The Magic of Museums

Museums offer families a kind of magic that can not be found anywhere else. A look at history up close, the paint strokes of famous artists, ships that have returned from wars or outer space, and animals extinct long ago...so much magic. Here are a few tips for making trips to a museum fun, memorable and interactive.

1. Plan ahead. Pay attention to when the museum is less busy and plan to attend then. Check for free days as well, many museums have them.

2. Decide on a reasonable amount of time to spend at the museum. More time is not always better. Kids (and parents) have an expiration date, a time beyond which, patience, excitement and cooperation are in short supply. Do yourself a favor and leave before you reach that point.

3. Read about some of the exhibits before you visit the museum. Some prior knowledge can make for a more interesting trip. Decide on a few exhibits you want to be sure to visit as well as ones you are willing to skip.

4. Besides the amazing exhibits inside, museums usually also have awesome architecture, gardens, statues and other spaces not to be missed. Even doors, windows and stairways can be magical. One of our local museums has a slide that runs from the top floor to the second floor.

5. Have each family member collect some facts to discuss after you leave the museum. Click this link for a free worksheet you can use at any museum.

6. Many museums are so large that they require a map to navigate. Map skills are more fun when you have the reward of finding some magic. Let your kids lead the way.

7. Play some fun games. Try choosing what piece of art or which exhibit is each family member’s favorite. You can do that for each room or the entire museum.

8. Find interactive exhibits. Make things. Ride things. Break up the reading and looking with making, riding and playing.

9. Visit the gift shop. Museum gift shops are filled with amazing items. Set a price limit before you ever visit so that kids know what they have to spend.

10. Make sure that the end of the visit isn’t the end of the adventure. When you get home, discuss what you discovered, make replicas of some of the exhibits you liked best, or create a museum of your own.

My Gnome on the Roam has created a deck of Adventures for when families are “on the roam” in museums. Also includes are adventures for airports, hotels, museums and road trips. You can grab a pack at www.mygnomeontheroam.com/shop