Because you can’t see it all

We are planning a journey into the Big Apple for my son’s seventh birthday in a couple of weeks.  He wishes to return to what he calls the Great Museum of Natural History (AMNH) and also wants to go to the place that has the knights.  So this will be his first trip to the MET where along with the grand displays of the armour, little gems from the period like this can be viewed.

Museum going can overwhelming for folks of any age.  Our years living in New York City taught us the value of having a clear plan because our ability to absorb what we are seeing is limited.  After 90 minutes or so of constant viewing you can start to feel the energy level fade pretty quickly.

When visiting an art museum we normally have one specific work of art that we wish to really “see.”  That process might include thirty minutes to an hour just viewing that piece of artwork, note taking and sketching, with a few return viewings during the rest of the stay.

Along with our focus on the primary piece of art, we often will pick one collection or show to view during the visit.  For instance, we may decide to see the Greek vases or the American Wing of painting.  Then we remain open to the unexpected works that grab our attention as we navigate through the galleries.

What I’m stressing here is that the touring plans that the museums lay out for visitors with color coded maps may not lead to the best experience for you and your group.  They may provide an strategy to see the “most important” pieces in the entire collection within a limited time frame, but that says nothing about the works that will speak to your interests.  

What are your thoughts about introducing children into the practice of museum going?  What strategies have worked for you?  Any disasters?