CME’s Response to COVID-19

UPDATE 3/15

Dear Museum Family,
As part of the community response to COVID-19, the Museum will be closed effective today, Sunday, March 15 with an anticipated re-open date of Tuesday, March 31st. However, we are monitoring the shifting nature of this situation and will be posting updates on our social media accounts so be sure to follow us for updates.
If you have a scheduled birthday party or field trip, you will hear from us in the next few days to discuss options.
It is our goal to be of continued support to our families and the community during these tumultuous times in the ways that we can. We be in touch during the closure with fun activities to keep kids engaged and (hopefully) give caretakers a few minutes of a break.
Stay safe, take care of each other.

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We take the health and wellbeing of our visitors incredibly seriously and we know that Coronavirus is something that you are all thinking about and so are we. As confirmed cases get closer to our zip code, we want to let you know what we are doing to keep our visitors and staff safe at CME.

What CME is doing:

  • Increasing frequency of cleaning from professional cleaners when the Museum is closed
  • Increasing frequency of cleanings when the Museum is open
  • Disinfecting exhibits, manipulatives and surfaces (doorknobs, lunch tables etc)

What you can do:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick whenever possible. 
  • If you feel sick or have been around anyone who feels sick, please come to play at the Museum another day. This is the best way to avoid spreading any illness and make sure you get the rest you need to recover.
  • Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Use Alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
  • When playing at the Museum, help us stop the spread of germs by properly monitoring your child’s play to avoid gumming, mouthing and chewing on manipulatives. If your child has placed something in his/her mouth, please bring this item to a Museum staffer immediately for cleaning. 
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue. Throw it away immediately and wash your hands.

With the overwhelming amount of information on the Coronavirus going around, our good friends at the Providence Children’s Museum, the Montshire Museum of Science and many other great institutions have started pulling together age-appropriate resources for children and families as a support during this time. We are pleased to pass them along and have added a few of our own ideas as well.

With the shortage of hand sanitizer, now is a great time to do a little science at home. Here is a great recipe for making homemade hand sanitizer, an activity you can do with your child.

We will continue to stay abreast of all updates and recommendations from the CDC and Massachusetts Department of Health and are working in tandem with the Association of Children’s Museums and the New England Museum Association to ensure the highest level of commitment to safety and wellness for our Museum community.