Helps kids cope with childhood's challenges Put life's little challenges in perspective! Try being a kid who has won only one baseball game, constantly battles a kite-eating tree and is the owner of a dog who can fly a plane! Step into the world of Charlie Brown and the rest of the PEANUTS gang in the museum's next traveling exhibit, Good Grief! Visitors of all ages are bound to find a character they relate to in the exhibit. Frustrated Charlie Brown, bossy Lucy, cool Snoopy, intense Schroeder and all the other PEANUTS favorites help illustrate some of childhood's most important lessons with unique educational activities specially designed for children and their families. The exhibit was developed by The Children's Museum of Manhattan in 2000. CMOM worked closely with Charles M. Schulz, creator of the PEANUTS characters, to bring the world of Charlie Brown and the gang to life. The result is an exhibit where children learn ways to resolve the frustrations and concerns that are an ever-growing part of growing up in the world today. Whether it's struggling to achieve top grades or trying to fit in; vying for attention with siblings at home or feeling left out at the playground, the pressures on children today have narrowed the ever-shrinking definition of success. Recent research has shown how pressured children are, but with corollary issues such as kids' feelings that they are failures if they aren't the best either at school, sports or in the arts, it is increasingly difficult for them to resolve their concerns on their own. Good Grief! uses the trials and tribulations of Charlie Brown and his friends to help kids see the hope and possibilities even if, like Charlie Brown, they always lose at baseball, or if, like Peppermint Patty, they don't always succeed in school. Through humor and games, the exhibit helps children and their families develop problem-solving skills, and leaves them with a heightened sense of compassion and empathy. Visitors will learn methods that prove words and language are powerful tools in solving conflicts. Need some advice on how to handle a situation? The doctor is in! Visitors can become the doctor or the patient at Lucy's psychiatry booth. While Lucy charges a nickel for her advice, kids and adults select situations and discuss solutions free of charge. For those who follow the beat of their own drum, step over to a corner of the living room where Schroeder can be found playing his piano. Visitors pretend to play along or experiment with a clarinet and violin that play their own melodies. No visit to the exhibit is complete without taking a seat in the "Sopwith Camel." Skillfully avoid the Red Baron as you feel the wind in your face, just like The Flying Ace! Back on the ground, encounter another one of Snoopy's alter egos, as kids dress up to become the coolest of the cool - Joe Cool. Step onto Charlie Brown's baseball diamond and get in some practice at the ball toss. The Great Pumpkin is ready for visitors in the pumpkin patch, where kids can sort and arrange vines and pumpkins all night long! In addition to interactive games and activities, families share their own memories of Schulz's creations through several videos, artifacts and text panels that highlight the PEANUTS gang from the 1950s through the 1990s. Special gallery programs invite children to participate in a variety of art, language and other fun activities that incorporate the messages of the exhibit. The activities, programs and - most importantly - the words of the exhibit help us remember a key message from the PEANUTS comics: Navigating the rough road of childhood is always easier with a smile. Charlie Brown is quoted in the exhibit saying, "Trouble seems to follow me everywhere." The response next to it best sums up this wonderful new exhibit: "You're not alone, Charlie Brown. Everyone feels that way!" Good Grief! will be presented in the Special Exhibit Gallery 2 from May 24 - Aug. 17, 2003. Good Grief! was created with the gracious consent of Charles M. Schulz, and the cooperation of Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates and United Media. Good Grief! was developed by the Children's Museum of Manhattan with support from Target. The national tour of Good Grief! is sponsored by Target. Presented locally by ATA. PEANUTS © United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

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