Welcome to the world of the OliOli® Children’s Museum, where curiosity meets creativity and every corner is bursting with wonder! Its hands-on approach encourages children to touch, play, and explore, fostering a love for learning that lasts a lifetime. To find out more about this journey of discovery, Education UAE spoke to Asha Ramchandani, CoFounder of the OliOli® Children’s Museum.
Education UAE: What inspired the creation of this children’s museum, and what is its mission?
Asha Ramchandani: As young parents ourselves, we saw our children stuck between screens/gadgets on the one hand and antiquated playgrounds on the other. We felt a lack of spaces that provided families with an opportunity to bond together through play and connect, which encouraged handson non-judgmental play that gave kids engaging, creative, and enriching alternatives to ‘passive play’. So, we started OliOli® (which means joy in the Hawaiian language) to bring the joy of curiosity, imagination, and discovery (through play) to families. Our vision was to create a venue that resonated with the community whom we seek to serve, including children, parents, educators, etc and add value to their lives through our efforts.
Education UAE: Can you tell me about the different exhibits and interactive displays designed to engage children’s curiosity and learning?
Asha Ramchandani: OliOli® has six permanent galleries comprising over 40 interactive and hands-on exhibits. These spaces have been curated to achieve the developmental and pedagogical objectives of the museum. The Air Gallery for example has 10 exhibits that allow kids to play with, experiment, and learn about a variety of scientific phenomena. Toshi’s Nets is another popular gallery that seeks to encourage kids to undertake risky play and learn about the consequences of their decisions in a low-stakes environment. Cars & Ramps is focused on giving kids the chance to persevere through failure – but without losing the joy in the process! Future Park is a seminal gallery – which allows children to experience art in a collaborative and highly interactive manner.
Education UAE: How do you ensure that the exhibits cater to a wide range of age groups?
Asha Ramchandani: OliOli® caters to kids aged 1-11 years old and each gallery has different exhibits that cater to the needs of the different age groups. The OliOli® experience is an open-ended exploration of different activities and exhibits, and kids of different ages and backgrounds can engage with these exhibits at their own level. In addition, we have a dedicated space for our little guests aged 0-23 months.
Education UAE: What educational philosophies or principles guide the design of the museum’s activities and displays?
Asha Ramchandani: We were inspired by a number of different institutions, individuals and learning philosophies. Our research phase included evaluating 60 informal learning environments, including science centres and museums around the world. We spoke with developmental psychologists to improve the learning outcomes of our choices. Most of all, we were deeply inspired by research on the impact of play on development and the works of Dr Stuart Brown, and the constructivist learning philosophy.
Education UAE: How do you incorporate feedback from parents, educators, and visitors to improve and evolve the museum experience?
Asha Ramchandani: At OliOli® our hands-on guest engagement team is always around to take any feedback from our guests and assure them of a joyful OliOli® experience. We also have a constant schedule of etiquette training for our whole team to enhance our visitor experience. On top of that, guest reviews across different platforms like Google and TripAdvisor are constantly monitored to gauge and improve our visitor experience.
Education UAE: How do you incorporate feedback from parents, educators, and visitors to improve and evolve the museum experience?
Asha Ramchandani: At OliOli® our hands-on guest engagement team is always around to take any feedback from our guests and assure them of a joyful OliOli® experience. We also have a constant schedule of etiquette training for our whole team to enhance our visitor experience. On top of that, guest reviews across different platforms like Google and TripAdvisor are constantly monitored to gauge and improve our visitor experience.
Education UAE: Can you share any upcoming special events, workshops, or programmes that enhance the educational aspect of the museum?
Asha Ramchandani: Throughout the year, we have a robust events calendar curated by our in-house creative team in collaboration with external institutions like Brand Dubai, Lego, and the Museum of The Moon to name a few. Through these activations, we aim to bring joyful new experiences to our repeat visitors. We also have our camps during the school holidays and special events to celebrate holidays and other festivities like Eid, Diwali, Halloween, and during winter holidays.
Education UAE: How does the museum promote inclusivity and accommodate children with different abilities or special needs?
Asha Ramchandani: OliOli® has been created to welcome children of all abilities. On top of all our galleries being wheelchair accessible, some of them like Future Park and Water Gallery were designed to provide a safe sensory environment for our visitors on the spectrum. A lot of our team members are certified to accommodate the needs of our neurodiverse guests.
Education UAE: What safety measures and protocols are in place to ensure a secure and enjoyable environment for children and their families?
Asha Ramchandani: Our whole space is designed with keeping our littlest guests’ safety in mind along with following the guidelines required by DM. And apart from having a fulltime paramedic on site, most of our team is trained in First Aid and CPR protocols. Most reviews and feedback by our guests mentioning that OliOli® feels a safe space for their little ones is a testament to our efforts to provide a safe, joyful and stress-free environment for families.
Education UAE: How has technology been integrated into the museum’s exhibits, and what role does it play in enhancing the learning experience? A
Asha Ramchandani: Technology in OliOli® has been integrated thoughtfully to enhance our vision of hands-on nonjudgemental play without making the experience passive. Our Future Park Gallery, established in partnership with Tokyo-based teamLab, is a perfect example of the culmination of art and science. In this gallery, technology has been used to create immersive exhibits to promote creativity and innate curiosity of our young guests and adults alike.
Education UAE: How can parents and caregivers get involved in supporting the museum’s mission or contribute to its continued success?
Asha Ramchandani: At OliOli®, adults are welcomed and encouraged to be a part of the experience. We started OliOli® to allow families to bond together through play as a result most of our activities are age-agnostic and will be enjoyed by a playful parent as much as the child. We also have plans to start community programmes and talks for parents to overall enhance the holistic upbringing of their little ones.
Education UAE: How might the museum facilitate field trips or guided tours specifically designed to enhance students’ understanding of topics covered in their school curriculum?
Asha Ramchandani: We’re all about transforming education into an extraordinary journey. When schools from all corners of the UAE visit us for field trips, they step into a world where learning is anything but ordinary. Our team are ready to lead students on a hands-on exploration of topics like forces and motion, and states of matter. Picture students launching rockets and diving into interactive exhibits to uncover the secrets of science – it’s not just learning; it’s an immersive experience that sparks curiosity and leaves a lasting impression.
The great part is that schools can customise their field trips to suit their curriculum, weaving in our shows and workshops for an adventure that amplifies their lesson plans and brings textbook concepts to life in the most captivating way possible.