'Learning time' can morph into fun forms for children

As Rosie Long watched her nearly 3-year-old son Clayton scamper about in the Discovery Playhouse on Thursday, she couldn't help but smile.

"There's so many things for him to do here," said Long, of Cape Girardeau. "I've taken Clayton to places like the library, but he can't be a kid there. He can't run or be loud."

The Discovery Playhouse certainly is a place where a kid can be a kid.

In fact, it's encouraged.

"When you hear the giggling and laughter of the kids, you know you're in a wonderful place to work," said Pansy Glenn, executive director of the Discovery Playhouse. "This is a fun, hands-on learning and play center that has exhibits for children of all ages."

With about 7,500 square feet of space, there is plenty of room for children to take advantage of any one of the playhouse's 12 exhibits.

A child can put on a raincoat and visit Kim's Secret Water Garden, which includes experiments with water squirters that develop hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills. Or maybe a parent would like to shop in the grocery store exhibit while their child scans goods in a checkout lane, which helps children understand where the food in their house comes from. There's also a bank exhibit where a child can learn money-handling skills by withdrawing play money from an ATM and then redepositing it with a bank teller who could be one of their parents or another child.

Rosie Long watches as her son Clayton, 2, plays Thursday, March 14, at Discovery Playhouse, 502 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. The children's museum will be holding its 4th Annual Birdhouse Bash fundraiser Friday, March 22. (Adam Vogler)

"It's a learning time for the kids," Glenn said. "But they don't know that they're learning because they're having fun."

The Discovery Playhouse designates certain days for activities. There is Read to Me Wednesday, when a staff member reads to children. During Hokey-Pokey Friday, children are instructed how to do the "Hokey Pokey" and other dances. Thursday is known as Crafty Thursday, which typically has a seasonal theme.

"We're getting into Easter," said program director. Sarah Powell. "For upcoming Crafty Thursdays, children will get to decorate Easter eggs and also make Easter bunny picture frames."

Discovery Playhouse also hosts visits from day-care facilities, field trips from local schools and birthday parties. Visits to the playhouse have grown each year since 2010, Powell said.

"We had a little over 17,000 visitors in 2010," she said. "In 2011, that jumped to about 24,000. In 2012, we had over 25,000 visitors for the year," Powell said.

Glenn, who joined the playhouse as executive director in September, is happy with the number of people who visit.

"It takes a lot of visitors to keep the lights on," she said. "We're not a self-supporting entity yet, but adding a second stairway to the second floor and getting exhibits up there will help. I think that will bring even more visitors in."

The second floor of the playhouse will be geared toward older children with exhibits that feature science, technology, engineering and the arts. Health and wellness exhibits will be presented, and a small theater for plays is envisioned.

Glenn is confident plans for the second floor will become a reality through the playhouse's 4th annual Birdhouse Bash FUNdraiser.

"It's called the Birdhouse Bash because of the birdhouses made by children that will be on display," Glenn said. "But there will be other displays, as well. Guests will walk through and see what children are accomplishing here."

This year's Birdhouse Bash will be an elegant, garden-party-themed event.

Guests will enjoy wine tasting and also drinks from a cash bar with hors d'oeuvres provided by Port Cape. Daniel Sexton will provide guitar entertainment and the band "Us Instead" will provide music during the dancing portion of the evening. Guests will bid on items that range from a stay in Reno, Nev., spa packages and golf clubs. The grand prize will be for one couple to win seven nights at an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with $1,500 cash for airfare or spending money provided.

Glenn is amazed by the generosity of people who want to see the Discovery Playhouse succeed.

"When I came on board last year, I couldn't believe how giving the people in the community were," she said. "Without them, I don't think the Discovery Playhouse would exist."

The Discovery Playhouse was founded in 2006 as The Southeast Missouri Children's Museum, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. It operated in West Park Mall until a permanent home was opened at 502 Broadway in spring 2010.

The Birdhouse Bash is from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, March 22, at the Discovery Playhouse. Tickets are $50 for singles, $100 for couples and $450 for a reserved table of eight. For more information, contact the Discovery Playhouse at 335-7529 or visit discoveryplayhouse.org.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address: 502 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

What: 4th annual Birdhouse Bash

When: 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. March 22

Where: Discovery Playhouse, 502 Broadway

Info: 335-7529 or visit discoveryplayhouse.org.