Twelfth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

Childrens history and heritage objects related to childhood are still rarely used to communicate themes other than toys or games in Lithuanian and European museums. Popular toys, typical clothing details, household utensils used by children, and other objects are most often demonstrated in exhibitions related to childhood without integration into the narratives of general history. It should be mentioned that artefacts which are easily identifiable by todays children help them see the parallels between different periods and/or cultures as well as comprehend forms and materiality. By exploring recognizable exhibits children, just like adults, can easier imagine unknown and unseen things. This paper investigates the use of archaeological, historical, and ethnographical childrens heritage in Lithuanian museum exhibitions and seeks to explore the prospects of how such objects could be used to attract childrens attention to non-children topics.