Get children excited about art with trips to nearby art museums. But remember, long, silent walks through vast museums might tire children quickly. Keep their attention with engaging activities, questions and games that encourage them to interact with the art without disrupting other museum guests. Be prepared to take breaks or leave the museum earlier than you might want to if the children get restless.
Postcard Matching
Before going into the museum, purchase a variety of inexpensive postcards from the museum store that represent some of the museum's best-known works. Give the postcards to the children, and ask them to find the original paintings or sculptures in the museum. Supervise them in their search. For an added activity, ask them to draw a sketch from the work or write their thoughts about the work on the back of the postcard.
Scavenger Hunt
If you have time to explore the museum thoroughly before you take your children or your class there, you can prepare a museum scavenger hunt. As you walk through the museum, make a list of items that the children can search for, such as a dog, a man playing an instrument, a bowl of fruit or a skull. Or you might note certain paintings that have more than one of an item, and require children to search for a painting with five animals, for example. Look for small, nearly hidden items for added difficulty, or include intangibles, such as love or laughter, on the list. You could also include formal elements, such as shapes, colors or materials, on the list. Make several copies of the scavenger hunt to distribute to the children. If you're taking a large group, divide the children into teams of three or four.
Questions
If you don't have time to organize an activity, you can still liven up your children's experience at the museum simply by asking them questions about the artwork. Ask them what a particular painting makes them think or feel and why, or ask them which paintings are their favorites and their least favorites and why. Ask why they think certain paintings are drawing larger crowds than others. Offer your own thoughts and opinions, as well.
Art Games at Home
Keep children excited about art by playing art-related games before and after your trip to the museum. Look for the popular Art Memo or Impressionist Art Memo games at museum stores or online retailers. This classic memory game requires players to flip over cards to find matching pairs. The cards all have images of famous paintings. As children play the game, they will learn to recognize these famous works of art and will be excited to see those works or works by the same artists on your next trip to an art museum.
