How to Enjoy a Museum With a Child

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By mommykerrie
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a fun day at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Children’s museums are popping up all over the country, and they are great fun. But sometimes you want to go to a grown-up museum with your child … for your sanity and for their art education. So how do you pull it off?

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Transportation
Patience
Money for admission or a donation

Step 1

Call ahead to make sure you know the hours, directions and cost. You don’t need extra surprises when you have small children.
Step 2

don't touch!

Go over the rules with your child. Make sure he knows that he needs to be quiet, not run, not touch any paintings or sculptures, etc.
Step 3

Go when your child is at his best. For example, going in the late afternoon when your child is hungry or tired would be a bad idea.
Step 4

Water Lillies

Talk with your child about the exhibits. You don’t need a degree in art history to be able to converse about a painting with a child. Children sometimes have interesting insights into things.
Step 5

Don’t stay too long. About an hour would be a good time limit for your first trip, then you can work your way up to longer visits.