the Strong National Museum of Play - Wow!

Thursday morning before the Sasha Festival started a group of us set off for the Strong Museum in Rochester.  

Oh, look it says it is the Museum of PLAY!  What fun!

Looking promising...

A Carousel - Can I go on it please?

Superhero!

Something for the people who sew

My little friend and her person.

Trying to see inside the doll house - it was pretty impressive

I wish I was a little taller!

Just after this was taken I was distracted as a couple of nice ladies who work at the museum wanted to chat to me - they were very interested to know all about me!

I continued to look at the dolls houses and all that was inside them.

Moving on to more displays there was so much to look at for both boys and girls.

Loved all these soft toys

That is one pretty cool sock monkey!

Look at all his gear.

Playing the piano standing up?!  I hope she doesn't get tired standing all the time.

Enjoying afternoon tea.

Sailing

Pretty girl.

Goodness!

This girl is interesting...she is a bit like the bionic man!

Treasures

Schoenhut - sadly this was all there was, no dolls to show Peggy Sue and friends.

We used to have a Chrissy doll in our family (the girl at the back in the orange) but she moved on to live with someone else as did all her siblings and cousins!

Mum remembers her sister having this book.

Cute little Nanccy Ann dolls - we have some of these.

Penny Brite also lives with us.

Star trek!  Cool.

One of Mum's first dolls was a Malibu Skipper and then along came Malibu Barbie - she still has both.

Buzz Lightyear also has a home here - he belongs to 'The Sailor'

This was a pretty incredible Dolls House of the modern variety.

The importance of personal play when caring for a child with special needs can never be under-estimated.  Also very important when dealing with chronic pain and other health issues.

There were so many details in this collection.

Lego!  Always a firm favourite

Planes, trains and automobiles.

Isn't she pretty?

A Buffalo Bills Helmet for the fan of the family.

Hello!

You are going to let me down aren't you?

There was a miniature supermarket where children could go in and do their shopping and ring up their bill which printed a receipt - what fun.

Shh...don't let Dad know I am standing on his camera case.

But I needed to stand on something to be able to see...

Wish I could play with these.

What are they doing way up there?!

Taking care of my little friend.

I can fly!  This time on a very colourful dragon.

Playing with bubbles

This was a lot of fun.

A 'behind the scenes' action shot.

I was too small to reach the bubble so needed a helping hand.

Lastly an 'Etch A Sketch' portrait of me.

I hope you enjoyed the trip around the Strong Museum of Play as much as I did.  There was so much more to see that we didn't get a chance to, but it was still a lot of fun and so very interesting.