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Tips for
Visiting with Children |
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The attention span of young children can be very short. They
may find a security officer, a long flight of stairs, or a decorative
foundation more interesting than the exhibitions you had in
mind. Visit the exhibitions or galleries that the youngest children
want to see first. If you are traveling with preschoolers, plan
to spend no more than an hour in any one museum. |
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Another way to keep children interested is to talk about the
exhibition being visited. Encourage their imagination. Ask them
to pretend to be that object, animal, or person. Or pick a theme—like
animals—and have the children find animals in the museum. |
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There's much to see and do at the Smithsonian. When a child
becomes restless, suggest a change of pace. Visit a discovery
room or a hands-on exhibition area. Ask at any museum information
desk for locations, hours, and other suggestions. |
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Interactive computers are in many Smithsonian exhibitions. Visit
the Air and Space Museum's
How Things Fly; Natural History Museum's Geology,
Gems, and Mineral Hall; and National Postal Museum's What's
in the Mail for You. |
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The Museum Stores
have a great selection of children's books. Stop by the Natural
History Museum or Castle Cafe for a gelato treat (special ice
cream) or at one of the museum's cafes. Have a family picnic
on the National Mall. Take a stroll through the various gardens
or look for butterflies in the summer in the Butterfly
Habitat Garden just east of the Natural History Museum by
9th Street. |
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