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

Blog, Play Free

Topeka, Kansas, September 7, 2019 – A new video offers an inside look at a children’s museum serving children with incarcerated moms. The 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.

The Play Free program, including its curriculum, materials, and data, is the proprietary work of the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center. Stories, language, or data may not be reproduced, used, or adapted without prior written permission. We welcome collaboration and are committed to supporting partners who wish to responsibly reference or adapt Play Free in their own communities. If you are interested in consulting, training, speaking, or requesting permission to use Play Free data or stories, please complete our request form.

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