10 Educational Benefits of Bringing Children to the Museum
Encourages a Love of History
Museums are the caretakers of history as much as they offer connections to history that can easily be overlooked in traditional classrooms. Whether you bring your child to a children’s museum, art gallery, or science muse
Listening to Stories
While interning at the National Museum of the American Indian (NAMI), I had the opportunity to visit dozens of museums the summer I graduated from college. From the Museum of Modern Art to the Whitney to the Air and Space Museum to Holocaust Memorial Museum, I was able to walk through hundreds of exhibits and learn the importance of storytelling. Museums are full of stories, and it is critical for our children to hear those stories. Stories told at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. not only teach our children history but also encourage empathy.
Compare and Contrast
Museums offer opportunities for children to compare and contrast what is important for them which leads to higher critical thinking skills. An art museum will contain various types of artwork and as they stroll through an exhibit there will be differences in the style, subject matter, and techniques demonstrated in the artwork which can foster interesting conversations.um, history has made a huge impact on the innovation they are witnessing. As parents we don’t have to be experts on subject matters, however reading out the plaques i
Encourages Questions
Visiting a museum opens the door for your child’s curiosity in the form of questions. Some of these will be questions that have answers, questions that should be encouraged, questions that make you think, and questions that may not have answers. All of these questions should b,e encouraged, and don’t worry if you don’t know the answers. Ask your child what they believe the answer is and listen to their reasoning.
Boosts Language Development
At Mommy University, we always look for opportunities to boost language development and it is no surprise that visiting a museum will assist in this process for not only your child but you as well. Visiting the Rubik’s Cube exhibit at Liberty Science Center last year, I was exposed to videos about non-linear problem solving which has now weaved itself into my vocabulary. For young children, boosting language development revolves around identifying words while for older children the exposure to new concepts and ideas will carry higher level vocabulary
n the exhibit and motivating your child to ask questions will encourage a love of history...
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