Children from Thomas Coram Nursery made lanterns as part of a project exploring children’s experiences at the Foundling Hospital.

Exploring the foundling children’s feelings of loneliness and the lack of comfort they received at bedtime, children from Thomas Coram Nursery decorated lanterns with drawings of people who say goodnight to them. These were displayed in the Committee Room, complemented by a sound installation made up of recordings of children from the nursery talking about their bedtime routines.

Since 2014 the Museum has been working with the Nursery, holding fortnightly workshops for the children and their parents/carers. The programme is designed to introduce local families to the Museum, many of whom have little or no experience of visiting museums. The workshops support all aspects of the children’s cognitive and physical development and emotional wellbeing, while also giving parents new creative-play skills and introducing the Museum as a local resource.

Supported by The Eranda Rothschild Foundation.