High Art, Small Children
Is it ever too young to take children to a museum? Can a two year old appreciate, learn and respond to Rubens? What do your pre-school children get out of a museum? What do they want?
Is it ever too young to take children to a museum? Can a two year old appreciate, learn and respond to Rubens? What do your pre-school children get out of a museum? What do they want?
October 25th, 2007 at 12:01 am
I recently took my two and a half year old son to see ‘The Crack’, as well as a new word added to his vocabulary he enjoyed the space of the Modern and was facinated along with his friend as to what was actually in ‘The Crack’.
I have introduced art to my three children at very young ages, my daughter learnt her colours through Piet Mondrian, I belive galleries give famillies an opportunity to see art from a childs perspective. My four year old son recognises Stubbs and will happilly flick through a book of his paintings.
Our favourite gallery is the Tate Britain ‘love the art trolley’.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:06 am
My first excursion out of the house a week after my daughter was born was a trip to the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. Mainly for my own pleasure, I admit, but I was proud to bring her to an art gallery as an infant. At 3 months, she loved the colours and patterns of contemporary art. Now a year old, she likes pointing at sculptures and paintings of animals… just the other day she pointed at a painting of cows and said ‘dog!’. (Well, all animals are dogs right now!) I think its wonderful to bring young children to art galleries, even if only for a short visit. They love shapes, patterns and colours. I hope my daughter will learn her colours from Mondrian, too.
March 31st, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I take my daughter, Eve, along to all the museums, galleries and exhibitions in London, and have done since she was a baby. She’s now 18mth. Keeps me sane and she loves it - really responds to colours, faces, animals in paintings, and waves at statues (?).
I’m delighted you’ve got Dulwich Picture Gallery nominated for your 2008 Kid Friendly award. It really is the easiest for tots - they don’t mind the noise, they’re cool with Eve toddling up and down the gallery, and for variety she runs round in the very kid friendly gardens. Cafe’s very tot (and parent) friendly too. They have some really good events and art classes, specifically for kids. We always feel welcome taking Eve along to grown-up events too - even the carol service last Christmas.
March 31st, 2008 at 11:21 pm
My eldest grandson, 3, was sick in the crack having previously bumped his head fairly soundly. My eldest grand daughter, 6, danced the length of it and declaired it really good. We are all waiting to see what the floor will look like when it is filled in ! However, if you want child reaction go and see the Munoz. The figures are so life like that they really inspire children to comment. Took Josie,6, to tate britain and sat happily whilst she drew various paintings, stretched out on a comfortable bench. No such luxury in tate britain, small benches and too many people put budding artists off ! However , the wobbly bridge makes up for many shortcomings !
April 8th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I think these testaments to the value in taking small children to see high art are tremendous. It shows not only how engaging it is for them, but how much more engaging it becomes for us. When I take my younger children to an exhibition with me, it’s like going with a pair of extraordinarily different eyes as well as my own. I learn more, and they learn alot. As long as the museum or gallery welcomes them.
Watch this website for further news about how Kids in Museums is going to encourage young children to visit museums.
warmest
Dea Birkett
Director
Kids in Museums
July 19th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
We’ve been taking our three children to museums and galleries since they were tiny, and find that they enjoy places like The National Gallery and Tate Modern as much as the NHM or Science Musuem. They loved the Anthony Gormley at the Hayward and the more recent one about architecture (can’t remember name). I recently read a blog post saying you shouldn’t take kids to museums, which made me so annoyed I wrote my own post in response, ‘7 tips for taking children to art galleries’ http://itsasmallworldafterallfamily.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/7-tips-for-taking-children-to-art-galleries/
July 28th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
I have been taking my daughter to art galleries since about the age of 2 when we discovered the Manchester Art Gallery on a visit to family. She has her own small ‘art gallery’ notebook and drawing set that we bought in the Portait Gallery and is very happy to look through at all the pictures she has drawn over the years (she is now 7). She will often ask in the holidays if we can go to the The national or the Portait and will stretch out on a bench by her favourite picture and draw. Personally I always found art galleries very difficult as I found it difficult to kno what to look at, but I love it now. She wanders around and finds a picture she likes and then tells me why!
October 20th, 2009 at 9:30 am
I have been taking my son to museums and art galleries since he was about two and he loves it. Obviously our visits have changed gradually in the amount he experiences everytime. My son is now 6 and loves going to museums, our favourite museums are the Science Museum, The Natural History and the Egyptian section at the British. We often visit the museum of childhood in Bethnal Green and the Tate Gallery.
December 22nd, 2009 at 5:23 pm
I have found that many young children respond to Rubens as he is such a good racing driver.
However it remains to be seen if he retains his popularity after he leaves Brawn GP to work with the folk at Williams.
Team principal Frank Williams said: “He is not only the most experienced driver in Formula 1 but a passionate and talented driver who fought hard for the drivers’ championship this year”.
Rubens is now at the later end of his career and may find it difficult to keep up with his new co-driver.
If this proves to be the case he may retire and maybe take up painting.
January 20th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
I think it is important to see children in a similar way to how we look at adult audiences - ie different children (and adults) arrive in museums and galleries with differing interests and experiences to build on. Some love craft and drawing, others love physical play and interaction with complex spaces - definitely not just about pushing buttons - they can do plenty of that with computers andn toys at home now. Museums have larger and more complex spaces than home and should have a range of unique objects/art/sculpture andn experiences that they can’t get in a shopping centre, at home, or at nursery or school. My children loved Asian and Aboriginal textiles and sculpture - lots of interesitng colours and animals - plus associted clay and colouring activities.