Fresh ideas from museums around the globe in your inbox each week
Nikki Kirby is General Manager at Sudbury Hall and Museum of Childhood, a National Trust property in Derbyshire, and has been working on the development of the Children’s Country House since 2018.
An ex-teacher, she believes passionately in the power of play to give children knowledge and confidence, as well as providing them with a reason to care about heritage and culture.
Imagine you’re seven. Now imagine a day out at a country house. The spaces are pretty cool – the ceiling is so far away and just look at the size of that dining table! But it doesn’t take long for the novelty to wear off. There are ropes and thistles on chairs and it’s all a bit… boring. At the Children’s Country House we’re exploring how play and games can help children engage with heritage; how working with children to design experiences can deliver great results and why it is important to put children first without exception.