A young boy wears safety goggles and hammers a nail into a piece of wood in Chicago Children’s Museum’s Tinkering Lab.

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve been discussing why children should set their own goals, as well as the power of independent play—how both practices can build patience, confidence, and resiliency in your littles.

We see it in our space every day and can’t wait to share these moments with you again once the museum reopens: Little ones setting their own goals, practicing perseverance, leaning into their motivations, and doing so totally independently.

It’s amazing.

Here are some resources we’ve put together so you can bring that experience into your homes. So put on some motivating tunes with this incredible piano playlist from Ethiopian nun Emahoy Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou and let your littles get to work!

To Do: Chicago Children’s Museum at Home Activities & Resources

Encourage your littles to make their own goals with our Domino Run activity—it's the perfect way to encourage perseverance!

Watch Chicago Children’s Museum Lead Arts Educator Liz Rosenberg explain how independent Play promotes patience and resiliency.

Check out long-time Chicago Children’s Museum partner Family Focus. With comprehensive, community-based support services that build upon families' inherent strengths, Family Focus works to ensure that all children have the best possible start in life and that communities participate in caring for their children.

To Explore: CCM Friends & Family Content

Create a community-made cardboard run! Caregivers can take inspiration and make it a goal to create their own. It would make a great family activity!

At Chicago Children’s Museum, we love having children’s books that illustrate in a child friendly way the skills we try to cultivate and nurture through play. Check out these 12 children’s books that teach perseverance.