Creativity Talks
The Bay Area Discovery Museum and its Center for Childhood Creativity present Creativity Talks, a series of evening lectures for parents, grandparents and educators on important early childhood topics. All events feature local thought leaders and are held at the Museum.
Upcoming Events
The Raising of America: Screening and Panel Discussion
Thursday, November 5
6 - 7:45 p.m.
Discovery Theater
This adults-only event will feature a screening of “The Raising of America,” a PBS documentary series that explores how a strong start for kids can lead to a healthier, safer, better educated and more prosperous and equitable America. A panel of experts from First 5 San Francisco, Marin Kids/Marin Strong Start and Too Small to Fail will share best practices and visions for the future of early education in California and beyond.
Recent Events
Dr. Fumiko Hoeft: The Neuroscience of Learning Differences
February 26, 2015
Dr. Fumiko Hoeft, UCSF associate professor and director of BrainLENS (Laboratory of Educational NeuroScience), discussed the latest advances in the neuroscience of learning and learning differences. She explained how learning and socio-emotional skills are tightly integrated, but often the latter has been ignored in children with learning differences and children in special education. In particular, she discussed the importance of self concept and stereotype threat and strategies that we can use to help these children succeed. Click here to see Dr. Hoeft's presentation slides and additional resources.
Linda Burch, Zero to Eight: Learning and Media Use in Early Childhood
November 6, 2014
Linda Burch, co-founder and chief education and strategy officer of Common Sense Media, shared the latest research on how to raise children ages 0 – 8 in our 24/7 digital world. Participants received simple tips to turn screen time into learning time for young children. Click here to read Linda's research.
Alison Gopnik, The Philosophical Baby: What children’s minds tell us about truth, love and the meaning of life
March 13, 2014
In the last thirty years there’s been a revolution in our scientific understanding of babies and young children, a revolution that’s also transformed our understanding of human nature itself. In this talk, Alison Gopnik, Ph.D. outlined some of the new discoveries and their implications for the way we think about young children and ourselves. She showed that childhood – our long period of helplessness – is responsible for our uniquely human consciousness and our ability to learn, imagine and love.
Dr. Stuart Brown, Play Matters! It Really, Really Does
November 7, 2013
World-renowned psychologist, Stuart Brown Ph.D. and M.D., made a rare public appearance at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. The founder of the National Institute for Play and considered the grandfather of play, Dr. Brown shared his life-long research and advocacy work on the important role of play in human development; from shaping and growing young brains to staying vital through more mature life stages.