Every trip to Paris should include a visit to an art museum,
even with kids! We visited several art museums last year on our trip and the kids thoroughly enjoyed each one. Ellie, who was seven, might have loved them most! I’m not exaggerating either. These tips will help kids enjoy art museums, whether in Paris, France or Paris, Kentucky.
3 Tips for Visiting Art Museums with Kids
1. Learn about the art ahead of time.
Before we traveled, we explored a few famous pieces with Ellie online. When she saw the pieces in real life, she got excited. It’s one thing to see the Mona Lisa on a screen or in a book, but it’s entirely different to see it in real life! She spouted off facts about each piece we had studied and really felt “big” to know more than her brothers sometimes!
Bottom right photo is Ellie’s reaction to seeing the Mona Lisa for the first time!
2. Take your time exploring the pieces that interest you most. You don’t need to see it all!
The sheer size of the Louvre makes exploring everything impossible. Throw in the rest of Paris’ art museums and you could spend your entire life there. Instead, explore the pieces that most intrigue you (they may not be the most famous pieces in the museum) and walk past the rest. When kids can focus on what interests them, they’ll remember the experience. However, when they’re forced to study the “important” pieces, they may grow to resent art, not appreciate it.
Ben was thoroughly engrossed by this piece at the Centre Georges Pompidou
3. Make it fun!
The photos of Ellie (above) capture our daughter perfectly. She’s funny and expressive! Allowing her to imitate statue poses or “ponder” the deep intricacies of modern art kept her engaged. As we covered miles of museums, we found humor in much of it. That doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate the significance of ancient or modern art or everything in between. We simply enjoyed the moments of inspiration triggered by various pieces! It’s OKAY to misinterpret a piece of art now and then… It’s about how a piece captures you, not about stuffy reverence (Of course, do be respectful of other museum-goers).
Somewhere I wrote down what this piece really is, but our first impression was, “WOW! I’m glad watches got smaller!”
After a day of museums, we collapsed into our seats on the metro and headed back to our apartment. I expected Ellie to fall asleep, but she surprised me (and a whole lot of other metro passengers) when she exclaimed, “Look, Mom! I made modern art!”
A year later, she still says, “Remember when we saw Venus de Milo at the Louvre and I looked just like her?” I’m thrilled that she remembers, and not just that, but that she remembers it fondly!
Have you explored an art museum with kids? What’s your favorite tip for making it fun ~ and memorable?
Andrew says
That’s a great advice! Because, frankly a lot of art museums are quite tiring, especially if you go there with kids.
Brittnei says
Wow! I’m impressed. The pictures look wonderful and I love the ideas to keeping the kids engaged. I will be sure to come back for more tips. My little one is on 1 years old but this is great to know!
Cody says
Great tips! Definitely marking these down for future reference. And, I love the new look of your blog!
Karen Dawkins says
Thanks! And Thanks!
Michele {Malaysian Meanders} says
Did you know there’s a Paris, Texas, too? We are planning our own trip to Paris (France), and these tips will definitely come in handy. It’s funny that I immediately thought of the Louvre when I saw your thumbnail link on BTS and was completely surprised to discover that’s the exact museum you cover in the post.
Karen Dawkins says
There’s also a Paris, Tennessee, but they don’t have an art museum! I will be sharing more Paris, France trip planning tips in the near future, so come back! If you have any questions, I’m happy to help as well. Email me!
Faith says
I would have never thought about not seeing everything, I always felt obligated to visit each piece of art in a museum. I feel better knowing that other people don’t stop to see them all either. 🙂
Karen Dawkins says
Faith, I hereby free you from that sense of obligation. Go to the museum! Enjoy the pieces that interest you and feel free to move along!!! 🙂 Happy travels!
budget jan says
All of your photos are wonderful and I love the sneaker shot, which shows personality – we are not big on museums but having a daughter who is an artist I have been in the odd art gallery 🙂
Karen Dawkins says
I didn’t expect her to enjoy the museums as much as she did. The advance preparation really made the whole experience more exciting for us all.
Rachel says
The first tip is such a great idea. I hadn’t thought about how cool it must be to see the pieces you’ve read about come alive! Your daughter is so lovely, too! She clearly is having the time of her life!!
Karen Dawkins says
It really worked for my daughter. I was also thrilled that my sons would not leave the Louvre until they saw the Code of Hammurabi, something we had studied homeschooling about 5 years earlier. While it was less impressive than they expected in person, the fact of its age and significance was not lost. One of my boys even explained it to another English-speaking visitor who questioned why it held such a prominent placement in the Louvre.
Lisa from Gone With The Family says
I think that our two daughters could have a lot of fun posing together! 😉 We have had a lot of fun visits to museums – as you point out, it’s just a matter of preparation and adjusting expectations.
Karen Dawkins says
We need to coordinate travel plans and cross paths on purpose! Obviously, for our daughters…. it’s not about us!
Christy says
Looks like your daughter had fun touring this muesum. It has been a while since I went to the museum. My husband and I were going to go to one a few weeks ago, but dummy me forgot to take my medicine with me so we opted for a movie instead.
Karen Dawkins says
I hope you get to a museum soon. They are so much fun.
Maria Alexandra @LatinAbroad says
OMG, I absolutely ANDORE that first photo of your little girl! So cute 😀
and great tips to travel with kids. I don’t have one, but I do have a little nephew that I plan to take over the world with me! 😉
– Maria Alexandra
Karen Dawkins says
She’s a ham when the camera comes near. If only Disney would discover her, I could retire early. Tee hee!!!! Enjoy the world through a child’s eyes. It’s amazing!
Kate @Wild Tales of... says
Great tips! I will definitely keep these in mind as we begin to visit museums more and more with our little guy. A little prior knowledge is so great for everyone–then you have something to connect to once you are there.
Karen Dawkins says
Very true. We started doing advanced research when my boys were younger and preparing to get their sister from China. We toured the Forbidden City and my older son (then 9) knew the answer to every question our guide asked! He still remembers almost everything about it and has shared a lot of that with his sister, which isn’t too shabby since he’s now 19!
April - My Bizarre Family says
I’m just sooooo jealous…or “jelly” as my daughter would say! I’d love to go to Paris (France) some day! Great tips, by the way! I love museums.
Karen Dawkins says
You aren’t interested in Paris, Kentucky? Tee hee!!! Thanks for the compliment. Obviously, we had a blast.
Liz @ Pardon My Poppet says
One more tip: find out ahead of time if part of the museum closes on certain days. We went to the Louvre just to see Monet. Turns out in 2003, the Monet wing was closed every Tuesday! Guess we’ll just have to go back! 🙂
Karen Dawkins says
Great advice, Liz. Most Paris museums are closed on Mondays. The same is true in many cities, which I find interesting.
Susan says
Great photos. You really look like you had fun in Paris (France, right?). haha!
Karen Dawkins says
Yes, Paris, France! Imagine how tourism in Paris, Kentucky would change if the Louvre relocated. LOL