By Reid Bock
If you have ever wandered through the Children’s Museum of Phoenix and watched little ones lost in the world of make-believe or hard at work stacking a wobbly tower, you already know: there is something incredible happening beneath the surface of all that playfulness. Here, play isn’t just a way for children to pass the time; it’s where curiosity, bravery, and creativity start to bloom.
So, what exactly is play-based learning? In the simplest terms, it’s the way children make sense of the world by doing, touching, experimenting, laughing, and even making mistakes. Play-based learning means inviting a child’s natural sense of wonder into every activity, letting them take the lead as they discover how things work, how people interact, and how they themselves fit into the grand adventure of growing up. At the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, we embrace this philosophy every day, in every corner and every exhibit.
Walk through the museum, and you will find an opportunity to learn everywhere, though they might not look like traditional lessons at all. In our BlockMania! exhibit, children carefully stack enormous blocks, eyes focused and hands steady, experimenting with balance and gravity with every new structure they build (or send tumbling down). Venture into the Climber, and you’ll see bravery in action as children test their limits exploring tunnels, navigating twists and turns, their muscles and confidence growing with every move. The Market is alive with imagination, as would-be chefs prepare pretend feasts, aspiring shop owners ring up groceries, and young friends invent stories together, practicing social skills, communication, and empathy in the most.
delightful, authentic way possible. In the Art Studio, creative minds are at work, mixing colors, shaping play-dough, and turning their wildest ideas into reality, developing both fine motor skills and the kind of imaginative thinking that leads to real-world problem-solving.
All of this joy has a powerful, lasting impact. Socially, children learn what it means to wait their turn, cooperate with others, and express kindness, even when emotions run high. Every maneuver over an uneven surface, every leap or careful grip, strengthens bodies and lays the foundation for future confidence and coordination. And as children puzzle out how to build a bigger tower, solve a tricky problem, or create something new, they are exercising thinking skills that will serve them at every step of life’s journey.
It’s no accident that play makes lessons stick. When children are engrossed in joyful activity, their brains light up curiosity and happiness, fueling a love of learning that lasts far beyond the walls of the museum. Think about your own childhood, and you will probably remember something you learned simply because it was fun, because you laughed, felt proud, or discovered something with a friend.
That’s why the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is such a special place for families. Here, you will find a world lovingly designed to support growth through play, blending laughter, discovery, and connection in every exhibit and every moment.
About the Author
Reid Bock is a rising junior at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut. He grew up in Phoenix and visited the Children’s Museum of Phoenix frequently. His favorite exhibits as a child were the Market, Noodle Forest, and Pedal Power. According to his parents, he enjoyed the play time so much that in order to get him into the car to go home, they had to promise to come back. The Museum is thrilled to have Reid intern with the Museum this summer, where he can feed his love of writing and the Museum at the same time!
