Young Children's Engagement with Objects in Science Museums: A Rapid Evidence Assessment of Research

Abstract

This rapid evidence assessment (REA) of literature was conducted to aggregate knowledge about young children's engagement with objects in science museums. The review focuses on empirical studies published between 2000 and 2020 reporting on children in the age range from birth to eight years. Scrutiny of a final sample of 48 peer-reviewed papers indicated that certain museum object characteristics may arouse children's curiosity more than others. Children's interest in museum objects is enhanced and sustained by dialogical and collaborative activity with peers and adults, by sensory, emotional and cognitive engagement with objects, and by children having choice and freedom to explore museum spaces on their own terms. The review identifies there is limited evidence pertaining to children's visits to STEM museums and a need for theoretically robust empirical research with children, museum educators, teachers and parents from diverse communities.

Incorporating smell into children's museums: Insights from a case study in Norway

“…It could be beneficial to create stories that are less scary for the very young children, rather than relying on traditional fictional stories. Stories specifically written for olfactory experiences might have bigger potential to create museum spaces that are more flexible, are “responsive and adaptable to children” (Flewitt et al, 2023, p. 143), allowing for greater engagement and exploration.…”

“…Thus far, the distinct role of the "silent senses" of smell, taste, and proprioception has been little explored in museum studies. While many references to children's multi-sensory museum experiences are made in recent literature (Flewitt et al, 2023), these typically define multi-sensory engagements in terms of vision, hearing, and touch. Our specific interest in the sense of smell is both theoretical and practical.…”

“…

When children visit museums, they exercise their participatory rights in public life as cultural citizens (Mai & Gibson, 2011). While children's responses to museum exhibits, particularly for children under the age of six, have been little explored in museum studies of the past decade (Hackett et al, 2020), a recent review of studies published between 2000-2020 and focused on 0-to 8-year-old children's museum experiences, suggests a burgeoning interest in this age group (Flewitt et al, 2023). In particular, playful and sensory experiences with museum exhibits that stimulate children's creativity and imagination, are at the forefront of the latest studies and museum designs.A child's typical developmental trajectory proceeds from a minimally linguistic but highly multisensorial engagement to advanced language and strategic sensory processing.

…”