That your little son enjoys art is not a utopia. These are ten ideas so that, little by little, you can assimilate artistic activities as part of your world.
Don’t force it.
Of course, if your son doesn’t want to go, don’t force him. Much less does it occur to you to change a super-sensible plan (play with your friends, go to the movies…) to go see sculptures and pictures. With that you will only make him hate them.
Arouse their interest
It is not a question of giving too many clues. It is about your child knowing that he is going to the museum, but not knowing in detail what he is going to see there. In this way, you give rise to surprise, to discovery. The important thing is that you arouse their interest, that’s where your creativity comes into play.
Relate art to your day today
For you to have fun, you have to see things you can recognize. You must be very skilled in explaining to him through his experience. For example, if they are watching Las Meninas, ask them what he sees there. Perhaps what most catches your attention are the rare skirts they wore. Then tell her that fashion changes, that when the painting was painted, women wore those kinds of skirts and men suits like the one worn by that man who appears in the image, Velázquez himself. Well, once you’ve hooked him up, now you can tell him about the painter, why he painted for the kings, about…
Don’t spend as much time yet
The tour of the museum should not last more than an hour. You can’t expect a child to be attentive (or entertaining) any longer. It is not about seeing everything, nor even seeing much, but about enjoying art. Choosing a few works and explaining it with interest is the best for your little one to take a liking to this art. That you don’t have a museum nearby? Do not worry, there is also art in buildings, in churches, stations, ruins… If you are looking for it, surely something will be close to you.
Knowledge does not matter but enjoyment
It is not essential that children leave the museum with many academic concepts. The important thing is that they enjoy and learn to look at the works. And for this it is important that you use a language that they are able to understand. In museums, those responsible for organized visits for children have a good trick to get their attention and to understand their explanations: use many synonyms.
Don’t make it obligation
If you see that it has lost interest and is not able to resume it, it is advisable to leave it for another day or take a break and play something for a while. But outside the museum, in the garden … never in the same room where they are seeing the works. Or how about, have a drink and then continue. Going to the museum is not like going to school, it is not compulsory. If your little one believes that enjoying art is another task, you won’t really like it.
Get them involved
What do you see here? Can you find a burrito in the box? Getting her to interact with the works is the best way to instill a love of art in her. In fact, almost all the art galleries that offer children’s programs have workshops where children put their skills to the test.
Make art a family gathering
It is clear that if you or your partner are not fans or enjoy the visit, they will hardly be able to transmit enthusiasm to your child. So it would be nice if the museum were a kind of family gathering, something that the whole family would enjoy.
If children do not enjoy, they will not love art. At these ages, what they are most excited to do is play, laugh, move, feel great, discover…
and if they can do it in a museum, they will like it.