A few weeks ago we discovered the beautiful place that is the Kidihou Children's Museum and now we can't get enough!
Our kids each have such unique needs but this place is great for all of them. There is something to help each of them learn and grow, all while having fun.
The first time we went with Lily, Nolan, and Jasmine and had such a great experience. The staff was wonderful and welcoming (which here is frequently not the case with our kids) and were asking us questions about each of the kids and their needs - not the usual rude questions, but insightful questions because they really cared. After speaking with us and watching the kids play they also decided to give us the special school rate and returned what we had paid over that. They continue to be very welcoming and even know some of our kids by name - they asked where Lily was last time we went without her! There is also a donut shop beneath it which is definitely a bonus!
I have really loved seeing the different ways each of our kids reacted to the environment and how they have all totally thrived in it so I thought I'd share a little about each of the kids' experiences at Kidihou!
Lily has such an incredible imagination and the museum has provided the perfect environment for her to let it go!
Bringing Lily is so much fun. I absolutely love watching her explore and play and the smile that fills her face every trip is the most beautiful thing in the world!
Nolan has been interesting to watch as he gets very serious about his play there. Everything has to be just so and you have to play the right way or not play at all! He alternates between smiling and laughing and getting really serious about the intense medical procedure he is about to perform on his turtle ;)
It has been a great outlet for him as he can get out of the house and play with not only Lily but other kids as well. We have also found that while he can be very unfocused during school at home and is often a little naughty and tries to play his games with us, when he does the same type of activities at the museum he is focused and does what he is asked quickly and well. He really thrives in the creative and fun environment and it has given us some ideas to implement with him at home as well.
It has also been great in providing Lily and Nolan with other things to play together besides the few options at home!
The first time we brought Molly was on a Saturday afternoon when it was very busy and she was pretty overwhelmed. She played a little and then just kind of shut down and wouldn't participate in anything.
The second trip we were sure to plan for a time that would be less busy and she had a blast!
As is the case with Nolan, Molly focuses really well there and I've been able to get good school time in with her between the other activities. There are also a lot more tools that make it new and interesting for her and supply some motivation!
The benefits are so great for Mol and I always look forward to the days I can take her!
We knew this place would be great for Dinah but weren't sure how much she would actually enjoy it. I am happy to report that she loves it!
She is yet another one that thrives in this environment. We have started to see her interacting more with the things around her and having a much better attention span as well - focusing on activities so much longer than usual.
The other day she held a paintbrush and after a few minutes of hand over hand, painted on her own for the very first time!
She even humored me and let me put a giant wig on her head ;) To my surprise she actually liked it (and looked pretty cute if I do say so myself)!
We have been seeing so much growth in Dinah recently and taking her to this museum has only increased that. Watching her explore and experience so many new things (while enjoying them) has been incredible!
We were just finally able to take Promise for the first time and were very pleasantly surprised! She is the most difficult to take on outings but it was so worth it!
Lately we've been realizing more and more that there is so much more in her than anyone has ever realized. She has had so many health challenges in the past that up till now our goal has just been to get her healthy, spend time with her, and let her know she is loved. Now that she is healthy and happy, we have started to work with her in different areas. Mostly it has been just physical - working on strengthening her legs, walking up and down the stairs and for longer periods of time, and following the sounds of her favorite toys - but we have been trying to come up with more things to engage her mind as well.
Kellie, a volunteer that has just arrived, has a lot of experience in the field and came to the museum with us to help us with new ideas and insight. She was immediately drawn to Promise and spent a lot of time with her. Promise surprised us with how quickly she picked up on the activities Kellie was doing with her - picking up blocks and placing them in a bucket, and pressing down on the tops of toys when being prompted by "push!"
That trip not only confirmed what we had suspected was in her all along but opened our eyes to new ideas and got us excited for what's next for our oldest!
Jasmine is an explorer and lover of new sounds and textures so we knew this was the place for her! From the pit of wooden blocks to the ball filled with bells, she loves it all and can't get enough.
Kellie was able to give us a lot of ideas for getting Jasmine to not only feel and explore but to also play with a purpose, including some of the same activities she did with Promise, and other fun things like unlocking and opening the kennels to get to stuffed animals.
Even though Jasmine has made huge progress the past few months, I feel like we have only just scratched the surface when it comes to this special, goofy girl. I'm looking forward to many more visits full of growth with this curious one!
Out of all of our great experiences at Kidihou though, my favorite was with Cedar.
I love Cedar so much and have a very special place in my heart for him. At the same time, he has been the child I struggle with the most.
My biggest struggle with Cedar lately has been trying to get him to explore or engage with something. Anything. Nothing motivates him and he doesn't play. The most I've ever seen him do with a toy is lay on his side and hold it in his hand. The first time we took him to the museum he hated it and refused to do anything but lie on his side and hold a block. No exploring, no engaging, and no smiles.
The other day we brought him again and I devoted almost all of my time to him. He had been having a good day so far and I was optimistic. We went into the area with the blocks and after a few minutes of prompting and feeling the different items hand over hand, he started to explore! He reached out, picked up different types of toys, felt them, explored them with his fingers, dropped them down his back, and reached for another. Over and over. When there weren't any more within reach, he scooted towards the sound of Jasmine playing to find more! I almost cried.
After that I brought him over to a box full of seeds. I put his hands inside, burying them in the seeds, scooping them up, rubbing them over his hands and arms - and he laughed! When I let go, he reached back out and buried his hands again. Such a little thing but such a huge step for him!
And then there was the shopping cart. The boy who fights any form of standing or walking willingly held on to the handle and walked behind the cart all over the museum with me only guiding it from the front. He even took a few steps pushing it without me.
As I sat in the auto on the way home with my little boy in my lap I felt light as air and couldn't stop smiling. After months of trying to get Cedar to engage in something, it finally happened. I've seen it now and while I know it may be a while before he has another day like that, I have a new drive and passion to press on. I got a little glimpse of my dreams for Cedar becoming a reality.
This is just a fraction of the reasons I love the Kidihou Children's Museum! I have another 180 pictures and many more great memories!
We would really like to make going to the museum a regular thing - taking the kids once a week or so. We can take 3 kids at a time and with admission and transportation it comes out to about $15 per trip. Multiply that by 4 per month and you see our problem - we can't afford it...
So now we are asking for people to sponsor a trip for $15 or maybe a whole month of visits for $60. Any amount would help us out greatly! If you would like to send our kids to the museum you can give through SCH by the link below and it will go straight to our kids and their trips to Kidihou! Thank you so much!
Tori! It won't let me follow the link to paypal - are you sure the address is right? Thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteSorry, Erin! It should be good now... :)
DeleteLet me know if there are any more problems. Thank you!!