Introducing Your Child to Museums: How to Make the Visit a Success!

From babies to big kids, how to make museum visits a success.

Museums are for everyone,” says Lisa Libicki, a museum educator who teaches at the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Morgan Library & Museum. There’s no need to hold off on museum visits until your child reaches a certain age: Babies too young to babble, inquisitive toddlers, and independent big kids can all appreciate the world-expanding wonders of New York City’s museums. 

Start visits early to build familiarity and affection—and remove any intimidation that can accompany museums’ hushed-tone atmosphere. “You want to train your child to really be a good museumgoer, and establish a love of museums from an early age,” says Jane Kloecker, the director of Science and Nature Programs and Family Initiatives for the American Museum of Natural History’s Education Department. 

Don’t be intimidated by Kloecker’s use of the word “training”: It can be as simple as modeling museum-appropriate behavior or pointing out that labels on the wall provide information that enriches the experience. No art degree is required! Libicki points out that current museum pedagogy favors shared exploration and conversation over parents talking at children. “You don’t have to have all the answers,” Libicki says. “You can wonder with them.” 

Good Advice for All Ages 

To avoid tedious visits punctuated by seemingly endless whining, follow these common-sense tips: 

Don’t overstay: “Don’t ever go past the time when they’re losing interest or are tired,” Kloecker cautions. “Their little legs do get tired!” Many of the museums in New York sprawl across avenues, with vast collections—so resist the urge to view the whole thing in one trip. “I think people try to do too much,” Kloecker says. “You can go and have a wonderful trip to the museum and only look at one diorama—and then leave.”

Plan ahead: Check the museum website for any kid-friendly tours, workshops, and activities. The Morgan, for instance, has a story time. 

Choose your time wisely: Crowds and children aren’t generally a good combination. Opt for early morning visits when possible, but also plan around your child’s nap schedule. 

Also, keep in mind your child’s age and personality. What delights a toddler won’t necessarily engage an 11-year-old and may be meaningless to babies. For a successful trip, cater to your child’s age and ability.  

For Babies: Stimulate Their Senses

At just a few months, babies can see colors and shapes, and track a moving object. A trip to the museum opens up a world of stimulation for babies, and can also give parents a much-needed social opportunity to maintain existing friendships and build new ones. 

Build early skills: During colder months, visiting the museum provides a new, stimulating environment while also helping stave off cabin fever. On a grander scale than a picture book, the museum offers visual stimulation. Narrate the sights to build baby’s language skills. 

Look for stroller tours: Diaper blowout? Fussy baby? The participants on stroller tours get it: They’re either babies and toddlers themselves, or sympathetic parents and caregivers. The child-friendly environment of stroller tours, Libicki says, makes it easy to “have culture and interaction with other families.” 

Go with a friend of your own: Being a new parent can be isolating, and pre-baby social activities—boozy brunches or late nights—may no longer make sense or even be possible. Museum trips are a good option for social time with other grown-ups. And if you go to the same museums when the kids are older, you will all appreciate your familiarity with their quieter areas and the bathrooms with the shortest line.