Subject: Re: Children's Guide Date: Wednesday, 23 October 1996 9:24PM After more than 20 years in Museum ed......(and as a founding member of the Asian Arts Society of Australia) I would suggest that you.. (and please forgive me if it all seems too horribly obvious) First establish what age group you are writing for, and what their literacy level is likely to be like. Whatever you do, DON'T patronise your readers. Keep the language simple, and quite complex ideas can still get through. (also, older kids will be less put off if you decide to use your guide for them too) Use lots of pictures - blocks of text look threatening. Do focus on the stories behind the symbols - kids love Chinese lions, dragons, monsters, bats and all the other complex imagery of Chinese ceramics and textiles. Don't ever ask a question that could, in theory, be answered by 'yes' or 'no'. Do make sure that you encourage a range of intellectual and physical skills - drawing, inferring, reading, analysing, describing, searching - and that they are nicely mixed, so the kids don't get too bored Don't get carried away with enthusiasm and create a whole book - kids can't/don't want to spend all their museum visit on work, no matter how much you think it looks like fun. Do suggest things to do back at school - you encourage follow-up Don't focus too tightly on a small group of objects - if you do, the kids won't look at anything else If you must use word games, 'find the object' crosswords are better than word blocks, they engage with the exhibition, not just the inside of the kid's head. (word blocks are good for follow-up, however) Do limit the number of questions that require label-reading - you may want them to read it all, but most kids didn't go out for a reading lesson. Colouring-in can usually only be done back at school, it's very time consuming, and requires the kids to carry around a whole swag of pencils or crayons, not to mention needing a good clip-board. Don't put in large blocks of reading material - they've already seen there are object labels, and theme labels - you are just adding another layer of verbiage. Make sure the teachers/parents get detailed notes, and leave it up to them what they tell the kids. It's OK to put small bits of odd, interesting or vital info. in highlighted blocks. If you want to make it a take home and use, as well as an on-site exercise, consider including recipes (of the kind that you might have eaten from the bowls in the exhibition) Do ask questions that re-contextualise the objects - ceramics and textiles look thoroughly abstract in a museum case, and not at all like things designed to be worn and used. Good luck, and have fun with it. Heleanor Heleanor Feltham Sydney Mint Museum Hi, I am designing a children's guide for a Chinese exhibition of ceramics and textiles. This is my first time writing a children's guide and I need to know if there are any specific things I need to consider (Some do's and don'ts perhaps?) So far I have some word puzzles, coloring exercises, a scavenger hunt (looking activities) and some history. Could the experienced museum educators out there provide me with some advice? Send do's and don'ts to my personal address or feel free to post them on the list for everyone! Thank you in advance, Melanie Cagonot [log in to unmask]