21 new ways to make the art museum with kids fun (for the whole family)

Overall, I’m pretty bold when it comes to taking kids to places you wouldn’t typically think of as family-friendly. But it took me years—years—to go to an art museum with kids. That’s partly because I wasn’t sure quite how to take kids to an art museum in a way we’d all have fun.

I was so intimidated! Plus, I love art museums, and I didn’t want to take away from my own enjoyment of the works of art by stressing over my two hooligans.

But then I took a deep breath, reminded myself of my values of showing the world to my children, and made a date to go to the art museum with kids. We met up with my sister, brother-in-law and nephew at the Portland Art Museum—and it wasn’t a disaster!

Since then I’ve taken my kids to several more art museums, and it gets easier every time. If you’ve thought about going to an art museum with kids but are nervous like I was, take heart. In this post, I’ll share how to make a trip to the art museum fun for the whole family.

I’ll cover ways to help kids engage with works of art, how to prepare them for the art museum visit, and tips to plan the trip so everyone has fun without turning museums into a drag. Get ready to get arty-farty! (Def. use that phrase with your kids. They’ll love it!!!)

1. Talk about what they’ll see and do

The first time I went to an art museum with kids, I made the mistake of not prepping my kids enough. We arrived in the museum lobby and the girls ran off in opposite directions. I mean they literally ran.

I had to sit them down and explain expectations for museum visitors. (I recap this talk before going to a museum every time now.) We adults already know to use quiet voices and respect others as they enjoy the art, but kids don’t yet. We have to help them learn.

Talking about what you’ll see and do at the art museum—before you get there, unlike what I did the first time—helps kids know how to act . They’ll behave more appropriately and enjoy themselves more if they know what to expect.

2. Join a family tour

Most major art museums have family tours several times a week. A docent or volunteer will lead a small group of parents and kids throughout the museum, picking a variety of works of art to highlight. The best part: They are experts, so they know how to engage young ones at the art museum.

From the art museum family tours I’ve seen, they generally last an hour. So depending on your kids’ endurance, you’ll have some time to go back to the exhibitions your kids are most interested in.

3. Give them a camera

My older daughter is nearly 6, and she loves taking photos. Sometimes I give her my phone, and sometimes she brings her own camera. Either way, photographing the paintings, sculptures and installations is a guaranteed way to capture her interest.

Chances are, your kids will feel the same way. Our children see us using our phones and cameras so much, so it’s no wonder they want to document what they see, too!

4. Ask questions about the art

One of my favorite things about going to an art museum with kids is it teaches them art is for everyone. We all have a right to see, think about, have opinions on and appreciate (or dislike) art. Art is not for only the rich, or the grown-up; it’s for us all!

To help them understand this principle, ask your children questions about the art they see. Aim for open-ended questions, not yes/no questions or those with one correct answer.

Some questions I like to ask when I go to the art museum with kids:

• What do you think this is about?
• How does it make you feel?
• What do you like about it? What do you dislike?
• Does it remind you of anything?
• How do you think the artist made it?

When you ask these questions and others, you show your kids you’re interested in what they have to say. You show them their opinions and ideas matter.

5. Use “I notice” language

When you talk about the art you see together, use “I notice” language. For example, “I notice that the artist used big, wide brush strokes” or “I notice this painting is made of all dark colors.” Your kids naturally mimic you, so they’ll start to say out loud what they notice, too.

Using this language is also free of judgment, and it’s equal opportunity: They don’t have to like or understand a piece of art to notice something about it.

6. Go at a kids’ pace

Sometimes walking through a museum at a kids’ pace is agonizingly slow. Other times, they’ll blow by some of the most important works of art in human history.

But letting your kids lead at the art museum gives them some control over a situation where they don’t have a lot of say. You’re already asking a lot of them—to not climb on cool stuff, to keep their voices down—so let them lead in this regard.

You’ll also be surprised by what draws their attention and interest. When we were at the Portland Art Museum, my girls could have stayed at one art installation for hours. I’m not generally a fan of video installations, so it was fascinating to see how engrossed they were!

7. Share what you like—and why

When you’re looking at a piece of art, tell your kids what you like about it. (Unless it’s a piece you don’t love; then say what you don’t like. For example, I seriously can’t handle Willem de Kooning and will never ever pretend that I enjoy his paintings.)

Make sure to explain why you like or dislike a work of art. Your explanations will help your kids develop a vocabulary around art that is their own. It’ll also help you all go deeper than “I like it because it’s pretty.” What is “pretty” about it? I guarantee you’ll have more interesting conversations at the art museum.

8. Take advantage of children’s programming and hands-on spaces

When we visited the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, we spent about half our time in the hands-on exploration room for kids. There, my children made color tile patterns on a light table, traced bugs to learn about symmetry and dressed themselves up in ribbons.

You might try to hurry your kids out of spaces like these—after all, kids aren’t seeing Important Works of Art if they’re busy coloring. But you’re in this for the long game.

You want to create a positive association with art museums so they’ll actually want to go with you next time. Plus, kids learn by doing. Although it might seem like they’re just playing dress-up, they’re also exploring color, texture, line and more.

9. Do less

This is pretty much my mantra for all family travel: Do less. There is a zero percent chance you’ll see the entirety of an art museum with kids, so don’t try. You’ll only end up with smashed expectations and a very cranky child.

10. Let your kids be your guide

When you arrive at the art museum with kids, let them choose where you go first. Hand them the map (most include a few photos of the most famous works in each wing) and let them decide where to head.

11. Find ways to make art relevant

Kids don’t have years of context we adults do; they have never bought a poster of a Van Goh painting to hang in their dorm room or watched an art heist movie. So its adults’ jobs to find ways for kids to relate to art.

For example, my girls were about to breeze by the Chinese art wing when I held them up. I explained that China is where their cousin was born, and that China has thousands of years of history making masterpieces. They suddenly wanted nothing more than to explore the Chinese art wing!

You can do something similar with just about every kind of art.

12. Play a game

I bet your kids are like mine: They love playing games. So bring a sense of fun to the art museum with kids by playing I Spy or other games.

My older daughter loves what she’s dubbed the Challenge Game, which you can play at a museum. You say, “I challenge you to find…” and then pick a number and a category. For example, find 10 things that are red, 7 things with legs, 8 things that are shiny, etc. The game will encourage kids to interact with the art in a fun way.

13. Teach art vocabulary by using it yourself

When you go to an art museum with kids, you have a great opportunity to teach them a whole new vocabulary. You can talk about art in any way you like, but it helps to use words that describe specific techniques and characteristics.

You don’t need to make flashcards; use them in context, then ask if they understand what you mean. Hearing the new art vocabulary in context will help them learn new words and begin to use them, too.

Some art vocabulary I use with my kids:

• brushstrokes
• abstract
• realism
• texture
• portrait
• still life
• symmetry
• contrast
• geometric
• landscape

14. Strike a pose

Kids experience and learn about the world through their bodies. Use this to your advantage and help them interact with art by taking turns mimicking a work of art with your body!

You and your kids might pose like a Degas ballerina, twist yourself like an abstract sculpture or create angles with your arms and legs to represent a painting you see. Bonus points: Take a photo of each other in front of the work of art you’re mimicking!

15. Take breaks

Art museums, thankfully, have plenty of benches throughout their galleries. Take rests often; young kids especially need frequent breaks.

Sitting on a bench is a terrific time to play a game, talk about the work of art in front of you or ask what your kids’ favorite piece so far has been.

16. Go outside

Most art museums have an outdoor component, whether that’s a sculpture courtyard, a rooftop garden or simply art in front of the building. Make the outdoor art a destination on your visit to an art museum with kids.

These art pieces tend to be easy for kids to engage with. They’re often big—a scale kids are naturally drawn to. And they’re usually displayed in a way that allows kids to run, jump and play around them without you worrying about them knocking over a priceless vase, for example.

The often different types of art you’ll find outside—large-scale installations, murals, sculptures—also show kids the wide variety within art. Works of art aren’t only classical paintings and portraits of old, rich, dead people; art can be many different things!

17. Look at art at home first

Even before you step foot in the art museum, look at paintings, sculptures or other art with your kids. Visit the museum web site to find pictures of some of the significant pieces housed there. Talk about why they’re considered important.

Then when you get to the museum, seek out those works of art. Kids of all ages will find the pieces more interesting and engaging if they’ve seen them before.

18. Bring a sketchbook

I always feel inspired when I visit an art museum; do you, too? That’s why I recommend bringing a sketchbook for each child. Kids of all ages will love to sit for a few minutes in front of a piece they love. They might sketch whatever it is they see, trying to mimic the work of art. Or they might create something of their own, using the art as a jumping-off point.

Either way, I think you’ll agree that encouraging kids to be artists in their own right is a terrific way for them to enjoy the museum!

Note that most museums do not allow you to use pens or markers. Bring a pencil instead.

19. Pick out postcards

At the end of your family trip to the art museum, visit the gift shop—but don’t feel pressured to buy a ton of stuff! Head straight to the post card section and invite your kids to pick one or two out.

They can write on the back of the postcard, draw something that inspired them or simply save it (perhaps for a travel memories book?).

You can also buy a few postcards from the gift shop at the beginning of your trip to the museum with kids. Then your children can look for those works of art while you explore!

20. Read a book set in art

We recently discovered The Fantastic Frame children’s book series and love it! In these books, two friends get sucked through a magic picture frame and into some of the world’s greatest works of art.

As I read the books with my girls, we look up the original works of art. When the characters enter A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, by Georges Seurat, we talked about art technique as well as where we could travel to see the painting in person. The Fantastic Frame books give my kids another way to interact with art—in a fun way!

21. Have a special treat

There’s nothing like a cherry on top to make your kids remember their art museum experience in a positive light! So after your visit, make a stop for a special treat. You might get a cookie in the museum cafe or find a nearby frozen yogurt shop. Either way, you want your kids to create a positive association with this family-friendly activity!

Now you know how to take kids to the art museum!

So tell me—do you feel like going to an art museum with kids is now more doable? By simply finding ways for your children to engage with art, managing your expectations and creating a positive association with museums, you can make it fun to see art for kids of all ages.