It was our first flexible day for independent site visits. I spent the weekend in Notting Hill and I made it back in time to join a few people in the British Studies Program for a trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood. Admission to this museum is free and it was buzzing with the noise of happy children attending workshops. It credits itself as the largest museum of its kind in the world.
It is a surreal feeling when you recognize items you played with in as a child behind the glass at a museum setting. Is it a sign of aging? Or is it a sign that the museum has done an excellent job compiling popular toys from around the world? I think it is a little bit of both.
What I liked most about the museum was mixed historic items, like the dollhouse donated by the Queen to wind up toys. As we walked through, there were questions on the display cases that engaged the viewer, made them think, and it started conversations - another great example of how to archive material while engaging the public.
