Kids can have a low tolerance when it comes to spending time in a museum. But that doesn't mean that you should skip them entirely. Here are 4 ways you can make museums fun for your little ones. (my printable is at the end)
Ask the help desk about child activity packs.
Most museums have some sort of activity pack for kids to be engaged on while in the museum. These can be anything from a scavenger hunt to full-on lesson plans.
Join a tour.
Especially if the tour is kid-friendly, tours can be a fantastic way for your child to learn at the same time as you! While some docents are better than others, most are great at pointing out details and history that even art junkies find new. Look online or ask the help desk for tour options.
Bring a sketchpad.
What better way to spark an artistic side than to try techniques out yourself? Your little budding artist can learn from the masters. Here's a small one meant for travel and made with recycled paper.
Bring your own activity.
Coming prepared with your own activity means you don't have to rely on inconsitant tour times and sometimes lackluster museum activity packs. I created a timeline activity that will keep your kid engaged and learning.
When your art critic finds a favorite piece, they record key info including the date it was created.
Dates are then organized onto an art timeline, utilizing key skills in intervals and ordering. If your child is younger than 5th grade, he/she might need help getting started with intervals. While some timelines make sense with 1-year intervals, others make more sense with 100-year intervals. Check out this infographic for how to make a timeline from scratch.
Follow up discussions and project ideas require higher-level thinking, and are perfect for family discussions during meals.
