Author
Boss Display
Date
O7/25/2025
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Staying Power
Increasing Dwell Time in Your 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 Exhibits at Marbles Kids Museum in North Carolina, to dive into several keys to increasing dwell time.
“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”