ABSTRACT
The Humber Museum Partnership is a consortium between Hull Museums, East Riding of Yorkshire Museums and North Lincolnshire Museum Service, funded as a Major Partner Museum through the Arts Council from 2015 to 2018. By describing close and careful observation of what happened between children and some of these objects during the visit, this chapter explores the possible roles objects in museums can play for young children. Frequently during the visits, certain objects had an impact on how children responded which was different to the intended purpose. The archaeological dig in S. Dudley’s Den had real and replica objects covered with wood chippings which could be “unearthed” using trowels and brushes. Despite spending quite a lot of time in the under-fives space, the children also enjoyed exploring the rest of the museum on each visit. The way the children engaged with particular objects was the most surprising part of the project.
