Giving Our Kids a Summer to Remember

This is the first in a three-part series.

Summer isn’t nearly over yet. For many kids, summer camps are ending and there is quite a bit of time to fill if we intend to keep them happy, engaged, and busy. Fortunately, we have some great options nearby for a fun change of pace and, as an added bonus, these can be learning opportunities. So let’s give our kids a summer to remember, and let’s do it without breaking the bank.

One great way to spend a day with the kids, in good or bad weather, is to go to a museum. While this is hardly a new idea, consider specifically some of the wonderful art museums to which we all have access. Locally, the Walters Art Museum and Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) are both fantastic options. If you’re feeling even more adventurous, The National Gallery of Art and Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden are on the mall in Washington, DC. Guess what? They all have free admission.

The Walters offers a kid-friendly family guide and, on weekends, a dedicated art room/play area for free drop-in art activities. Going well-beyond a typical art museum, the Walters has an intriguing array of historical art and artifacts to inspire discussion and pique the interest of all your family members.

The BMA offers an Artful Stories audio tour and on Sunday afternoons, they offer hands-on workshops and tours designed specifically for families. In August, these activities specialize in various types of sculpture.

As you stroll through the exhibits with your kids, you can see how they marvel at certain pieces. Take the opportunity to ask lots of open-ended questions to spur deeper conversation:

• How do you think the artist made this?
• What do you think is going on in this picture?
• How does this piece of art make you feel? Why?

As we all view art in different ways, be sure to encourage your children’s points-of-view while sharing your own, demonstrating that the power of art can often lie in our individual interpretations.  Let their interests guide your way through the museum and you’ll see their imaginations at work. Keep in mind; it doesn’t have to stop there. On the way home, talk about their favorite art work or gallery - the use of color, texture, and space. Talk about other museums you could go to in the future.

While you could just leave it at that, you could also get them excited about making their own art work. Seize all that inspiration and fill the rest of the day by creating your own art museum at home. Pick a wall and dedicate it as your family art gallery. Have them create – paint, draw, sculpt – anything they want and then talk with them about it. Ask them to explain it to you. Then have them title their pieces much like each piece of art work was tagged at the museum. You’ll be surprised and amused by how their minds work and you’ll give them a great sense of accomplishment. You can foster that inspiration and creativity, and even come away with some fantastic story-accompanied artwork for your home or to send to relatives. Before you know it, you have sped through a full and wonderful summer day with your kids, complete with culture, education, inspiration and exploration.

Paul Katz is a freelance writer based in Owings Mills and a stay-at-home dad with four-year-old twins. You can see his local contributions on Patch, and you can follow his parenting blog at http://stuckwithdad.com or on Twitter @stuckwithdad.