New video offers an inside look at a children’s museum serving children with incarcerated moms

A new video highlights our Play Free program, which brings children with incarcerated mothers⁠—or in some cases, grandmothers, to the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center for a day of play. On Play Free days, the museum is closed to the public, and the whole facility and staff work to meet the needs of these children.

Through no fault of their own, these children have experienced the pain and confusion of separation from a mother or grandmother. Play Free allows these children to gather outside the prison walls for a day of normalcy in a challenging time. Play Free supports children who need opportunities to play in a safe, caring environment. Programs to promote healthy bonding between children and their incarcerated caregivers make a difference in the lives of children, strengthening the family bonds that makes children more resilient. With than 1.7 million children having a parent in state or federal prison, Play Free is more important than ever.