Heart of Louisiana: Knock Knock Children's Museum

BATON ROUGE, LA (WVUE) - These young, first-time puppeteers have only one hour to learn how to handle their new colorful new friends. To teach them how to talk, to sing and move in rhythm with the song.

"Each syllable gets its own movement, ok?" says Clay Achee to the group. "Each time you say a word with your mouth you want the puppet to speak as well."

Then step in front of a green screen and camera to record their first music video.

"Make him look more towards the camera, Gracie," says Achee to a student.

"I think that the way that children interact with their imaginations and bring things to life make puppets come alive and real for them," says Achee.

Aside from running his own puppet business called "Beyond the Garage", artist Clay Achee is sharing his puppet passion with youngsters at a new Baton Rouge children's museum.

"So, I brought the band and the kids can jam on with the puppets or musical instruments."

And before the hour is up, everyone takes a turn in front of the camera.

"Make his head, make his head bob."

Playing an instrument and singing and dancing with their puppets, and it's all stitched together into a music video.

Achee is one of the "Creatives in Residence" at Knock Knock, an expansive children's museum with plenty of hands-on to explore the arts, where creativity has no limit.

"Well the goal is to really spark children's learning through play," says Peter Olson, Director of Knock Knock. So, we build these really fanciful learning environments."

Young children get a chance to so grown up things. They change tires, do the shopping and serve plates in a diner. Kids handle the building blocks of construction and see how bridges are made.

This is the kind of museum where the children take the lead. They set the pace. As a parent, you step back and watch the fun and learning unfold in front of your eyes.

And there is plenty to explore, including a 45-foot high tower of books that's perfect for climbing.

"This place is made for them," says Olson. "It's one of those few places where they get to direct what's going on."

It's the kind of museum that could make you wish that you were young again.

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