Power of Play Children's Museum

K-12 STEAM education

Central LA East LA South LA County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

75% of children ages 1-12 are not getting enough playtime. 66% of black and brown children experience "adultification" by age 8 - meaning they must assume adult responsibilities such as taking care of the household duties, being caretakers, and contributing financially. Children's museums provide an outlet to engage in STEAM activities, foster community and creativity. Yet in Los Angeles County, there are only 3 dedicated childrens museums located in Simi Valley, Pasadena and Santa Monica with the average ticket cost being $20 per person (before proof of low income discount). This means that the children experiencing the most need are also experiencing geographic limitations and are in spaces far from their own neighborhoods. A truly inclusive space should be easy to access by public transportation, located outside of the most affluent neighborhoods, and take into account children with diverse needs.

Mirroring the popular pop-up museum concept, our project has identified parks and recreation centers in Los Angeles where we will create mobile installations to be transferred from park to park. Our curriculum and design is rooted in Piaget's 4 stages of play: social (teamwork), physical (dancing/ball games), constructive (drawing, music, building things), and fantasy (dress up, costumes). Envision the space: Soft play for toddlers, reading nooks with donated books, turning park picnic tables into sensory tables, slides that end in ball pits, and commissioning artwork from local elementary schools to turn recreation centers into art galleries. The goal is to infuse the energy of surprise and delight into often overlooked spaces, spark creativity and engage the community to reimagine what could be.

If successful, Power of Play will redefine how Los Angeles County activates public space for children. Underserved communities will see parks and rec centers transformed into vibrant hubs of learning, creativity, and connection. Our mobile installations—grounded in Piaget’s four stages of play—will bring joyful, museum-quality experiences directly to families, especially those with limited access to early childhood enrichment. Over time, we aim to create a network of rotating play installations across the county, partnering with schools, libraries, and cultural organizations. Our vision is a Los Angeles where every child, regardless of zip code, can experience the transformative power of play—fueling imagination, learning, and stronger communities.