There are many ways to look at modern and contemporary art with children. Below are tips for planning your visit to MoMA, practical information for once you arrive at the Museum, suggestions for looking at art with children, and ideas for follow-up activities.

Planning Your Visit

Discuss with your children what they think they might see at a museum of modern and contemporary art. There aren't any dinosaurs here; rather, we have sculptures, paintings, photographs, drawings, and even design objects like a helicopter and cars.

Visit one of our Web sites for children so they can familiarize themselves with art and artists they might see at the Museum. Kids five to eight years old can visit Destination: Modern Art and join a visitor from outer space who is sent to Earth on a mission to explore modern and contemporary art. Older kids can explore Red Studio, which explores issues and questions raised by teens about modern art, today's working artists, and what goes on behind the scenes at a museum.

Talk about appropriate museum behavior. Explain to children that they are not allowed to touch the art in the Museum. This is to protect the objects from being damaged and also because our fingers have natural oils that can leave harmful prints on artworks. Also, remind them never to run inside the Museum and to always stay with an adult.

Research the exhibitions that will be on view during your visit to determine what might interest your child(ren). Please note that special exhibitions tend to be more crowded. A list of current and upcoming exhibitions is available here.

Plan your visit for a weekday when the Museum is less crowded. Try to come in the morning when your children aren't worn out from the day.

Look into attending a free Ford Family Program. You may also schedule a paid private tour for your family by e-mailing groupservices@moma.org, calling (212) 708-9685, of filling out a Group Services request form.

Be sure not to see too much in one visit—depending on your child's age, aim for thirty to ninety minutes. Remember to take breaks. If the weather is nice, wander through The Abby Aldrich Sculpture Garden or enjoy a dessert at Terrace 5.

Logistics at the Museum

Baby strollers are permitted at all times, but not on the escalators. You may also collapse strollers and store them in the checkroom, which is located just behind the lobby information desk. Please note that backpacks and large bags are not allowed in the Museum galleries and must be left in the checkroom.

Baby changing stations are located in both the women's and men's restrooms, which are located on each floor, near the escalators. There is also a private restroom available for breastfeeding on the fifth floor.

Outside food and drinks are not permitted in the Museum. A children's menu and highchairs are available in Cafe 2, on the second floor. The café in the garden is open seasonally.

Pens and other coloring utensils are not allowed in Museum galleries. Pencils are allowed, but we ask that adults carry them while traveling in the galleries.

Resources at the Museum

Visit the Education and Family Information Desk on the second floor of the Museum (near Cafe 2). Volunteers can give you great tips on what not to miss at the Museum, new Ford Family Activity Guides, and suggestions for looking at art together.

Listen to MoMA Audio: Modern Kids, an audio tour specially designed for families with young children. Available inside the Museum on the first and sixth floors.

Looking at Art with Your Children

Take a moment to look at the architecture of the Museum building. Consider: how is the Museum different from other spaces you have been in?

Design your visit around a topic or theme, such as people, places, or things. Look together for works of art within that theme.

Ask your children questions while you are looking at the artworks. Consider: what do you see? What do you see in the art that makes you say that?

Look closely! You can ask your children to name the colors, describe the texture, or list the materials that the artist used. You might play "I Spy" to identify shapes, colors, and objects. Another idea: bring a few squares of different colors or shapes with you, and try to match them with those in different works of art.

Encourage your children to use their imaginations. Consider: what would you see, smell, or hear if you were inside the work of art?

Bring paper and a pencil and allow your children to sketch in the galleries. You might also encourage them to write a story, poem, description, or dialogue inspired by the work of art.

Look at the wall label and read the title of the artwork. Consider: does the title match what you think the work is about? What would you name it? Why?

Try viewing a work of art from different distances. Consider: does it look different up close than it did from far away?

Ideas for Follow-up Activities

Start your own collection at home. Use something your child or family already collects or build up a collection of something around your house, such as buttons, dolls, toy cars, leaves, or rocks. Think about how you would display your collection and whom you might want to share it with. You could even curate your own exhibition at home!

Create your own art inspired by what you saw during your visit to MoMA.

Go to your local library or bookstore to look for more information about an artist or artwork your child particularly liked.

Explore the Web! Younger kids can check out Destination: Modern Art to revisit some of the works they saw at the Museum. Teens can visit Red Studio. You can also look at the collection and research some of your favorite works at www.moma.org/collection.

 

Pictured above, top:
Families looking closely at the Bell-47D1 Helicopter from MoMA's design collection. Photo: Robin Holland

middle:
Sketching in the galleries. Photo: Robin Holland