5 rules to create an empowering kid experience without gender-bias
And why Pip’s Island, the Escape The Room for kids, will be a huge hit.
Pip’s Island is a new interactive theatrical adventure in Times Square, geared toward kids ages 4–10 and their caregivers.
The magical doors officially opened this week, and I got a chance to experience it with my kid (4) during a preview.
Here are 5 reasons it was such a meaningful journey:
1. Gender neutral terms, content, and accessories
From the moment we were welcomed, my heart felt full and safe. They never used the words “girls” or “boys.” Here, we are all “Explorers” and “Explorer Assistants.”
I was amazed by the website itself, which conveys that idea of children being children, and how, as adults, we can be the best advocates for them by giving them power and tools to solve problems.
The decor in the Map Room, where the kids dressed up in their Explorers jacket and a connected watch was a very magical space with adventurers’ items made out of wood- my all-time favorite. I was already dreaming of journeys and discoveries.
The staff was very attentive and caring toward the kids: they asked Jo to spell her name so they could write it down on her Explorer’s jacket.
I was already on board: me, the parent, took a backseat while my child had the opportunity to be her own voice. She was treated as a full, thoughtful, complete, autonomous human being.
2. Meaningful content
The production team really put a lot of efforts into creating a story and performance that emphasizes collaboration and courage. No adultism (the power adults have over children) here!
The kids are definitely the heroes: the parents are asked to be Explorers’ assistants and sit on the sidelines.
This felt so perfectly aligned with my method of raising a capable and confident kid. They rarely address us, parents, and kept asking the kids for solutions, making fun of the parents doing nothing to help their kids.
A core strength of the show was the dance we learn and repeat every time we face a challenge, and the team work they encourage at each step of the story.
3. Representation
My first focus when I review books, toys, and shows for Jo, is to check if there is at least as many women/girls heroes as men/boys. When you count the secondary characters in Pip’s Island, you have a good ratio. Our explorer guide was a bubbly woman, and I loved her. She also sang in the end, and it made me want to spend all my Sundays with her and my kid.
The 2 main heroes are boys: Pip and Finn. I wish we would have a second girl hero to join Pip in his adventure. This would have felt more balanced in terms of gender-bias and representation for girls.
During my session, I was happy to see that a few actors were black. It is something to which we have to pay attention: children of color desperately need representation for their own growth and possible paths for their future careers- and to just fight racism by doing the right thing.
4. Emotions
It is very evident that the people behind this project production team are driven by empathy, compassion, and kindness. And it shows! The actors remembered the kids’ names, supported them, and even showed them how to be brave when they were scared (showing my kid how to clench her fingers in a fist to be brave and fight the villain). This is a trick I will use again when Jo tells me she is scared of something. I definitely left with a sense of having received power and courage.
This is aligned with the gender inclusion I witnessed in the whole production. I was happily trusting these adults with my kid for 1h where they played, danced, and sang with her. And sometimes with me too: the bubble dance party in the purple boudoir was filled with such care, joy, and love from all the parents, kids, and performers.
My favorite part was the flying boat with Pebble, who turned all of us into crew members, and we had to turn machine cranks to go through the sky while singing a beautiful song.
It felt like being IN a Broadway show.
5. Takeaways & souvenirs
At the time of our visit, the merchandise was not all out yet, but I can already imagine how sensational it will be. Jo got a big Flambow plush that she adopted instantly and carried everywhere for the rest of the day, and even slept with.
Books and materials for parents and kids to re-emphasize lessons learned at home would be a valuable tool. We could do the Island dance again at home!
On my part, I cannot wait for the shop to open so I can put my hands on the astonishing array of merit-badge-like pins and embroidery patches I saw on the staff’s outfits!
Conclusion:
Overall, this was a fantastic experience because they encourage kids to collaborate and achieve difficult things together. It feels great to finally see shows and exhibits that really put some thoughts about the kid’s growth and emotions. One kid was about 8–9 years old, and I can see how that age is perfect for the journey. My kid is 4, and she got scared a couple times with the storyline, and the villain. However, the way the guide worked through it with her in a few seconds by showing her how to be brave definitely made a big difference: Josephine was super excited at the end and wanted to do it again. This is definitely my number one barometer 🙂
Tickets are available now (you can use the Discount Code: Pip10 to get 10% off), and a special grand opening is scheduled for April 11th, 2019, when the space and retail shop will be fully stocked.
