I recently visited the MoMA to see the exhibit Century of the Child, and I highly recommend it. In addition to being a wonderful retrospective of design for children over the hundred year period from 1900 to 2000, the exhibit also studies how societal views about children have changed over this time period. I found all of it fascinating. Did you know there was only one playground in the United States in 1890?
There are over 500 objects on display including children’s toys, books and furniture. There are amazing pieces of history, like these 1920s teaching materials commissioned by Maria Montessori herself and more recent treasures like the Omnibot 2000, a remote-control robot from 1985:
In addition to the display of incredible examples of design for children, the exhibit also touches on the more serious issues of children and childhood, including that many of the toys in the exhibit were very expensive and would not have been affordable to large segments of the population.
Century of the Child also covered themes of child labor and poverty, and how the movement towards children’s rights and equality has evolved over time.
While the exhibit is suitable for all ages, it is not a hands-on or interactive exhibit, so it best for older children and teens. Younger kids may like seeing the toys on display, but would most likely only be engaged during a quick stroll through the exhibit.
Century of the Child: Growing by Design, 1900-2000 is on exhibit in The Joan and Preston Robert Tisch Exhibition Gallery, sixth floor, through November 5, 2012. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is located at 11 West 53 Street.
There are related children’s programs, including the Family Art Workshops Growing by Design: Designing for Kids for children ages 10-14 and their parent or caregiver on select weekend days in September (16, 22, 23, 29 and 30) and October 13. Workshop times are from 10:30 to 12:30 and 2:00 to 4:00.
Workshops are free with Museum admission, and registration takes place online two weeks prior to the date of each program.