Now as I’m sitting here writing this my husband said I have no right to write this. But I’m going to anyways because I’m not the only mom who felt this way. (he said that the article he read clearly stated that it was not about the Muppets.)
Today our MOMS Club activity was to go visit the EMP – Experience Music Project and see the Muppets. Well, that’s what we thought it was. It was more of a tribute to Jim Henson and his work, but it was advertised with all the cute Muppets and with all of us moms we just got Muppet crazy. We packed up our kids and headed to Seattle.
No strollers allowed and no bags over 16 inches, so this was my first clue that it’s not meant for kids. However, the red flags were not big enough for me to back out. I mean there were five moms and seven kids in tow and we promised them the Muppets. Next thing I’m noticing is that the Muppet exhibit is down a flight of steep stairs, now why would you put a children’s exhibit down a flight of stairs. Ok, I carry both of my children down the stairs and finally we see Kermit the frog sitting underneath a glass display.
I was very proud of my daughter for being able to say Kermit the Frog, and for the fact she noticed Fragile Rock. We have the entire Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series Collection
The only thing that was child friendly was a puppet theater where you could go behind the stage and be the puppets playing in a band and your friends could watch.
EMP|SFM will supplement the exhibition with a hands-on puppet theater starring Seattle’s newest band, Mudgarden Experience. The theater will allow visitors to experience what it’s like to perform puppets for an audience and view themselves on monitors—much like how it might have been for Jim Henson while he was filming “Sesame Street” or “The Muppet Show." The audience will be able to watch the puppet show from an area reminiscent of the famous stoop on “Sesame Street.”
Taken from www.empsfm.org.
It was quite a day, everyone was exhausted after carting children up and down the steps. I’m sure this is perfect for older children. I would say middle school and up. We did look at the rest of the EMP and the science fiction hall of fame is my favorite part. I love science fiction, but my daughter was afraid because the floor vibrated like we were actually on a space ship. So if you are reading this post…..More Muppets PLEASE.
That’s too bad! I hate when events are not correctly advertised. Hopefully they, at least, had fun with the muppet theater. Fraggle Rock? Wow! I remember watching that when I was younger. Had forgotten all about it.
Writer and readers,
I felt the same way! My 2.5 year old son SCREAMED and CRIED through the exhibit although he talked about it non-stop from when he awoke in the morning until we got there … then disaster! I felt this was quit unfortunate as I had suggested it to my mom friends to go. The other children (relatively the same age as mine, 1-3 years old) didn’t seem to mind the exhibit, but were not excited by it. I was stretch to the lengths of Jim Henson himself would not have liked the exhibit because of his love to entertain people, especially children. For nostalgia purposes the exhibit was only okay, but it wasn’t much more than that! I think I was most disappointment as the EMP had advertised with Seattle’s local parent magazine, Parent Map [http://www.parentmap.com]; their magazine and site are geared toward all parents, but I say their main audience is parents with children not currently of school age. This advertising is a fraud! I hope others do read this and consider going for themselves, but not their children. I recommend this also because the fee is $15 per person over 4 years. Don’t throw away your money!
Since I am discussing the EMP anyways, they did the exact same thing with a Beatles exhibit about 3 years ago. I am a big Beatles fan, but was very sad when I got in and out of the exhibit in about 2 seconds. I have more Beatles paraphernalia than the exhibit. How disappointing!!!
Anyways, first time shame on EMP, second time shame on me, I am pretty sure I have learned my lesson and there won’t be a third time!
P.S. – I have used and reference this review on my Facebook page notes. I am also going to write the EMP and let them know how I feel. Please help me and maybe things will get better … then their kids exhibit will be for the kids!
UGH! That sucks. I don’t think I would have made it up and down the stairs by myself with my brood. I hope your next outing goes better!
Sad! You would think if it was supposed to be all about Jim Henson, it would be more child-friendly.