Taking your children to an art museum can be frustrating: it can involve hot children, tired feet, a harried parent, and a fair amount of squabbling. But it can also—even on the same trip—involve a few moments of magic. For me, those moments have come when we have paused in front of one piece of art and taken out pencil and paper. For at least a few seconds, we are absorbed in looking.
Here are four things I’ve learned in the past several years:
1. Don’t worry about preparing
It is possible, these days, to view the artwork in advance and discuss it, or even to download or create fun activities to go with your museum trip. But if you don’t, a pencil and a journal (or paper) will be fine.
I was once in a museum with my two girls—about 9 and 4 years old then—settling down to draw in our journals, feeling a little bad because we were all tired and had no good plan. A mob of teenagers rushed into the room. My girls watched in awe as these teens, clutching their paper scavenger hunt guides, called out to each other when they identified the hidden “clue” in some painting, and then roared on into the next room. They were having fun, they were learning, but they weren’t exactly “looking” like we were. I suddenly felt much better about our simple approach. Just remember to look.
2. Don’t try to see everything
Aim for a few moments of really connecting with one piece of art…anything else is gravy. Dragging everyone past every piece of art is not useful. Trying to enforce a long period of drawing or writing is not useful. Take as your goal just a few moments of engagement—that is the magic.
3. Don’t try to control what they draw or write
I have wasted ridiculous minutes trying to convince a child to write about what I think is important. It’s rarely possible. If they want to write about the cat they saw outside, and you try to redirect them, nothing good will come of it. Let them see what they see…and perhaps the Monet will somehow affect the cat! On the other hand, there is one way that you can influence them well…
4. You do it, too!
Quite a few times, I have decided I was too tired or too busy with other Mom-tasks to actually journal along with my girls. It has always been a mistake. You are not just a teacher, you are a “culture-maker.” And what you do, your children will (eventually) do—in their own way. In the long-term perspective, it is probably much more crucial for their education that you journal that day than that they do. You are investing in their whole life as a learner…and you will probably enjoy yourself more, too!
Marvae Sutherland
You have presented excellent ideas that I plan to pass along to my daughters. Thanks! Marvae
heather
That’s great! I’m so glad you liked it.