Local moms hope to open Children's Museum in east Idaho - East Idaho News
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Local moms hope to open Children’s Museum in east Idaho

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POCATELLO — Melody Daniels and her friend, Natali McKee, are hardworking moms with 12 children between them.

They say it’s time their kids, along with all the other children in the area, get a children’s museum.

“It develops parts of the brain that they don’t get from watching T.V. or playing video games,” said Daniels. “And they can develop and learn things that they wouldn’t otherwise.”

Daniels and McKee imagine a fun interactive museum for all ages – a place where young kids, teens and parents can all get involved.

They say that kind of hands-on space is also beneficial for kids with different kinds of needs. Daniels’ son has a sensory processing disorder, and McKee’s son has autism.

“A children’s museum can provide them with opportunities that you wouldn’t normally,” said McKee, “There’s certain things that they don’t get exposed to that you would be able to have at a museum.”

So far, Daniels and McKee know the museum will be a non-profit, and they hope to raise money through community support and grants.

As of now, they say they are still in the preliminary planning and research stage. But they’re not alone. Both Daniels and McKee’s husbands have been helping, and even their kids have come up with ideas for exhibits.

“It will be an adventure for sure,” said Daniels, “But it’s one we want to do as a family. They’re our motivation and they’ll be part of it.”

And the two women are confident that, with a team of 16 strong, they can make their dream a reality.

Davis and McKee already looked at a possible site for the museum, and are circulating a survey to gage the community’s interest in a children’s museum.

They invite everyone to go to their new Facebook page and they say they’re going to have a community meeting to hear more ideas from the public.

This story originally appeared on KPVI. It is posted here with permission.

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