Tips for taking the reluctant 5 year old to an art museum (by Michelle)

If you are on your way to Paris and your 5 year old suddenly, and emphatically, declares, " . . . and I am NOT going to any more art museums. No way!", here are some tips and games that might help. We managed to sneak in about 5 hours of art museums in 2 days (a feat at any age) and for the most part it was pretty painless for Eva and wonderful for the rest of us. (I indicate before each below picture whether it is from the Musee Orsay or the Louvre.)

1. Since Eva wasn't enthusiastic about the museums we decided to split up the effort, so David took the art-enthusiast boys and we would meet up every half hour or so. This was a good move.

2. The best game is merely asking questions about any picture that they take interest in-- "What do you think is going on in this picture? Why did the artist included the little dog poking his head out in the top left? Can you figure out which person is Jesus in the painting? How can you tell?" etc. LOUVRE3. Look at the map ahead of time and find something that interests them and then trade off a little. "OK, we'll go see the crowns for you after we look at these rooms of French paintings for me."
4. Of all the paintings in this room . . . "which painting of a woman looks the most like a princess?" (Princesses are an important reference point for my 5 year old.) OR "which painting is the creepiest?" (the boys love this one) OR "which painting would you most want to be in and I'll take your picture in front of it." ORSAY5. Switching off with a supportive spouse is a must. LOUVRE6. "I spy a statue . . . " (with a funny hat; that looks really happy, scary, strong; like someone I know; that is having fun; etc.) ORSAY7. If your 5 year old decides that she wants to sit on the bench and watch the young, handsome, French artist painting, " . . . well, okay, I guess so, for a minute. Or two." LOUVRE8. We didn't do this, but we noticed a family with smaller children had brought in markers and a sketch pad and let the kids choose a painting to try and duplicate while sitting on a bench. We'll have to try this sometime at home.
9. Did I mention, switching off with the supportive spouse? LOUVRE10. In the end you may have to resort to non-art tactics. "Here, take the map and see if you can figure out how to get us out of this maze." and then we wander a little more. LOUVRE
11. The reality. As a last resort use the guerilla tactic of parenting . . . the BRIBE. (After hours, Eva had had it, but I hadn't yet seen the Vermeer, "We just need to make it to room 38 and then we can leave and go and get a treat or something. Let's count down the rooms as we hurry along. 20, 21, 22, 23 . . . " (No exaggeration here, the Louvre has 100s of rooms! And, yes, it is overwhelming, but worth it.)

Make a comment and add some other fun tips to my list.

(Special thanks and credit goes to Heidi Rodeback for a Relief Society lesson and handout, "How to take your kids to an art museum" from 12 YEARS AGO. WOW! Thanks Heidi, you know you're a great teacher when your students remember what you taught from one lesson so long ago!)