Newport Aquarium continues celebrating its 25th anniversary by honoring its commitment to education with new activities and a free membership for little ones. According to a new report from Kentucky Youth Advocates, less than half of Kentucky kindergarteners entered the classroom last school year ready to learn. Early childhood education experts agree that visiting the aquarium is an enriching experience for pre-k children that can help them inside and out of the classroom.
With a free Pre-K Membership, kids ages 2-4 get unlimited free visits to the aquarium for a full year, including all the learning opportunities and hands-on activities that early childhood educators agree are critical to a child’s development. Brett Hornberger, one of the head early childhood teachers and teaching professors at Xavier University Montessori Lab School in Cincinnati, works with children ages 3 to 6. She loves taking her students out into the community for novel experiences, especially in nature.
“They’ve got this really absorbent mind between the ages of birth to 6 so they’re constantly taking in everything around them,” says Hornberger, “I think by having that opportunity to have repeated visits they’ll learn a little bit each time they come.”
In addition to the free Pre-K Membership, little ones are making new discoveries during the Underwater Scavenger Hunt Around the World. For a limited time, guests are searching for hidden globes throughout the aquarium. During their journey, families are discovering new animals and learning what makes them unique. Donna Hutchinson-Smyth, an early childhood educator and teaching professor at Xavier University Montessori Lab School, agrees that the activity can inspire a young and curious mind.
“What we try to do as teachers is create those opportunities for children to interact one-on-one with nature and I think that’s where a place like the aquarium, you have a unique resource for children to discover that natural world,” she says.
Newport Aquarium’s Underwater Scavenger Hunt Around the World runs until March 3 and participation is free with admission. Free Pre-K Membership also runs through March 3, 2024 or while supplies last. More information on both programs can be found at NewportAquarium.com.
