Helping Children Handle Objects
It is important that children feel free to closely examine the objects, but it works best to encourage the children to suggest guidelines for handling, with careful direction by the session leader. Guidelines can include:
- examining objects over a soft surface, e.g., a cloth or Plastazote on a table, or carpeted floor
- picking objects up in cupped hands
- never picking up an object using the handle
- passing objects to neighbours whilst seated
- carry/hold only one museum object at a time, and if possible, support it at the bottom by the hand.
If there is enough time it is a good idea to pass around a clean sheet of paper and then ask the children to observe the changes to the paper in this short time.
To ensure safe handling museum staff may:
- check for clean hands
- provide clean cotton gloves for some objects
- organise the groups (sitting in small groups on a carpeted floor or at a table).
Discuss with children why we have museums, how museums keep objects safe and why objects need to be protected from:
- sunlight
- damp
- extremes of temperature
- insect damage
- too much handling (or in some cases any handling).
Checking Objects
If you borrow objects from a museum please ensure that you:
- check for missing and damaged objects before returning the objects
- report any damaged or missing objects when you return to the museum so that necessary action can be taken (hopefully a rare occurrence!)
- carefully store and pack the objects
- carefully display objects
- supervise children when they handle the objects.