Many parents are a bit skeptical of the idea of taking toddlers, preschoolers, or young school-age children to an art museum. Why would anyone take young kids there?
Lots of reasons! Exposing children to art early can instill a love that grows into adulthood. Kids' perspectives on art are fun to hear! Some things are funny and some are really surprising.
You don't have to wait for Night at the Museums to visit some of our local art museums for free:
- Denver Art Museum offers free admission year-round to all children ages 18 and under and free admission for everyone on the first Saturday of each month.
- Museum of Outdoor Arts has an indoor gallery that is free for everyone, and a free shuttle bus will take you on tour to view some of the outdoor artwork on display in Englewood.
- MCA Denver is free for children under 18 and under every day, and there is a special teen drop-in program every Friday from 5:00-7:00 PM.
Going to an art museum is no different than going to a swimming pool for the afternoon — you simply need to be prepared. Here are a few tips to get you ready.
1.) The Basics.
No touching, no running, no yelling. Talk about these before going to the museum.
The "no touching" rule can be hard for little hands. If it is too difficult for them not to touch the art, keep your child in a stroller or hold his hand. A great rule of thumb even for the smallest kids is to "keep your shadow on the ground and off the wall." If their shadow is on the wall, then they are too close to the art.
2.) Do Your Research.
Find out what is at the museum before you visit. Is it a small museum or is it contained in an entire city block? Are there tours offered for children or families? Are there certain sculptures that can be touched? Is there a cafe? What are the current exhibits?
3.) Set a Time Limit.
The first time you visit an art museum, you may want to set it at one hour. Figure out what you would like to see and go to that wing or exhibit. If after one hour they are still having fun, ask them if they'd like to continue.
Most adults can't spend an entire day at a museum and very few children could. Have fun then head out or they'll never want to go back.
4.) Make It Fun.
There are so many ways to make a trip fun. Print off a scavenger hunt of art pieces before you go. Younger kids can search for specific pieces of art and older kids can search for artists, genres, or art techniques.
Play "I Spy" at the museum. It's a lot more fun than in the car. All of a sudden, clues go from "I spy something green that grows in the ground" to "I spy something green with six red rectangles coming out of it and a blue star thing in the middle."
Kids who like to draw may enjoy copying a favorite picture. Bring paper and pencils for your budding artist. If your kids do better with friends along, make it a play date.
5.) Ask Questions.
Sometimes one question can start a dialogue that you never would have thought existed. Ask younger kids about colors, shapes, what they think people are talking about in the picture, or what pictures they like or don't like. Ask older kids what piece of art they would put in their bedroom and why.
6.) Set an Example.
If you're excited to be there, they will be too. Show your happiness at getting to see all these amazing pieces of art. Don't be too disappointed if your child is "bored" the first time you attend a museum. Every parent has had those experiences with a child who hates swimming lessons and then after the second week of lessons, loves it. Art museums are no different. Keep visiting!
7.) Reward.
Visiting a museum shouldn't be a chore or feel like school. It should be fun. After your museum trip, pass out rewards for good behavior. It can be something as simple as cookies brought from home to an ice cream purchased in the art cafe or a postcard from the museum shop.
Lots of museums offer beautiful grounds and sculptures. After being inside, head outside and let kids do what they couldn't do in the building: touch, yell, and run!
