Sleep Wellness Education: A Museum-University joint forces project

Most educational interventions available primarily target parents and caregivers. Early childhood represents a crucial period of rapid cognitive development, during which play activities enhance brain structure and function, thereby promoting executive functions. Through a collaborative effort among museum staff, sleep researchers, and medical professionals specializing in neurodevelopment, we aimed to design educational experiences that detail the process of creating a role-playing game and to evaluate whether visitors could assimilate the intended messages without formal intervention. In a retrospective study, surveys with open-ended questions (400 visitors, of whom 60% were children) were evaluated, and timed, tracked behavioral observations were conducted for 50 visitors. The results indicated that visitors successfully received and articulated the messages we aimed to convey. The most frequently mentioned answers emphasized that good sleep is essential (22%) and beneficial for health (21%). Furthermore, our exhibition engaged 97% of visitors with sustained attention, suggesting that the experience design effectively captured their interest. This study underscores the significance of sleep education through play and demonstrates that intentionally designed, evidence-based spaces can effectively reach a broad audience, fostering a clear understanding of the importance of sleep in overall health.