Starting this April, and running right up until June 1st, we’re curating all forms of self-expression. We’ll be dancing, storytelling, playing, making, all on the basis of exploring and encouraging the skills required for children to employ and enjoy… self-expression!
But why is self-expression so important? We’re glad you asked!
When children learn to express themselves, it fosters creativity (of course) but it also builds confidence and emotional intelligence, empowering them to communicate their ideas and feelings, develop an identity and belonging and enhance critical thinking.
Studies show that practicing forms of self-expression in our early years builds skills that enhance our lives well into our adulthood.
Studies also show that self-expression is a vital component of a child’s development as it fosters creativity, individuality, and emotional intelligence. Through self-expression, children learn to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and ideas in various forms, whether it be through art, music, storytelling, or play. This process allows them to explore and understand their own identities, preferences, and strengths, laying the foundation for self-awareness and confidence. By encouraging self-expression, caregivers and educators provide children with a safe space to freely express themselves without fear of judgment, promoting a sense of autonomy and self-esteem.
Lastly, self-expression plays a crucial role in enhancing cognitive and social skills. When children express themselves, they engage in critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making, as they navigate the process of articulating their thoughts and emotions. Moreover, self-expression facilitates communication and empathy, as children learn to understand and respect the perspectives of others while expressing their own. Through collaborative activities and shared creative experiences, children develop interpersonal skills, build relationships, and cultivate a sense of belonging within their communities. Ultimately, embracing self-expression empowers children to navigate the complexities of the world with authenticity, resilience, and compassion.
As of right… NOW, we have opened up bookings for Birthday Parties @ MoPA Thomastown. This means you can book a party for ANY date on or after Monday, the 2nd of December, 2024!!
Sooo… If you’re hoping to secure a party booking at MoPA Thomastown, all you need to do is head over to mopa.com.au to lock it in. Please don’t worry if you don’t know EXACTLY how many guests you’re expecting to invite to the party; to secure the date, all you need to do is place a booking for the minimum number of guests (10) and we will confirm all the details later.
Annnd… We’re expecting all party time slots for DEC 2024 and early 2025 will sell out pretty quickly, so if you have a specific date in mind, we recommend that you secure that date early, before it gets snapped 🐊 up!
WE CAN’T WAIT TO PARTY WITH YOU, NORTHSIDERS! 🥳🕺🌈♥️
GIVEAWAY TIME!! Just 10-minutes of family play each day is oh sOoOoO healthy for our lil` ones (and for us carers too, mind you)! Our gorgeous Museum shop is JAM PACKED with creative inspiration for all kinds of family holiday play. And today we assembled a bunch of our favourite gems from the shop for one MASSIVE once-in-a-holiday giveaway worth more than $500 smackos!!
HOW TO ENTER:
Tag a friend (someone that you`d love to visit MoPA with, perhaps!) and you`ll BOTH receive one entry into the draw to win. Enter as many times as you like by tagging all your besties. On Wednesday 2nd OCT 2024 we`ll pull ONE lucky winner out of the hat, and that winner will go home with ONE OF EVERY SINGLE ITEM in this post, plus a handful of free tickets to MoPA for every member of BOTH of your families to visit either of our Museums.
OUR FAVOURITE THINGS (AND EVERYTHING YOU WILL WIN) INCLUDES... - Temporary Tattoo Pack - MoPA Sticker Sheet - @fabercastellaustralia Tr Colour Pencil Pack - @Resene x MoPA Limited Edition Tote Bag - Faber-Castell Modelling Dough - Oh So Colourful Windmill - Dress Up Day Book - Rainbow Dreams Activity Pack - I ❤️ MoPA Keyring - Faber Castell Mini Unicorn Garden - Wheelie Cars - Rainbow Cloud Chalksters - Makedo Cardboard Tools - Sushi In Tray Play Set - Construction Zone Sensory Bin - Sausage Dog Number Junior Puzzle - Wooden Icecream Stacking Toy - Colour Change NeeDoh - Tubbies Bath Paint Set - Ingenious Symbols Wooden Piece Set - Faber-Castell Connector Paint Box - I love rainbows Book - Rainbow Bluetooth Karaoke Mic
Comfy capacity limits are in place! We typically recommend that guests plan and book their visit 1-2 days in advance to ensure you don’t miss out on tickets for the session time that suits you best. x MoPA
School Holiday Sessions @ MoPA!! Limited tickets available (to ensure the Museum is never overcrowded). Every session this hol’s is jam packed with new activities, and it’s all included in ticket pricing!! x MoPA
Melbourne’s brand new Children’s Museum, MoPA Thomastown, will open soon - and we’re excited to start the recruitment process!! Over the coming 6 weeks we will assemble a high performance team brimming with Engaged Early Learning Educators, Excellent Experience Team Members, Joyful Party Hosts, A+ Baristas, Astute Chefs and a big cup full of Tasty Cooks!
Jump over to our JOBS page for information on all the roles available!! x MoPA
Building a Children’s Museum is a BIG but enormously rewarding journey!
A team of more than 100 incredible designers, architects, engineers, agents, consultants, technicians, carpenters, tilers, plumbers, glaziers, electricians, metalworkers, surveyors, woodworkers, prop makers, artists, craftspeople and painters have all worked in loosely organised chaos for over a year to bring this amazing new Museum to life.
Whilst we’ve still got a LOT of work to do, we expect the new Museum will be ready for a grand opening in November. And the very thought of all your smiling faces running through the door on day one is keeping us massively energised!
If you’re keen to be among the very first birthday parties, excursions, members or casual guests through the doors at MoPA Thomastown, be sure to pop your name on the “GET MOPA THOMASTOWN UPDATES” mailing list (you’ll find the sign up form at the bottom of the Thomastown page on our website).
...Annnnnd if you might be interested in joining the amazing team here at MoPA Thomastown, we’ve now up for opened applications for all the casual and part-time roles. Head over the the “JOBS” section of the website to learn more.
Today we’re launching our new theme “Happy Hearts, Happy Places” (Showing Sep 2 until Oct 12) and this gorgeous new ART HOUSE activity is a part of this theme.
But why “Happy Hearts, Happy Places”? Because developing an understanding of COMMUNITY is one of THE most important early learnings. It helps children feel connected and valued. It helps them form a sense of identity and appreciate others’ perspectives. And, in effect, it empowers children to grow into compassionate, engaged adults who care for one another and the world around us.
The ART HOUSE activity featured in this post is a key part of this new exhibition. Children can make a home, school, coffee shop, library, or any other building or feature of their community that feels important to them.
Seeing this paper bag community come to life is going to be very special…
We’re still riding high after the amazing @tonies_anz launch featuring @emmamemmamemma at MoPA last week 🎉
To keep the celebrations going, the tonies team is giving away 3 x Toniebox prize packs, each with one Emma Memma Creative-Tonie Unicorn, featuring her latest tunes plus Emma Memma’s new song – Coconut Tree 🥥🌴🎶 – exclusive to the Toniebox!
How to enter: ♥️ Follow @tonies_anz ♥️ Like this post ♥️ Tag 3 friends below
Entries close Friday 6th SEP 2024. GOOD LUCK 🤞🏼
Terms & Conditions: 3 winners chosen at random. Each winner receives 1 Red Toniebox and 1 x Emma Memma Creative-Tonie Unicorn. Aus residents only. Winner announced on Monday 9th SEP 2024. One entry per person. Winners will only ever be contacted directly via DMs from THIS account (@museum_of_play_and_art ).