The Magic House to Open Calming Corner Dedicated to Better Serve Needs of Visitors

Shhhh! We’ve been keeping quiet on this next project!  Beginning April 12, The Magic House will open a special area for visitors who are looking for a little quiet time. Located on the lower level near the Star-Spangled Center, the Calming Corner is the perfect place for nursing mothers and children who need a soothing space away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the museum.

The Calming Corner is designed to meet the health and safety needs of children with developmental and physical challenges—especially those on the autism spectrum—who may need a respite during their visit.  There are a multitude of quiet activities to not only soothe, but also to engage and entertain children such as books, sensory games and toys and a six-foot bubble tube.  The room is also equipped with a glider for nursing mothers, a child-sized rocker, bean bag chairs and a soothing sound machine. 

As a mother who nursed for some time, I am excited that we will have a dedicated space in the museum for a little privacy and quiet.  Of course we will continue to encourage moms to nurse wherever they are most comfortable in the Museum.  However, I can say from my own experience that I often preferred a quiet location with a little privacy and few distractions for my son. Similarly, many parents of children with autism or those that just get a bit too wound up, find that having a calming area for a child to regroup can be a life-saver!  The Magic House is hoping that this area can be a respite for parents when that reset button is needed.

The Calming Corner is made possible by the “It’s Our Region Fund” of the Regional Business Council. The Magic House received the “Small Change—Big Impact Grant” to create this unique space within the museum to help better serve the needs of visitors.