I love visiting art museums with my son. When I tell people this, I usually hear, “My kids would break something!” If you are one of these parents or caregivers, you are not alone! Art museums can understandably be places that feel unwelcoming to children. However, I am here to tell you YOU CAN DO THIS. They might have fun and learn something in the process.
When the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened in Bentonville, Arkansas, they studied the effects of art museum visits on children. According to the New York Times, the researchers found that children who visited “demonstrated stronger critical thinking skills, displayed higher levels of social tolerance, exhibited greater historical empathy and developed a taste for art museums and cultural institutions.”
Aside from these benefits, visiting art museums with kids can be a wonderful activity for the whole family to enjoy. Here’s my guide to getting the most out of your museum visit.
Preparing For Your Visit
- If this is your first time visiting, take a peek at the museum’s website ahead of time. Show your child pictures of the space, so they know what to expect.
- Go over the special rules and explain why they are in place. The art in museums is real and belongs to everyone. My favorite way to illustrate this is to find two pennies, one that is shiny and another that is dark. The dark one looks that way because of the many hands that have touched it. Imagine if the art in the museum was touched like that. What would it look like?
- Don’t expect to stay long. An hour-long visit is all you need.
Talking About Art With Kids
- You made it! Now what? Ask your child open-ended questions, so they are guiding the experience.
- Visual Thinking Strategies: These questions are simple and effective, “What’s going on in this picture? What do you see that makes you say that? What more can we find?” This series of questions works well with narrative works of art. You will be amazed at what you can discover by looking closely.
- See, Think, Wonder: This thinking routine from Project Zero at Harvard University is another open-ended series of questions that can aid in close looking, and work with abstract art, “What do you see? What do you think about that? What does it make you wonder?”
- Playing a game of “I Spy” is an easy way to get little ones looking closely. Point out art with their favorite animals, colors, or types of activities.
Interactive Activities
- Your kids have done enough looking and talking. Help! There are lots of activities that you can do with works of art that don’t require prior planning or complicated materials.
- Tableaus: Pose like a work of art! This can be done solo or with a group. As an add-on, have someone give directions to the person posing. Just be careful of works of art around you.
- Drawing: Pencils are allowed in gallery spaces and are often available at information desks. If not, you can bring your own with paper. Simple observational drawing can be fun, or try this. Lead a partner to a work of art with their back to it. Describe the art to them and have them draw. Don’t look at their drawings! When you’ve described the full work of art, make the big reveal.
- Museum Resources: Ask the information desks! Most of the time, they will have activity cards, scavenger hunts, and family guides.
There are many art museums in St. Louis, but here are the ones I recommend.
Bonus: they are FREE.
Insider Tips for the
Saint Louis Art Museum
- While there are changing tables in many of the restrooms, there is a nursing room near the Education Center should you need it.
- Galleries kids love: Ancient and Egyptian; Arms and Armor; Africa, Oceania, and Americas; Modern and Contemporary; Grace Taylor Broughton Sculpture Garden.
Insider Tips for the
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
- Don’t miss the children’s room on the second floor! There are drawing materials, art-related books for kids, and interactive toys.
- Attend a Play Date. Hosted on the second Saturday of each month, these programs include performances and hands-on art-making.
- The Pulitzer is right next door. You can make two short visits and keep moving!
Insider Family Tips for the
Pulitzer Arts Foundation
- The outdoor spaces at the Pulitzer can’t be missed. Check out the sculpture, Joe by Richard Serra, in addition to Park-Like located across the street.
- Visit the second floor to find drawing materials and picture books.
I hope you’ll find that art museums can be a place of refuge and a place that everyone in your family can enjoy visiting together.
