I have a 4 year old girl. My wife and I are constantly looking for things to do on days where it's better to be inside.
We've been to two children's museums here in the Tampa area of Florida. Both of them are mainly a smorgasbord board of possible future jobs where children roleplay jobs as a grocery store cashier, veterinarian, fire fighter, dentist, pizza maker, farmer, etc.
It didn't hit me until today the kind of damage this is doing to our kids. Calling this a MUSEUM, when it's just centering labor and putting it in the first museum we offer our children to visit.
Nothing in it evokes the beauty, wonder, or joy of life, nature, biology, space, art, history, or anything else generally given the important term of “museum”. It just gets children excited about working; the thing that generally takes us away from things typically housed in museums, like art, history, exploration, invention, adventure or learning.
To me, these children's museums are almost like anti-museums. Look here, child, and choose what defines you, indentures you, controls you and dehumanizes you. This is the most important part of your future! Not that you are good, that you are empathetic, curious, joyful or inquisitive. Not the how or the why, but just the what.
It could even be different. Roleplay the inquisitiveness and experimentation of a scientist, the critical thinking of a journalist, the ethical challenges of being a judge, or the empathy and kindness needed to be a good doctor.
Instead, the “exhibits” focus on the labor of roles in retail, service and healthcare. Running a register, cooking a pizza, driving a firetruck, and giving animals a bath. All important in their own way, but no explanation of why it's important or anything, just ring these groceries up, x-ray this snake, or milk this cow. I know they're just 4, but kids soak things like this up and love to know “why”. It's why they ask that one-worded question so much.