 | | W. Chamberlin, Co-op Member | Better than you'd think! Kids are often more open to art than adults, and this is much of the best on the planet. Two HUGE buildings (and you can point out that one of them has no windows). The West Building focuses on classic Western art - Impressionist paintings, Roman sculpture, etc. The East Building is more focused on modern art; kids really love the the enormous Alexander Calder mobile. There is also an outdoor sculpture garden where children can run around or even ice skate in winter. Kid-friendly things to note: the cafeteria in the basement between the two buildings has a fountain that kids just love as well as a mesmerizing LED light display in the tunnel. A large section of the gift shop is dedicated to children's materials, and the West Building offers, for under $5, a Children's Audio Tour of the Dutch and Flemish galleries (think Rembrandt).
If your child has read _Chasing Vermeer_ by Blue Balliet, make sure to stop and see the original of "A Lady Writing". Also, we found that Evan-Moor's _How to Teach Art to Children_ was EXCELLENT preparation for really understanding the pieces.
Seriously, it sounds crazy but this is one of our favorite DC field trips. |
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| | Doreen M., Co-op Member | If you are going with kids - pick up a scavenger hunt paper at the info booth. It makes the field trip fun. The museum offers free family classes on Sundays - but you will have to sign up in advance to grab a spot. We have enjoyed every one we have had the opportunity to join in. The museum also offers a variety of tours for school age children - targeting specific topics and age groups.
*My husband and I love having date days at the museum. We have been several times and still haven't seen it all. |
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