Planning a Museum Visit with Your Family
Visit the museum's Web site to find out the hours, days it is open, directions, fees, the exhibitions that are on view, etc.
Many museums have special events specifically geared towards families. For instance, on the first Saturday of every month The Aldrich hosts Family Art Adventures, a day when families enjoy exceptional hands-on activities such as artist's workshops, performances, and interactive tours and games. Find out ahead of time when the best time is to visit as a family.
Talk to your family about the museum that you will be visiting and about what you will see there. If you have visited that museum before, talk about what you would like to see again, and about any new exhibitions that have opened since your last visit.
Find out what your children's expectations are of their visit to the museum.
Learn about the mission of the museum you will be visiting. For example, The Aldrich Museum is a non-collecting museum focused on contemporary art. It might help you and your family to better understand the type of work on view, and the type of building it is housed in, etc.
Go to your public library and find books that might relate to what you will see, whether the relationship is through the story, the materials used for the illustrations, or whether the book directly deals with an artist or art discipline.
Be sure to review some simple rules and expectations for behavior in a museum. Explain that unless the children are told they may physically interact with a work of art, most art museums have a "no-touch" policy. If you plan to use your Kit in the museum, check with the front desk to find out if pencils and small backpacks are allowed in the galleries.
Make a safety plan with your children in case you get separated. Decide which museum staff member children should approach for help, and pick a central meeting location.
