Why does Please Touch Museum collect toys?
We are a collecting institution that believes young children derive multiple benefits from object-based learning. Our collections are critically important for fulfilling our mission of enriching the lives of children. They support our efforts to serve as a first museum experience that promotes lifelong learning and cultural awareness, while reflecting and revealing history of childlife. The collection objects become learning tools to engage children’s minds and the imagination as they observe objects in exhibits. What kind of toys does the museum collect? The museum’s primary collection consists of cultural artifacts and supporting documentation representing the history of American childlife. Toys are the primary focus. The Contemporary Toy Collection consists of objects representing the yearly top-selling trends in the toy industry and our core organizational theme of play, regardless of age, as well as the toys’ cultural value. Toys are collected in the following five categories: Art
