We visited Children's Season 2010 at the National Museum of Singapore for the first time and I have to say that the exhibits were not too exciting for a 3-4 year old.
The first installation Public Power; '…the public is encouraged not only to arrange and play with these objects as visual elements; they are also encouraged to put things in them: private things, messages, secrets, secrets made public. Like a message in a bottle, this action helps the contributor to take the burden off carrying a secret, giving light to the phrase “the truth is out there…'
The big idea behind the installation was probably too complex for a 3-5 year old to comprehend, well, probably even a 8-12 year old. The kids kept themselves busy removing and taking off the 'magnetised' boxed off the walls.
The second installation 'The Imaginary Storyland' was little more fun for the kids; '…A delightful play area where the young ones can feel, touch, play and build stories using soft sculptures and shapes on a giant flannel storyboard..' It was also the place where the kids spent the most time.
It was also where K and Joyce got a chance to dress up as a little flower and a rooster.
The final exhibit was a cartoon mural, planned to be an '…interactive platform for parents, grandparents and educators to pass on personal stories of the past to their young, and build new memories inspired by the drawings on the mural.' The kids got inspired by the paper and pencil that were provided there (and not the cartoon mural) and did their own drawings.
Overall I have to say that it is a good effort on the part of National Museum. But I think that installations were generally more suited for kids 8 years old and above and not for most pre-schoolers. National Museum should learn from places like this, this and this to create spaces that children can truly learn through play.
