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On Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 5:06 PM, Martin Weiss <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
>
> *****************************************************************************
>
>
>>
>
>        We have a number of labs that are designed for family groups with
> children 7 years old and above  but not for very young children that often
> accompany them.
>
>        Have you developed a strategy that discourages bringing the your
> child(ren) without offending or turning the whole family group away?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Martin



You could provide supervised child care on site with age-appropriate
activities (got this idea from Wegman's grocery stores, where you can leave
your 3-8 year old in W-Kids while you shop).

If most of your participants are local, it might be best to clearly indicate
ages on advertising, just like on toy packages, so people can plan to bring
only the appropriate kids, although this will definitely reduce your
audience.

Another possibility is to provide an accessible alternative for younger kids
(older kids measuring, younger kids coloring, for example)

Finally, you could switch all your programming over to young kid programs
and keep a bunch of Nintendo DS or GameBoys to loan to the older kids to
keep them busy ;-)

Dave Smith

-- 
David L. Smith
Da Vinci Science Center
Allentown, PA
http://www.davinci-center.org

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