I take my children to museums on a regular basis. They are now 10 and 7 but I started taking my oldest when she was 2. We went to see the Magritte Exhibition at the SFMOMA and she had such a great time! While exiting the museum, she made me go there again because she wanted to see one more time the painting of the lady with the fish head! When I go to museums, I see a lot of bored children but it does not have to be that way. The parents mean well but they do not seem to know how to get their children to connect with the art.
First, here are 3 reasons why you should take your kids with you when you visit a museum.
Reason 1 It is a bonding experience. While visiting, take pictures (if allowed), share ideas. Then later, look at the pictures or books related to what you have seen and share ideas, comments, and impressions.
Reason 2 You share your knowledge. Personally, traveling or visiting is not only about discovering new things, it has become a way to educate my children, to share with them what I know about the places we go. I am passing my knowledge to them and I just love it.
Reason 3 You set an example. If you do not know something, you will find a way to get the answer: ask a docent, read a book, browse the internet…You show your child the value of education and you educate yourself at the same time. And if you did not see as much of the exhibition as you wanted, just go a second time alone. Take advantage of the museums free days to save money or get their memberships.
Here are 6 tips to make any visit to a museum or an attraction a nice experience.
Tip 1 PREPARATION is the key. Buy or borrow a book at the library, browse the internet on the subject of the visit, make them excited about it. My daughters did not want to see the Frida Kahlo exhibition in San Francisco but by reading and talking about Frida before going (and it did not take me more than 30 minutes), they understood there is a deeper meaning behind the gruesome scenes she painted.
Tip 2 Call in advance or ask the information desk the day of the visit for any games or activities for children related to the museum or exhibition. They sometimes have a treasure map or a coloring book.
Tip 3 Have your child excited about what you are going to do after the visit: an ice-cream, play at the park, whatever works for your family. If the child shows signs of boredom, remind him or her of what is coming next if he/she behaves. And do not do what was planned if the visit is a fiasco.
Tip 4 Ask questions to your child: they love to give their opinions and will more likely behave if they are shown attention. If they are young, ask them to look for an animal in the painting. Play I SPY in the museum rooms, they will go from one painting to another in order to find the object you mentioned. My favorites are the monochromatic paintings: my children stare at the white painting and deem it boring. I look at it and I see white rabbit drinking milk in the snow. Then, they start to see a lot of white things too. Children are told what to do almost all day long at school, at home, during their extra curricular activities, visiting a museum is about inspiration and magic: you are never right or wrong when you do or analyze art. It is important for them to realize it.
Tip 5 You do not have to admire or like every single piece in the museum. It is ok to skip some creations. And it is also fine to not like the museum or the exhibition, never criticize your child for not liking it.
Tip 6 Do not make the whole visit drag. And if you did not see how much of the exhibition as you wanted, just go a second time alone.
Tip 7 If you leave in the Bay Area or if you are planning to travel to Paris, London, or Rome, check out if I have prepared a guideline on that particular museum or exhibition. If not, you can always email me to check if I am planning on writing one.
Do not forget, you will have good and bad days at the museum, but by sticking to the tips, you will mostly have good days!
Keep me posted about your own visit to the museums or your own tips and tricks!
