博物館與兒童觀眾

Museums and Children

博物館內的展覽，尤其是較為強調安靜參觀的歷史、美術類博物館，常以成人為預設的觀眾，因此無論就展覽內容的鋪陳、陳列的方式，或採用的文字語言，皆不見得適合兒童。然而兒童，無論是學校或親子團體，已逐漸成為博物館參觀族群的大宗；兒童也是未來的主人翁，是博物館無法輕忽的潛在觀眾群。尤其在家庭休閒方式改變、學校教育益趨活潑多元發展、e世代兒童對於資訊／數位產品又有全新需求的情況下，如何讓博物館的環境、展覽與活動，更適合新世代兒童的特殊需求，已成為博物館需認真對待的問題。近年國內外博物館或者設計適合兒童全身、全心投入的互動式展覽，以激發興趣，並培養多元智能；或舉辦多元活潑的推廣教育活動，讓兒童觀眾不止駐足於陳列室中，也可以從運用多種感官的活動中，運用多元智能充分學習；也與學校密切合作，讓博物館的展覽內容跨越陳列室的侷限，進入學校教學課程的各種學科領域之中。而為了因應e化社會中越來越頻繁使用資訊、數位產品的新一代兒童的需求，博物館尚須在傳統的展覽與教育活動之外，另行設計資訊、數位產品，提供過往實體環境、設備之外的新服務與新活動，並且不忘以觀眾需求、以教育意義出發，與博物館實體藏品／展覽相輔相成，在虛擬產品與實體展品之間尋得巧妙的平衡。

Exhibitions in museums, especially in history and art museums, are often designed for adult audiences. Content, exhibition displays, and even the text used in the displays are often unsuitable for children's usage and comprehension. But the number of children who visit museums with school and family groups is quickly increasing. Children are also museum's potential audience. With the recent development of the family groups' increasing interest in visiting museums, school curricula becoming more inter-disciplinary in nature, and e-generation children's continuing demand of high-tech products, museums are facing more challenges than ever and should therefore take children's particular needs more seriously. Many museums have borrowed from educational and psychological theories to design interactive exhibitions which stimulate and develop children's minds. Museums have also designed diverse and interesting educational programs which utilize multiple senses and stimulate multiple intelligences. Museums have also worked closely with schools to design innovative teaching plans which incorporate the content of museum's collection into school curricula. Furthermore, in order to meet the needs of the e-generation children, museums should also design digital products and services. Museums should not forget to incorporate the educational needs of children and to carefully manage the balance between real and digitalized exhibits.