning activities difficult and increased the time kids spent looking at screens. “The emphasis on play was reduced, and kids were not able to learn through socializing with one another,” she says. “The Magic House does so much to counteract these trends. Visiting the museum gets children away from screens, allows them to use their imaginations and encourages them to play well with others. I hope people remember how important and beneficial these opportunities are for kids.”
The Magic House engages children through unique, hands-on learning experiences. The museum’s fundraiser, The Magic Ball: Black, White & Bubbly, is Oct. 21 at Stifel Theatre. Pictured on the cover: Betsy Toney, Stephanie Lee, Chris Convy, Tim Convy, Linda Hunter, Rebecca Sheehan. For more information, call 314.822.8900 or visit magichouse.org.
Cover design by Julie Streiler
Cover photo courtesy of The Magic House
Pictured at top: The Magic House engaged children in hands-on learning
Photo courtesy of The Magic House