NEW YORK, NY.- Would you like to be able to take your children with you when you visit museums and art galleries? It can be an excellent way to expand their minds, helping them to appreciate culture, the creative process, the world around them, history and their place in it all. Even very young children can take in a lot, and if they don’t seem to remember much about the trip later, it doesn’t mean that they haven’t gained anything. Children’s brains are geared to make connections, and trips like this can really help with that, with research showing that it gives them a learning advantage later in life.

Taking children to such venues isn’t always straightforward, however. Even if they really try to be good, they can easily get distracted, forget what they’ve been told, and start shouting or running around. Other visitors can get offended, and in some unfortunate cases, children have even managed to damage the exhibits. What can you do to contain these problems?

Child-friendly museums
The most obvious answer is to begin with child-friendly museums. These are not necessarily limited to children’s museums but include many modern science and natural history museums. Hands-on exhibits give children a chance to connect with what they see more directly, understanding it in ways that, at this age, sight alone cannot make possible. Many exhibits are designed to be fun and educational at the same time, or to help young visitors burn off energy. Visits like this will help children to understand the concept of a museum and something of its value before they start visiting those that require a different standard of behavior.

Art gallery activities for kids
Though art galleries are not often in a position to allow children to touch their exhibits, many put on special activities and events for their younger visitors. These can include classes where children learn about simple art and sculpture techniques and get the chance to try them out. Creating their own art in a space like this helps them to understand the emotional importance that art can have, and why they should be careful not to damage other people’s art.

Respecting the rules
In general, children find it easier to follow rules if those rules make sense to them. It can be hard to understand why exciting-looking things shouldn’t be touched and enjoyed, but you can help by explaining that it’s about sharing and making sure that the exhibits remain in a condition that lets other people enjoy them. Keep visits short so that children don’t get frustrated, and teach them that when they get home afterwards, there will be fun activities to engage in based on what they’ve seen. For instance, if you’ve been looking at sculptures, you can use play-dough to try making your own.

Going equipped
You can take your children around collections more discreetly if you go prepared; this means having things such as diaper bags and wipes with you in case of accidents, and it means taking along a few toys to play with. Most young children can’t walk round a whole museum in one go, but if they have puzzles, coloring books, or other toys designed to be used quietly, you can take a break and sit on a bench to let them rest. Taking a stroller if you have a toddler means that your toddler can rest while you and perhaps your older children continue to enjoy the visit.

Respecting your children’s needs
Just as children need to respect the museums and galleries that you visit, so you need to respect your children’s needs. Their experience of places like this will not be the same as yours. They may not actually be able to see exhibits properly without being lifted up, and they will need help to understand what’s worth looking at and why. They are likely to find it tiring to concentrate for long periods, and their feet may get sore from hard museum floors. One thing children do like is repetition, so multiple short visits are better than single long ones. Ask them which exhibits they find most interesting – often, animals appeal, or weapons, or favorite kinds of vehicle – and make a point of spending more time with those, using them as starting points for wider discussion.

With the right support, children can find visits like these highly stimulating. Most museums and galleries do actually welcome them, and as long as you can maintain good basic discipline, the experience can be rewarding for all involved.