Many parents might feel intimidated by the thought of taking a child into a museum, after all it is a place filled with millions of dollars worth of expensive, fragile works. But I say fear not parents! With a few guidelines you can make a visit to the museum a reality...
Let’s go!
Pick a museum that isn’t too far. I can’t think of any kid I know who likes driving long distances in the car only to get out and walk around a place where they aren’t supposed to run, touch or yell. Keep it within the limits of fun and try to find a museum near your house or vacation spot. Even if the museum isn’t large, the experience is still worth it.
The RULES!!!
Friends of mine has three daughters all under the age of 10 and they take them EVERYWHERE. When they get to a museum the first thing she tells them is “museum hands girls!” which means, we walk with our hands behind our backs to avoid the temptation of touching any of the art. While they don’t keep their hands behind their backs the entire time, the girls seem to understand the importance of looking, but not touching, to keep the art safe.
It’s always a good idea to go over the rules with your kids before you enter. Simple reminders like “we walk, we keep our hands to ourselves and use our eyes to see the art, and we can talk, but we don’t yell” are often enough to get you started. Don’t feel like you need to inundate them with rules and don’t worry if they aren’t perfect about remembering them all. I guarantee you they aren’t the first kids to enter a museum.
Begin Your Tour
Almost every museum I’ve ever been to has something for children. Whether it’s a map, an activity book or a special area just for them, there’s almost always something. Take advantage of this. Ask the person at the information desk or ticket booth for materials and start your journey!
In the rare chance that they don’t have ANYTHING for kids, ask if it’s ok to take pictures. If it is, I like to give my son our camera or phone and ask him to take pictures of his favorite pieces. Then afterwards we check them out at home and talk about why chose the ones he chose.
Another idea is to bring a small drawing notebook and pencil. Let your child sit and sketch in the gallery. They could try and recreate the a piece they are looking at, or make a spontaneous piece of their own.
Remember - go at your child's pace. This means you might not get to see everything, but you'll enjoy your visit so much more if you aren't trying to force your child to sit and stare at one piece for too long.
*HELPFUL HINT - If you go with another adult, you can take turns on kid duty. That way you each get time to meander through the galleries at your own pace and enjoy the art on your own time.
Take a Break!
You’ve been walking around the museum for about an hour now, are you hungry yet? Tired? Need to sit down? Chances are the answer is most likely “yes.” Make sure to take a break and often. Visiting a museum means lots of walking, lots of stimulation and for a child who has to follow so many rules, lots of self control! You could grab a bite to eat - most museums now have really yummy cafes, go hang out in the kid’s area - after a day of looking, but not touching, being free to draw, paint, explore and create is just what they’re little body needs, explore outside or on the rooftop - sometimes museums have sculpture gardens, or rooftop exhibits like this one at the MET featuring Jeff Koons’ playful, metal balloon animals.
Hit the Gift Shop
I know many parents dread the gift shop. It’s a trap! I know. But I always make a point to give my son a dollar or two when we visit a museum and encourage him to buy a magnet or a post card. The rule is, you have to get something related to our trip, not some cheap knick knack you could get anywhere else. Taking home one of these items is a good way to remember your visit and the works you saw. Your child can pick out their favorite piece and it can hang on your fridge reminding them of their visit. Plus, I don’t know about you, but I will never have enough money to own fine art, but I think this is a good second runner up.
