Pack a sketchbook or paper and pencils so your family can draw and take notes.
Talk about good museum manners, including indoor voices. The most important rule is not to touch the art or glass cases. The touch of a finger can damage art and leave dirt and oil behind.
When you arrive
Head to the Admissions Desk in the lobby to buy tickets and pick up a map.
Be sure to ask for a Brooklyn Museum Bingo card to play as you explore the galleries.
Fuel up for your visit at our Café. (Food and drink aren’t permitted in the galleries.)
While in the galleries
Keep visits short. Focus on a theme or a few objects related to subjects your children enjoy, such as favorite places or animals.
Explore the art with fun activities like sketching, I spy, or Brooklyn Museum Bingo.
Ask children open-ended questions about the art, such as “What’s happening here?” or “What do you think will happen next?”
Also ask compare-and-contrast questions, such as “How is this painting similar to the last one?” or “How is this house different from yours?”
Refer to the five senses with questions such as “What would it sound like if you were in this artwork? How would it smell?”
Read the label aloud. Labels usually include the artwork’s title, artist’s name, materials used, and helpful information from the curator.
Feel free to take pictures in our permanent collections (no flash). Ask about photography restrictions for special exhibitions.
Security staff make sure our artwork and visitors are safe. Please be respectful if they ask you or your children to move back from the artwork.
What does your family want to learn more about? What sparked their curiosity and imagination? Ask questions about your visit, such as “What was your favorite thing we did today?” or “What do you want to go back and see again?”
