Staying Power: Increasing Dwell Time in Your Museum
Interactive water table from the Splash gallery at Marbles Kids Museum.
If you’ve ever watched a kid sprint past a dozen museum exhibits without stopping, you know how real the challenge is—kids’ attention spans are short. We’re working with a tight window to capture their curiosity and spark meaningful exploration. As centers for learning, museums strive to build environments that are playful, creative, and discovery-driven. But how do we actually do that? We caught up with Chris Alexander, VP of Exhibit Design and Production at Marbles Kids Museum in North Carolina, to dive into one key ingredient: increasing dwell time.
What Is Dwell Time?
In museum speak, “dwell time” refers to how long a guest engages with a specific gallery or exhibit. Not all dwell time is created equal. “Bad” dwell time usually means something is broken, unclear, or frustrating—think guests staring blankly at an exhibit, unsure of what’s supposed to happen. It leads to disappointment and, worse, hesitation to engage with future exhibits.
On the flip side, “good” dwell time is what we’re all aiming for. It’s when guests are immersed—testing different outcomes, experimenting, and having fun. At Marbles Kids Museum, this is a core part of their exhibit philosophy. As Chris put it, “We try not to do a lot of: you go here, press a button, see something happen, and then it’s over.” Instead, they build exhibits that invite curiosity and repeat interactions. So how do they make that happen?
Play, Observe, Improve
One of Marbles’ keys to success is their commitment to constant assessment. Chris introduced us to LEAP—their Learning Environment Assessment Program—where staff members regularly evaluate exhibits for safety, playability, and dwell time. The staff spends time individually observing each gallery and assessing what seems to be working and what could be improved on. Finally, they all brainstorm together and make plans for adjusting or adding on to their exhibits.
Sometimes, a tiny tweak can totally transform the experience. In the Moneypalooza gallery, one of the big crowd-pleasers is a giant piggy bank that fills up with balls and eventually drops them all at once—a fun way to teach kids about saving, spending, and earning. But early on, the staff noticed a hiccup: kids were standing around confused, not sure when the big drop was going to happen. To fix it, the team added sensors, lights, and sound cues so guests could anticipate the moment. Just like that, a small frustration turned into a big “aha!” moment—boosting both fun and repeat play.
Loose Parts, Big Impact
Loose parts are everywhere at Marbles Kids Museum—and that’s very much by design. From building blocks and tubes to fabric, wheels, and wood scraps, guests are encouraged to move, combine, and reimagine the materials however they like. In some galleries, kids even get to use real tools to construct everything from birdhouses to wild contraptions dreamed up on the spot. It’s a hands-on, minds-on kind of play that invites creativity from the very first touch.
But loose parts are more than just a fun add-on—they’re a cornerstone of how learning happens. Unlike static, one-and-done exhibits, loose parts create open-ended experiences that say, “Keep going. What else can you try?” They help kids build confidence, independence, and resilience, all while collaborating, experimenting, and solving problems. That kind of play doesn’t just boost dwell time—it deepens engagement and gives kids a reason to come back and explore again in a whole new way.
Challenges Worth Tackling
Of course, it’s not all rainbows and PVC pipes. Loose parts come with challenges. They require ongoing investment—financial and otherwise. You’ve got to replace, clean, and manage them carefully. But Chris sees this as a worthwhile tradeoff: “We just think it just makes for a much more vibrant and immersive experience, but it is an investment.” he says, noting that the museum has a dedicated budget and staff just for managing props.
But don’t let that scare you off. You don’t need custom-crafted parts to get started. Simple items like milk crates or scrap materials can do wonders. In fact, Marbles partners with a local fabrication shop that donates offcuts and leftovers for their Imagifab gallery. Creativity and community partnerships go a long way toward making loose parts play affordable and sustainable.
Where to Get Started?
If you're wondering how to begin, Chris's advice is refreshingly straightforward: just start. “Don’t feel like you need to have a complete plan or do everything at once,” he says. At Marbles, they take things one step at a time—tweaking, testing, and building momentum along the way. That steady, flexible approach has allowed them to make meaningful improvements without getting overwhelmed. It’s a big reason why Marbles isn’t just a successful museum—it’s a thriving hub for hands-on learning and creativity in the community.
It’s easy to forget that the advice we give kids—take risks, experiment, use your imagination—applies to us too. Whether you’re a designer, educator, or exhibit fabricator, the path to a more engaging museum starts with curiosity and courage. So go ahead—test a new idea, tweak a tired exhibit, throw some loose parts into your next gallery. Because when we stay curious, our guests will too.
Let us know how you’re increasing dwell time in your space—what’s working, what’s surprising, and what’s keeping your guests engaged!