Why Cultural Exhibits Help Kids with Global Awareness
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The moment you step into Take Me There: Peru at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, something shifts. Your child may look around wide-eyed at the vibrant colors, the unique music, the warm energy, and just like that, their world starts to grow.
This new cultural exploration exhibit isn’t just something to do on a rainy day. It’s a thoughtful, immersive way to help your child experience a culture that may be completely new to them. Through food, language, art, and music, it’s hands-on, engaging, and designed with families in mind to help take your little ones a step closer towards the global mindset we want for them.
Photo from CityMoms Content Team member Ashley Worth
Importance of Global Awareness for Kids
Okay, let’s talk about why you should absolutely make space in your family’s calendar for cultural exhibits like Take Me There: Peru. First off, in a world that feels a little smaller every day (we love that even their favorite cartoons and books now feature characters from all over the globe), helping our kids from an early age get comfortable with different cultures isn’t just “nice", it’s important. These kinds of exhibits, like what they continually showcase at the Children's Museum, are a great way to support your child’s lifelong adventure in understanding the wider world, all before lunch.
Kids are wired for curiosity. So why not facilitate global awareness and different perspectives while they soak everything up like a sponge? Diving into diverse cultures and the daily life of people in different nations is not just a fun field trip, but an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the world. It sets children up with a foundation in critical thinking and empathy, skills that matter whether they’re one day discussing global challenges like human rights, meeting someone who speaks a different language, or learning about different traditions.
We’re talking real-world lessons here. Cultural exhibits spark those “aha!” moments that connect what they see in social studies or world history to actual people and stories. They start asking those open-ended questions like: “How is daily life in Peru different from ours?”, and, honestly, that’s when the magic happens.
Are you a teacher looking for a field trip opportunity? Teachers love cultural exhibits, too, because they fit right in with what’s already happening in the classroom and supports academic success. They can add excitement to regular, everyday lesson plans for elementary students or deepen discussions that happen in high school about global perspectives and world history.
Exhibits like these offer something for every age. They make it easier to talk about big topics in ways that actually connect with young people. With cultural exhibits, teachers can go beyond online resources and help students explore different cultures in an experiential way.
It’s a simple, real-world way to build global understanding that lasts.
But beyond the academics, these experiences are about giving your kid a broader worldview. You’re helping them see things through “new eyes." Maybe even encouraging a bit more tolerance and an open mind about our super diverse world.
This makes cultural exhibits a “yes” every single time.
Inside Take Me There: Peru at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Picture this…
Explore a replica Peruvian home and board a pretend airplane to "fly" there.
Try your hand at textile-inspired art and "shop" in a traditional market.
Learn a few Spanish phrases and dance steps together.
Learn what authentic Peruvian cuisine is like.
If you’ve been looking for a way to introduce your kids to new cultures in an age-appropriate, fun way, this is it.
As a mom, I’m always asking: how can I raise kids who are kind, curious, and aware of the world beyond their own? Exhibits like this offer exactly that. Without even realizing it, your child walks away with more empathy, more awareness, and maybe even a few questions that spark something bigger.
3 Quick Tips for Exploring Cultural Exhibits with Kids
Let them lead.
If they want to spend 20 minutes coloring a textile design, let them. That moment may stick more than anything you planned.
Talk it out.
Use the car ride home to ask what surprised them most or what they want to explore more. Greater understanding happens through curiosity and conversation.
Keep the experience going.
Try a Peruvian recipe together. Pick up a book about Peru at the library. Add traditional music to your dinner playlist and learn Peruvian dance styles!
MORE INFO: Take Me There: Peru is included with museum admission and opens on July 12th.
Plan your visit and explore the full exhibit details at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
