Experience the Magic
Our Story
At the heart of our museum is a collection of cherished toys that have brought joy to generations of kids, making it a nostalgic and educational journey for all.
The American Kids Toy Museum was founded by a group of passionate toy enthusiasts and educators with a mission to create a space where childhood memories come to life and show our common culture.
Having delighted families, toy lovers, and history buffs alike, our museum has served as a beacon of playtime nostalgia and educational fun.
The American Kids Toy Museum is a California based educational organization that focuses on bringing a mobile toy museum to local elementary schools for educational purposes. The purpose of these at school events is to inspire the next generation of innovative thinkers and show teachers and children how toys carry important human values through history. Imagination and play are a critical part of diverse cultural successes and we are devoted to preserving and celebrating American kids’ toys and their history as a record of our connections.
Our Mobile Museum educational program teaches elementary aged kids about how collecting toys fosters a feeling of “belonging” and that humans collect things that become “our belongings” and help us connect because we like the same things.
Our curriculum is based on SEL Standards. Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which people learn to manage their emotions, interact with others, and achieve goals. All 50 States support SEL Standards, but we specifically focus on the California SEL Standards and curriculum.
California’s Social and Emotional Learning Guiding Principles are:
1. Adopt Whole Child Development as the Goal of Education: SEL is a “must have” to ensure student success in school, work, and community.
2. Commit to Equity: All students must have opportunities to build SEL skills and receive an assets-based educational experience that is personalized, culturally relevant and responsive, and intentionally addresses racism and implicit bias.
3. Build Capacity: Build the capacity of both students and adults through an intentional focus on relationship-centered learning environments and by offering research-based learning experiences that cultivate core social and emotional competencies.
4. Partner with Families and Community: Maximize the resources of the entire school community, including expanded learning opportunities, early learning and care programs, and family and community partnerships, to advance SEL and student well-being.
5. Learn and Improve: Adopt continuous improvement practices and use evidence to guide decision-making while aiming to enhance the quality of student social and emotional learning opportunities.
We have adopted these guiding principals in our educational programs.
Our Core Values
Guided by principles that shape our passion for preserving the magic of American kids’ toys.
Heritage
Honoring the legacy of classic American kids’ toys and their enduring impact on childhood memories.
Innovation
Embracing creativity and innovation to inspire future generations to become successful adults.
Community
Fostering a welcoming and inclusive space where families and individuals can bond over the joy of play and nostalgia.
Contribute to our Mobile Museum Program
Help us bring our growing collection to more schools and learning spaces. Please contribute to our “Mobile Museum” education program so that more kids can see this collection with their own eyes and learn about how these toys reflect our common culture and human values.