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Memorable Museum Outings

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As the weather turns colder, parents start looking at various indoor activities for their children, especially fun ones that won’t break the bank. Museums can be a great option but may seem daunting when you imagine taking your children. However, with a little appropriate planning  and prep work on your end, a trip to the museum can go from a nightmare to an adventure. 

Do your homework.

Find out what museums are in your area and visit their websites ahead of time. Be sure to check out the FAQs page to make sure things like strollers and food (snacks are crucial!) are allowed. Don’t be afraid to ask around as well. Other families that have been might have inside intel for you! Use our Going Places Guide for detailed info on local attractions.

Go cheap.

Find out what discounts the museum offers, keeping in mind discount days may mean bigger crowds. Sometimes, purchasing online tickets ahead of time can be cheaper too. Consider buying a pass if it is a museum you think you may frequent several times. Although the up-front cost can seem expensive, often you only need to visit a handful of times to get your money’s worth.

Think outside the box.

A trip to a museum doesn’t have to be an indoor, you-can’t-touch-anything art museum. Consider hands-on children’s museums, history or science museums or even something outdoors.

Prep your children.

“Let them know the expectations before going in. If it’s a museum that isn’t hands-on, go over the importance of looking with their eyes and not with their hands,” says Angela, Olathe mom of three. Depending on the ages of your children, you can even go as far as sharing background or historical information about the exhibits you are visiting. Sasha, Overland Park mom of one, says, “I think already knowing something about the exhibit contents makes it more engaging.”

Start small.

Set aside your own ideas and expectations and realize the museum does not have to be completed in one trip. Perhaps your children can choose their favorite area from the museum map to visit.

Bring reinforcements (I mean snacks)

If you have checked with the website or even called ahead of time and discovered that snacks are okay … bring them! Slowly doling out a few snacks here and there and having your child sip some water while looking can, at the very least, buy you some time.

Utilize the docents. 

Museum docents usually have the scoop and can give you insider info such as when family days or special events are, or which exhibits tend to be the most popular among young children and families. Plus, I am sure they love the opportunity to share their knowledge with interested visitors!

Play!

Sometimes museums have the reputation for being conservative, or even a bit stuffy. But that doesn’t mean you have to be. Now, don’t get me wrong … you certainly don’t want to play a game of tag or allow your children to take away from someone else’s enjoyment. But, have a little fun with your children. Make a scavenger hunt for them, play I Spy, find every color of the rainbow, or bring along a few simple art supplies and let them do a bit of creating themselves.

Visit the gift shop.

If you have been perusing more of a “look but don’t touch” museum, pop into the gift shop to give your children a welcome touch-and-play break!

Read cues.

If your snacks have lost their luster and your children are in the whiney, “we want to go home stage,” cut your losses. Try not to force the issue, as this may impact their view of museums for future visits.

Although I can freely hand out this advice, I am not always great about taking it! The idea of taking my own four children (ages 8, 6, 4 and 2) to a museum is stressful to me. But children see things so differently than we do, and it’s refreshing to have their lens for a while. Won’t you join me in making a vow to yourself, and your children, to take them to ONE museum this winter?

So many great books are perfect to read prior to, or just after, visiting a museum. These can be a great way to pique your child’s interest before going or follow up  a visit days or even weeks later.

Julie Collett writes from her Overland Park home. She’s looking forward to trying some of these ideas with her four children this winter!

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