To inspire every child’s learning and curiosity through play.
Vision: To provide exceptional play-based learning for the diverse families of our communities – inspiring all families to nurture their children’s curiosity and spark a lifelong love of learning.
Values:
We believe in the potential of all children.
We champion learning through play.
We are dedicated to excellence in play-based learning.
We value creative collaboration with our WOW! Team and our community partners.
We celebrate diversity.
We welcome all to play and learn with us.
History:
WOW! was founded in Louisville in 1996 by Lisa and Dario Atallah, community members who understood the importance of play in children’s learning. With support from the City of Lafayette, we relocated in 2004 to the old Lafayette fire station. WOW! has grown into a beloved community resource and has proudly served over one million children.
WOW! Children’s Museum is committed to being a gathering place for all Boulder County children and families. We believe in the power of learning through play to improve our lives and community. We respect, value, and celebrate the unique attributes, characteristics, and perspectives that make each person who they are. We also believe that bringing diverse individuals together allows us to better understand, support, and engage our community. It is our aim, therefore, that our Museum and programs are accessible, meaningful, and welcoming to all audiences.
Sensory Friendly Playtime allows children and their families to explore the Museum without the noise, crowds, and stimulation of a typical day. We limit the number of families who can attend, turn down sounds and lights, and provide adaptive equipment. Additionally, we partner with a variety of local therapists and specialists to facilitate activities, provide resources, and answer questions for families. Admission to these special monthly playtimes is only $1 thanks to donor support. This program is one of our more sought offerings and has grown in the last two years in a number of attending families as well as the frequency of offerings.
At WOW! Children’s Museum we are proud to support families with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual or developmental disorders (IDD.)