Press

The New York Times

You’re never too young to have a political opinion.

Just ask the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, which recently initiated an unscientific study of the subject. In weekend workshops that began last Saturday, the museum has invited visitors to honor the presidential inauguration by writing to Barack Obama. The theme? Their hopes and concerns for the new administration.

”We designed it for kids 6 and above, but we don’t have an age limit,” said Andrew S. Ackerman, the museum’s executive director. Some small citizens have contributed drawings or messages transcribed by Mom. One 4-year-old exhibited youthful altruism: ”I want chocolate for all the kids in the world.”

The project, ”Dear Mr. President: NYC Children Write Letters About Their Future,” is more than an exercise in civics. Some messages will be put in a document and sent to Mr. Obama. ”One of our educators, Jamie Kim, came up with the idea of a mural in the shape of an American flag,” Mr. Ackerman said. The staff has attached selected letters to the flag, above, and there are so many — more than 500 as of press time — that the museum is starting a second mural. (Until the end of the month, children can also e-mail their messages to [email protected].) In addition to exhibiting the mural in the museum and on its Web site, ”we’re trying to find a way to send it down to Washington for one of the inaugural parties,” Mr. Ackerman said.

Mr. Obama may want to take heed. One girl who described herself as ”a United States citizen” asked him to help all longstanding immigrant residents without green cards. Another worried about the environment: ”Help save the polar bears and the plants.” And Mr. Ackerman was struck by how many children referred to the poor economy, with requests for jobs for their parents and the plea ”Please get us out of this depression.”

One girl offered indisputably sage advice. ”Mr. President,” she wrote, ”take it one step at a time.” (Saturday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, 212-721-1223, cmom.org. Free with admission: $10; $7 for 65+; free for members.)

By LAUREL GRAEBER