The newly transformed Moody Family Children’s Museum at the Perot Museum is bolder, more intuitive, and fundamentally reshaped by how children actually learn. After nearly three years of research, design, and construction, the museum reopens with a mission that extends far beyond square footage: to create a dynamic, child-centered space where open-ended play, sensory exploration, and early STEM engagement converge. At its helm is Dr. Linda Silver, the Perot Museum’s CEO, whose commitment to early learning and community-driven design has redefined what a science museum can offer its youngest visitors. In this Q&A, we dive into the ideas, partnerships, and philosophies that shaped the renovation and what it means for the future of early childhood education in North Texas.
PATRON: The revitalization of the Moody Family Children’s Museum marks a significant milestone for the Perot Museum. From your perspective, what larger institutional vision does this transformation embody?
Dr. Linda Silver: This transformation represents our unwavering commitment to inspiring minds through nature and science, particularly for our youngest visitors. This nearly three-year renovation project embodies our institutional vision of being more than just a destination, but rather a cornerstone of educational opportunity that serves as a vital community resource and a critical partner to the formal learning environments of our local schools.
The expansion from 6,000 to 11,000 square feet isn’t just about physical space; it’s about expanding our capacity to reach and impact the next generation of scientists, innovators, and curious minds.
P: You’ve described play, experience, and exploration as fundamental to how children learn. How did this understanding inform the design philosophy behind the new Children’s Museum?
LS: Guided by the most recent studies in child development, we wanted to move beyond more traditional, prescriptive play environments to ones that embrace the messy, unpredictable nature of children. That means putting the focus on innovative play activities that better nurture imagination, that don’t necessarily have a right or wrong way to engage with them, and where every learner can discover the wonders of STEM at their own pace and in their own way through play, experience, and exploration.
To help execute on this vision we partnered with internationally renowned design firm NorthernLight out of the Netherlands because they understand that authentic learning happens when children are given agency over their experience. Whether it’s the Creative Makery where children can design and problem-solve through engineering-focused play, or the thoughtfully expanded toddler area, every element is designed to honor how children naturally learn through child-directed, open-ended experiential learning.
P: With the Children’s Museum nearly doubling in size, how do you envision this expanded footprint reshaping the role the Perot Museum plays in early childhood education within the Dallas community and beyond?
LS: This expansion positions the Perot Museum as the premier destination for early childhood STEM education in North Texas. Since opening in 2012, the Perot Museum has reached more than 13 million people, but this transformation allows us to deepen our impact specifically for children up to age seven. We like to say that you can “grow with the Perot,” and the new Children’s Museum is where those seeds are planted and nurtured.
With the expanded footprint, we can now accommodate more families, school groups, and community partnerships, strengthening our role as a bridge between formal and informal education. Beyond Dallas, we hope this new space will serve as a model for other cities and science museums as they, too, look to build and strengthen those critical bonds within their communities.
P: The new Imaginarium exhibit represents a bold step into immersive, interactive learning. How do you see technology enhancing—not replacing—tactile and social experiences for young children in museum environments?
LS: The Imaginarium perfectly embodies our philosophy that technology should amplify, not replace, the fundamental ways children learn. Made possible through our partnership with Children’s Health, this exhibit is a multi-layered experience featuring responsive screens that react to children’s movements and decisions, but the technology serves the child, not the other way around.
Children aren’t passively consuming digital content in The Imaginarium; they’re actively creating and collaborating while exploring cause-and-effect relationships, pattern recognition, and social interaction.
P: This redesign was guided not only by museum professionals and educators, but also by children themselves. Can you share any specific examples of how children’s input influenced the final design or features?
LS: Involving children in the research and design was non-negotiable for us. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that the best educational experiences happen when we listen to our audience. Children surprise us all the time in ways adults can’t easily predict, and that was certainly the case as we moved through the design process.
Children’s feedback shaped the physical flow and scale of the space. We observed how they naturally moved through prototype spaces, where they lingered, and where they felt empowered. This led us to create more intimate zones and ensure everything was accessible at their eye level.
They wanted spaces where they could fail, rebuild, and iterate, not predetermined activities with “correct” outcomes. We listened.
P: The Perot Museum has long served as a bridge between STEM education and public engagement. How does the reimagined Children’s Museum deepen this mission for your youngest visitors?
LS: This transformation represents our most significant investment in early STEM pipeline development.
The beauty of this space is that it makes STEM more engaging and approachable without feeling like traditional classroom instruction. When children explore cause-and-effect relationships in the Imaginarium, they’re developing scientific thinking. When they’re building in the Creative Makery, they’re engaging in engineering design processes. The Children’s Museum creates a seamless continuum of STEM engagement from the earliest ages. The classroom is an essential part of how students learn, but it’s environments like the Children’s Museum where STEM concepts come to life and inspire meaningful connections that propel learning forward.
P: Partnerships were central to this project, from design to healthcare. How do collaborations with organizations like Children’s Health and firms like NorthernLight expand the museum’s capacity to innovate?
LS: Strategic partnerships have been central to every successful initiative for the Perot. This project exemplifies how thoughtful collaborations can amplify impact. Our partnership with Children’s Health brings together two institutions with complementary expertise in child development. Their investment reflects a shared understanding that inspiring curiosity and fostering learning are fundamental to child wellbeing.
Working with NorthernLight, as well as their renowned fabrication partner BRUNS, brought world-class design expertise, while Kiss the Frog helped us create digital experiences that enhance rather than dominate the learning environment. These partnerships expand our capacity to innovate and model the collaborative approach we want children to experience and emulate.
P: You mentioned that this space is designed to foster child-directed, open-ended learning. In an increasingly structured world, why is it important to preserve unstructured, imaginative play in public educational spaces?
LS: Children need spaces where they can follow their curiosity, make mistakes, and discover connections that adults might never anticipate.
The research is clear: unstructured, imaginative play develops executive function, creative problem-solving, and social-emotional skills essential for success. As public institutions, museums have a responsibility to create, nurture and preserve these experiences. We’re cultivating the innovative thinking our community needs while providing access to crucial developmental experiences by including this in our general admission.
P: The outdoor area and installations like Toshiko MacAdam’s playscape show a strong commitment to sensory and physical engagement. How does this reflect broader research on the role of movement and environment in early childhood development? Do you plan to integrate art or craft activities designed around the installation?
LS: The integration of physical movement and sensory engagement reflects decades of research showing how critical embodied learning is for young children. Movement isn’t separate from cognitive development, it’s fundamental to it. When children climb, balance, and explore through their bodies, they’re developing spatial reasoning, risk assessment, and physical confidence.
Toshiko MacAdam’s fiber-art playscape combines artistic beauty with functional design. Children aren’t just looking at art – they’re inhabiting and exploring it!
P: Are there future phases or programming initiatives that will continue to build on the momentum of this reopening?
LS: This reopening is absolutely a foundation for continued growth and innovation. The new space gives us the flexibility to be more nimble and creative with our programming, and we’re excited to deliver on our mission in new and exciting ways as we move forward.