:: Hellenic Children's Museum

The HELLENIC CHILDREN'S MUSEUM is a non-profit educational and cultural organization legally established in Athens, Greece in 1987. It is governed by a 7 member Board of Directors elected from a General Assembly of 52 members.

The Hellenic Children's Museum exists to encourage every child to discover, to understand, to learn, to enjoy and to shape the world in which (s)he lives with a respect for individuality and an emphasis on team work.

One of the early museum experiences for children, where they are provided with an environment adjusted to their needs and abilities, is the Hellenic Children’s Museum.

The main philosophy of the Museum is the conviction that:
- real objects
- direct experiences and
- entertainment
- support learning.

We use a variety of strategies and programs to respond to the way each person learns.

At the same time, children need to grow up with a feeling of safety, trust in themselves with respect for others and the natural environment that surrounds them.

The Hellenic Children’s Museum encourages imagination , curiosity , speculation and realism.

It provides opportunities for the development of the child’s perception of the world, it promotes participation in society and it contributes to the understanding of differences among people.

The principles that rule our operation and our basic commitments are:
- To be constantly at the service of all children.
- To create Exhibits and Programs that stimulate thinking, through interaction with real objects.
- To preserve our collections at high level and keep them available to the public.
- To attract and support personnel that will contribute to the Museum with its creativity and specialisation and will be devoted to children.
- To provide support for parents.
- To co-operate with educators and personnel from other social carriers in order to present the philosophy of our Museum and the means it possesses.

To function as a national, research and development centre, which studies new methods of informal education, and new roles for Museums to play.

According to its charter the main aim of the “Hellenic Children’s Museum” is the operation of a Children’s Museum. Through the cooperation with the Municipality of Athens – Cultural Organization in December 1994, the “Children’s Museum” was founded at 14, Kidathineon Street in the Plaka.

The Children’s Museum is a space specially designed both to meet the needs and abilities of children and to support the parents and the teachers who contribute to their development. The philosophy of the Museum is based on contemporary educational theory which shows that children learn most effectively through active participation and interaction with objects.

In the Children’s Museum, children can:
- observe,
- investigate,
- imagine,
- play,
- experiment and
- create.

The exhibits and the educational programs are developed by experts and contribute to a child’s development by encouraging:
- critical thinking,
- initiative,
- creativity,
- discovery of knowledge and
- autonomy.

The Children’s Museum is a place that offers multifaceted education and recreation, and constitutes an important first step in a child’s familiarity with the "museum".

In the Children’s Museum Exhibition Area 
Weekends 
- Educational activities and Tributes for children from 4 to 12 years old.
- Children’s parties
 
Adult Education 
- Seminar program “Education in Museums”
- Parents’ Sensitization Courses
- Other seminars for adults
 
Other Services 
- Museum kits
- Toyshop
- Material shop