Creative Discovery Museum is holding a different kind of beauty pageant… for piggy banks. For the last few weeks, the Museum has been encouraging children to decorate piggy banks. March 29 is the day kids will bring the banks in for a beauty contest.
"With concerns about the economy in the news, it's more important than ever to teach kids about the value of saving," said Jayne Griffin, Creative Discovery Museum director of education. "Children get a wonderful feeling from saving. As fun as it is to buy things, when children save, they get a feeling of security and accomplishment that they can't get from spending. Tennessee Saves Day and our Moneyville exhibit are great opportunities for parents to talk to children about money in a positive way."
The Piggy Bank Pageant is part of "Tennessee Saves Day at Creative Discovery Museum," sponsored by Tennessee Saves and the University of Tennessee Extension.
Everyone who brings in a decorated piggy bank will receive one free child's admission with one paying adult on March 29. Piggy banks can be dropped off for judging as soon as the Museum opens at 10 a.m. The deadline for entries is 1 p.m., and judging begins at 2 p.m. Winners will be chosen in three categories: pre-K through kindergarten, grades 1-3, and grades 4-6. Winners in each category will receive a $50 savings bond.
Other activities from 1-4 p.m. that day include games and information from Tennessee Saves and spinning a big Wheel of Fortune for prizes. The SuperSaver costumed character will be on hand to show kids how to save.
All the activities of the Moneyville exhibit will be available all day. Moneyville is an interactive temporary exhibit designed to help visitors of all ages discover how money is made, spent, earned, and saved, and how it connects people around the world. Moneyville continues at the Museum through May 4.
Creative Discovery Museum is open Monday through Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday: noon - 5 p.m. Tickets are $8.95 for children and adults. Creative Discovery Museum is located at 321 Chestnut St. For more information, call 756-2738.