The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Opens the Door to The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD®
A well-known, beloved, celebrity is coming to Indianapolis for the first time and it won’t be for the NFL’s Big Game. Just in time for his 60th anniversary, MR. POTATO HEAD is coming to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis! The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD is an interactive, educational exhibit focused on early childhood learning that will open at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on Jan. 28. Sponsored by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, the exhibit is scheduled to run through May 6.
The much-loved MR. POTATO HEAD character will lead young visitors and parents on a number of fun and educational adventures. From trips to outer space to jungle safaris and archeological digs, each activity will provide children with engaging learning experiences.
The exotic and fanciful exhibit is designed to develop school readiness and academic skills for young children, focusing on literacy, problem solving, mathematics, science and social studies. It is based on developmental milestones set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and national academic standards.
The 2,500 square foot exhibit, targeted to children ages 3 – 8, was created by the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in collaboration with PLAYSKOOL, the infant/preschool toy division of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS). Visitors will find interactive play areas within the exhibit, including:
• WELCOME! – The fun begins with an awe-inspiring collection of MR. POTATO HEAD parts and accessories as well as an anthology to depict the character’s wild adventures. Special books let visitors see themselves wearing different hats at future careers in the What’s Ahead for You? activity, sponsored by Manpower Inc.
• SPACE S.P.U.D. (Space Potatoes United for Discovery) – Here, visitors can join Commander MR. POTATO HEAD aboard the S.P.U.D. space station, where they’ll learn about repair and maintenance to the station. Children can sit in and control their journey from the commander’s chair, use the intergalactic translator, explore the galaxy and conduct experiments at the isolation glove box.
• SPUD QUEST – While on an archeological dig in search of the statue of King Tato, visitors will need to decipher “tatoglyphs” and solve mazes to find the statue’s secret caché. Guests will use special maps to explore the treasure chamber and excavate the dig site to uncover fun artifacts from the King’s past, while reconstructing the King’s crown and weighing the discoveries in MR. POTATO HEAD’s research tent.
• SPUD OVERBOARD – Ocean explorer Jacques Coustato will take visitors on an underwater adventure where they can build fanciful reefs, meet a friendly octopus and wise clam, and enjoy simulated snorkeling adventures. Guests will learn by finding small surprises and a sea horse race in the kelp bed, operating the spud sub, experimenting with sounds from above and below the waves, and generating underwater sparkle using the sub’s disco-ball antenna.
• SPUD SAFARI – Finally, while roaming jungles with MR. POTATO HEAD, visitors can enjoy a pretend mudslide or venture inside a cave in search of mysterious objects. Guests should listen carefully to identify sounds in the jungle, discover camouflaged and hidden creatures, and gain a different perspective when they use special lenses and cameras to see the world through the eyes of silly birds, bugs and animals.
The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD is sponsored by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, with additional support provided by Debra Altshul-Stark and Brian Stark, and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.
About The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families across the arts, sciences and humanities. For more information about The Children's Museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org, follow us on Twitter @TCMIndy, Facebook.com/childrensmuseum and YouTube.com/IndyTCM.
About the Northwestern Mutual Foundation
The Northwestern Mutual Foundation has honored its mission — inspiring human potential through lifelong learning and community commitment — by granting support in three focus areas: Education, Health and Human Services, and Arts and Culture. The Foundation gives more money to support and develop the community than any other corporation in the state of Wisconsin, and has been a supporter of the Betty Brinn Children's Museum since the museum opened in 1995. The Foundation’s support for the national tour of The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD reflects its confidence in the Betty Brinn Children's Museum and its commitment to early childhood education.
About PLAYSKOOL
Since 1928, PLAYSKOOL, the infant/preschool toy division of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS), has provided toys that help infants, toddlers and preschoolers develop and learn as they play. PLAYSKOOL believes that play is the first and most important building block for all learning, and encourages parents and grandparents to play with their children everyday.
About Hasbro
Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.
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