1. Go ahead and laugh out loud...you don't have to be quiet.
True, an art museum can be an introspective place and is often quiet. But don't let that keep you from having a normal conversation with your child or from letting your children express delight, amusement, or curiosity at whatever they see in our museums.
2. Ask questions.
Talking with your children about the art is a fun way to explore the museum and a great technique for encouraging their visual and verbal skills. You might want to start with the more representational (true-to-life) works and then progress to the less recognizable. To get the ball rolling, you can share your own ideas as examples, but make sure your children don't feel that they need to agree or come up with the same answer. There's no right or wrong way to look at art. Here are a few questions to get their—and your!—imaginations working:
What is going on in this picture? What do you see that makes you think that?
What do you think will happen next in this picture?
Which picture would you like to hang in your bedroom at home? Why?
What are some questions you would like to ask the people in the portraits? What do you think they might answer?
Can you find landscapes that would be good places to visit? What would you do there?
Can you think of a name for this work of art? Compare your name to the name on the label. Which do you like better? (This can be fun with non-representational paintings and sculpture.)
3. Don't try to see everything.
Don't turn the visit into a test—be sensitive to when your children have had enough. Some children will be able to stick with it for an hour, some for only ten minutes, but even ten minutes can be a great investment in your child's development and an enjoyable way to spend time together.
4. Take a break.
At Carnegie Museum of Art, kids will enjoy the outdoor Sculpture Court, while the Barista Coffee Bar and the Brown Bag Lunchroom/Vending Area are causal stops for fo9od and drink. The Warhol Museum also has a café that is open during museum hours, and the flying pillows in the Silver Cloud exhibit are sure to get your kids thinking about art in a whole new way.
5. Take advantage of free, drop-in activities offered by the museums.
• Young children often enjoy searching the art for animals, colors or geometric shapes. Ask for "treasure hunt" lists at the museum's admission desk.
• Drop in for "Saturdays for Families," a program of activities (e.g. mask-making, drawing games) in the galleries from 12:30 to 3:30 the first three Saturdays of every month; the last Saturday features a professional storyteller from 1:00–2:00 spinning tales inspired by the works of art. (Saturdays for Families is generously supported by The Grable Foundation.)
• Join"Art Ventures" on Sundays at 2:00. These interactive, 40–minute
adventures in the galleries are designed for adults and children ages 4–10.
• Children and adults enjoy hands-on activities at The Weekend Factory, a festive open studio running every Saturday and Sunday from noon until 4:00 p.m. Make self-portraits with video, Polaroids and costumes, create funky sculptures, and much more. Join the staff for silkscreen demonstrations and discussion at 1:00 and 4:00.
• Coming this fall...a new Family Guide, full of tips, activities and questions to help adults and children explore the museum. Ask for it at the admissions desk.
For more information on these and other programs, call the Education Department of Carnegie Museum of Art at 622-3288 and The Andy Warhol Museum at 237-8356. And make sure to check out the Calendar section of every Carnegie Magazine for special adult/child programs.
—Regan Fetterolf
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