Visiting an art or child's museum is an excellent outing for class field trips or a parent/child excursion. Before arriving, talk to the children about where they are going and what they'll be seeing. Depending on the child's age and learning level, introduce some art-related words. These new vocabulary words might include sculpture, collage, portrait, and abstract. Many museums and galleries offer guided tours that are free with the museum admission. Some even have activity booklets and treasure hunts where children are asked to find specific items in the museum.
While strolling through the art museum, stop and look at a particular painting together. It is important to understand that kids often see things that adults don't, they have a great deal to teach with their unique perspective. Please remind the children to touch with their eyes, not with their hands.
Observations at the Museum
Encourage a child's interest and enthusiasm in art by asking some of the following questions. Remember that all answers are correct because they reflect the uniqueness of the child's observation.
- What colors can be seen in this picture?
- Are there straight lines in the painting? Curved lines? Zigzag lines? Circles? Squares? Triangles?
- Choose one thing in this painting and explain what it would feel like if it could be touched in real life.
- What feelings does this picture give? Happy or Sad?
- Is this a loud or quiet painting?
- Does this painting tell a story?
After returning from the museum, encourage children to create art of their own. Furnish materials related to the kind of art that has just been seen, such as watercolors, crayon, colored chalk, or collage materials. Display the child's artwork for all to view and appreciate.
Exploring at the Museum
Make a day at the museum fun and exciting by planning activities that allow the children to explore. Here are suggestions to encourage children's curiosity about the art they are seeing.
Observation Game
Choose one painting in the gallery. Have the children look at the work for 15 seconds, then turn away from it and list aloud the things that were seen. Turn and face the painting again and see how well the children did.
Story Time
Each person chooses a work of art and makes up a story about it. Where does the subject of the painting or sculpture live? What kind of job does he have? What are his hobbies? Together, share the stories.
Freeze Pose
Walk in front of a sculpture and mimic its pose. This will really give children a feeling for the tension and movement in the work of art.
Painting Walk
Choose one painting and ask the children to imagine what it would be like to walk inside it. What would they see? What kinds of sounds, smells,and creatures might they encounter in this new landscape? Urge the kids to be descriptive by asking lots of questions about this imaginary world.
It's never too early to introduce art to young children. Taking children to an art museum is an experience they will not forget and hopefully the art basics they learn will carry over into their adult lives. There is art everywhere to explore, both in a museum and the outside world.
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