From the archiveCommunity Spotlight page, last updated March 2007
Spotlight: Family Event at the Children's Museum of Richmond
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In order to connect families with our current classroom curriculum theme of “Museum,” Richmond Early Reading First and VCU Head Start partnered with the Children’s Museum of Richmond to provide an evening of family fun.
The Children’s Museum offered to close their doors to the public at 5 p.m. giving an opportunity for VCU Head Start families to enjoy a quality read-aloud, followed by an art extension and free exploration of the Museum.
Participants enjoyed the rollicking, rhyming story of The Magic Hat, by Mem Fox. Family members of all ages were inspired to create their own magic hats. “Seymour” the popular Museum Dinosaur enjoyed leading families from room to room throughout the evening.
A total of 180 people attended the event, including families, teachers, directors and staff. This truly became a community effort as local businesses like Ukrops, Chick-Fil-A, Krispy Kreme, and K-Mart donated food items for refreshments.
Each family received a bag which included resources of important early reading, writing and conversation activities to use with preschoolers at home. Parents were given a copy of A Child Becomes a Reader. Also included in the bag were an art activity, art supplies, a Richmond Public Library family brochure, a Chick-Fil-A coupon, a Krispy Kreme valentine coupon, and a free family pass to the Children’s Museum.
In keeping with the principles of the Children’s Museum of Richmond, this family event enabled all participants to see more, do more and be more!
Added in 2026: copying the format
The evening worked because each piece pointed at the next: a book read aloud, a craft that came straight out of the book, then free time in rooms that matched the classroom theme, and a bag that sent the same activities home. A Child Becomes a Reader, the booklet in the bag, was a free federal guide from the National Institute for Literacy’s Partnership for Reading, with one edition for birth through preschool. Libraries running family nights today can borrow the structure with any rhyming picture book. More on reading with young children at home is in Early Reading First: what the preschool grants taught.
Questions readers ask
Which book was read at the museum night?
The Magic Hat by Mem Fox, a rhyming picture book. Families then made their own magic hats as an art activity.
What did families take home?
A bag with early reading, writing and conversation activities, a copy of A Child Becomes a Reader, art supplies, a Richmond Public Library brochure, food coupons from local businesses and a free family pass to the Children's Museum.