Port discovery children's museum will strengthen and expand its multi-generational programming initiative, which is founded on the value of play as an essential component of a child's early…

The Port Discovery Children's Museum was awarded a $409,570 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Museums for America (CFDA 45.301) program. The grant will support the museum's efforts to strengthen and expand its multi-generational programming, which emphasizes the value of play in early childhood development and the parent-child bond. Specifically, the grant will fund the hiring of a full-time program coordinator and two part-time education specialists to expand the museum's ongoing Fathers at Play and Parents at Play programs. Additionally, the museum will design a Professionals at Play: Early Learning Institute, a professional development hub that will provide training to early childhood educators in Maryland, aligning with the state's Child Development Associate credential and early childhood education guidelines. The grant period runs from Sep 1, 2024, to Aug 31, 2026.

Port discovery children's museum will strengthen and expand its multi-generational programming initiative, which is founded on the value of play as an essential component of a child's early development and a key contributor to the bonds between a child and their caregiver. The project will support the hiring of a full-time program coordinator and two part-time education specialists to undertake the expansion of its ongoing fathers at play and parents at play museum programs. The museum will also design a professionals at play: early learning institute, a professional development hub within the museum that will serve as a resource to strengthen the state's early childhood workforce. The institute will provide training to early childhood educators that aligns with maryland's child development associate credential and supports maryland state guidelines for early childhood education.