This story is sponsored by Buckeye Imagination Museum.
It’s December and parents, aunts and uncles know all too well that the final holiday present push is on! Buckeye Imagination Museum wants to help make selecting the perfect gift a little easier this season with the gift of play.
Buckeye Imagination Museum recently opened their brand new facility at 175 W 3rd St., right beside the Renaissance Theatre, and within the ever-growing Imagination District in downtown Mansfield. The new facility features many of the beloved exhibits from the old location, only bigger and better – like the fire truck, grocery store and bank. But also feature many new exhibits to explore like the indoor playground, pizzeria and ice cream parlor.
“There’s several different reasons why the gift of play is more important than a new toy. A lot of times, you get a kid something for Christmas, they play with it for a week and then it goes under their bed and you don’t see it again. It only lasts so long,” Executive Director Fred Boll said.
So what does it look like to give the gift of play?
Throughout the month of December you can purchase fun passes, which allows for five admissions to the museum for a flat $40 per pass. This equates to $8 per admission compared to the regular rate of $14. Fun passes are good throughout 2023, so gifting a couple fun passes guarantees you will always have something amazing to do on those metaphorical rainy days all year long.
“Instead of a few hours of play with a small toy, you can have 40, 50, 60 hours of play at the museum throughout the year,” Boll said.
Along with gifting fun passes, people can give the gift of a membership to the museum.
Family memberships start at only $129. The year-long membership grants you museum access any time the museum is open, but the added perks really make it an unique gift not only for the kids but also parents.
There’s a built-in economic benefit, as you have unlimited access and can easily visit enough to break even on the $129 investment, which only takes 10 admissions (only 5 visits if it’s just you and 1 child, even fewer if you have a larger family). But members also receive discounts on classes, such as arts and crafts and music and movement.
Another added perk, simplifying birthday party planning. Every year there’s a scramble to figure out the logistics of a child’s birthday party – Buckeye Imagination Museum eliminates that stress with birthday packages tailored to your guest list size and with private rooms for cake and presents. Members get $50 off any birthday package.
There is also a member newsletter, so you can stay current on new exhibits and enhancements to the museum. You’ll also be kept in the loop and be alerted about special programming, like the gingerbread house event that’s happening this Sunday, December 11th.
It’s no secret that kids love interactive museums built especially for their enjoyment. But what the kids may not know is, there is a deeper and more evil plan at work from the adults.
“Kids learn to cooperate, they learn to critically think, problem solve, communicate and use their imagination by playing at the museum. It’s really developmentally appropriate and developmentally beneficial for children to play at the museum,” Boll said.
That point can’t be stressed enough – it’s not only that they are playing, but also learning. Enhanced social skills, deductive reasoning, imagination going way past simple object permanence. As a grandparent, guardian, uncle, aunt, relative or friend, you get to be there as well, a part of that growth and progression. And truthfully, the parents are often having just as much fun playing with the kids.
“Research shows the more families play together, the more they build strong family ties within the family and within relationships between parents and children,” Boll said.
Don’t forget: Buckeye Imagination Museum is now open every Sunday through March. Give the “gift of play” this holiday season, and make everlasting memories together.
