<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1XdOxO_0vjbOYiI00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1XdOxO_0vjbOYiI00" width="1500" height="881" ><figcaption>Children play with the "Lunar Life" exhibit at the South Dakota Children's Museum in Brookings.</figcaption></figure>BROOKINGS — With the belief that the best place to play is everywhere, the Children’s Museum of South Dakota is celebrating a Worldwide Day of Play on Sept. 28.This day coincides with the museum’s 14th anniversary of its opening in Downtown Brookings. In addition to play in all of the museum exhibits, the event will include a variety of pop-up activities ranging from story time, to fizzy bubbles, to straw rockets.The Worldwide Day of Play is an initiative of Nickelodeon and the Association of Children’s Museums, which involves hundreds of museums across the globe and focuses on getting children and their families active.“As a community organization, we are focused on nurturing playful learning everywhere,” said Kerrie Vilhauer, director of marketing at the museum.“Play is the foundation for lifelong learning and offers a variety of benefits from fostering cognitive growth to improving literacy, not to mention boosting creativity and encouraging independence.”In the past year, the museum has celebrated the opening of two new exhibits: "Celebrations," an exhibit designed to bring people together to explore New Year celebrations in South Korea, China, and Vietnam; and "Lunar Life," an experience that explores the life of an astronaut in space.These exhibits, along with the museum’s ongoing exhibits, offer a one-of-a-kind experience that is only limited by the imagination and creativity that guests bring to the space.The museum’s second floor has welcomed guests to a variety of experiences, including a free play group for caregivers and children from birth to three, preschool classes, Maker Studio camps and classes, and an after-school program — not to mention birthday parties.During the Worldwide Day of Play on Sept. 28, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but museum members are invited to play early during member-only hours from 9 to 10 a.m. More information on the day’s events can be found here.A comprehensive list of Worldwide Day of Play events is available here.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

South Dakota Children’s Museum celebrates 14 years of play

BROOKINGS — With the belief that the best place to play is everywhere, the Children’s Museum of South Dakota is celebrating a Worldwide Day of Play on Sept. 28. This day coincides with the museum’s 14th anniversary of its opening in Downtown Brookings. In addition to play in all of the museum exhibits, the event will include a variety of pop-up activities ranging from story time, to fizzy bubbles, to straw rockets.