As you prepare to enjoy a museum or cultural event with your family, keep the following tips handy. They’re compiled from suggestions made by educational directors and museums:
Children First
The attention span of young children can be very short. They may find other people or a long flight of stairs more interesting than the exhibits you had in mind. Visit the exhibits that the youngest children want to see first. If you are traveling with preschoolers, plan to spend no more than an hour in any one museum.
Ask Questions
Talking to your children about what you are viewing is another way to keep them interested and to expand their experience. You don't have to be silent in a museum. Appropriate indoor voices are fine. Encourage their imagination by asking them to pretend to be an object, animal, or person. Make up a story about a piece of artwork that captures the child's fancy.
Take Frequent Breaks
Often most museums offer more to see and do than can be accomplished in one visit, especially for preschoolers. Don't try to see everything in one visit. Be prepared to leave, even after only a short visit. Even a short visit is an investment in your child's education and quality time spent together.
Call Ahead
Contact the museum or gallery about age-specific exhibits or events. Many offer hands-on areas and interactive exhibits and events for children.
Museum Policies
Be sure to communicate beforehand with your children any museum's policies such as not touching artwork. If you have children who have trouble keeping their hands to themselves, look for interactive exhibits that allow them to touch all they want.