After learning of my position as a school docent at the National Gallery of Art, a woman at a party asked, “My daughter is 4 years old. Is she too young to visit an art museum?”
“Oh no,” I replied. “An afternoon spent looking at pictures and sculpture can be a wonderful experience for a young child.”
As a school docent for the past seven years, I’ve led tours for students from pre-kindergarten through high school. With summer upon us, here are some ideas for parents on how to make the visit to an art museum fun, educational, and memorable.
I’ve found that even at 4 and 5 years old, children are open and receptive to the riches of a museum. As a docent, it’s lovely to act as a sherpa for a child’s first few visits. Because such institutions can be vast and overwhelming, the trip is an opportunity to help youngsters feel comfortable with the often-sprawling structure and to demonstrate how best to behave among original, and often large, works of art.
Quality Family Time
A visit to the museum can be an opportunity for quality family time. Unplugging from phones, computers, TV, and social media presents a window for observation and old-fashioned conversation. Taking in the richness of a painting or sculpture is about stepping away from the many distractions that dominate modern life.
Quiet, close looking is an optimal way to experience works of art, providing the rare opportunity to slow down and focus. “To see takes
