Why it matters
At birth, a baby’s brain is about 25% the size of an adult’s. By age five, it has reached nearly 90%. What shapes it most in those years is experience, especially caring relationships and play.
Those early moments build the skills children carry into kindergarten and beyond. They only come around once.
25%at birth
nearly 90%by age five
“We are built to play and built through play.”
Stuart Brown, MD, founder of the National Institute for Play
Play isn’t a break from learning. For young children, it’s how learning happens.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that play strengthens brain structure and the skills behind focus and self-control.
The National Institute for Play links play to creativity and emotional resilience, helping children bounce back from setbacks.
Pretend play and language develop hand in hand. Pretend play with a parent at 18 months has been linked to stronger language growth by age two.
Tufts University’s HOPE research finds that caring relationships and safe places to play help children grow into healthier, more resilient adults.
The missing piece
Our community has beaches, parks, strong schools and caring neighbors. What it doesn’t have is a place designed for young children to explore and try again, the way they learn best.
And this is Michigan. Snow and long winters keep little ones inside. When there’s nowhere to go, screens fill the space.
More than 80% of local families we surveyed said distance is what keeps them from visiting a children’s museum.
Drive times from downtown Grand Haven
“
It would mean not having to leave town to find something fun indoors to do. Our options here, especially in the ‘off season,’ often feel very limited.
Grand Haven mom of an elementary student, community survey respondent
About twenty years ago, Lakeshore parents set out to bring a children’s museum here. They couldn’t find the right home, but the need never went away. Today it’s greater than ever.
70,000
children under nine live within 25 miles of downtown Grand Haven
82%
of kindergarten teachers say students arrive less socially and emotionally ready
2.3M
guests visit Grand Haven State Park each year. When the weather turns, families need a place to play.
90%+
of local families we surveyed would likely buy a membership
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Lexia national kindergarten teacher survey, 2025; Grand Haven State Park attendance; Grand Haven Children’s Museum community survey (317 responses)
Parents and caregivers are the most important people in a child’s life, yet many feel they’re doing it alone. The Museum will be a place to connect with other families and find support.
66%
of parents say parenthood feels isolating and lonely
79%
would value a way to connect with other parents
Source: Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center survey of parents
Mark Feyen, Retired Ottawa County Probate Judge
A children’s museum is an investment in children. It’s also an investment in everyone around them.
Joyful, hands-on learning that builds creativity and confidence
Time to play alongside their kids and make new friends, with screens and chores left behind
A hands-on partner for field trips, built with local educators to complement classroom lessons
Steady foot traffic in the off-season, when visitors are fewer
Young people inspired by the great jobs and products made right here on the Lakeshore
Connection and purpose, from teens to retirees
An estimated $5.8 million a year in economic impact, supporting 49 local jobs.
Source: Grand Valley State University economic analysis, 2025
“I just can’t think of any place where the impact will last longer than investing in a children’s museum for our community.”
Jennie Nowak, Board President
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