6 Ways To Celebrate International Museum Day With Kids

What is International Museum Day? This special day takes place on or around May 18th each year and aims to raise awareness of the importance of museums worldwide. International Museum Day is a time to reflect on the cultural value of museums in our lives and to appreciate all the ways that we can learn from these vital establishments.

Each year, International Museum Day has a theme that represents an issue or topic the global community is currently facing. So what is the message of International Museum Day this year? In 2023, the theme is “Museums, Sustainability and Well-being”. It’s a fitting theme that ties together many societal issues, and we’re so excited to celebrate!

What is the power of museum visits for my child?
Introducing your child to the wonder of museums at a young age can set the scene for a lifelong appreciation of everything these cultural institutions have to offer. Museums are places of learning and discovery for people of all ages, and getting your child interested at an early age is a wonderful idea. What’s more, children are naturally curious and inquisitive – and museums are the perfect place to explore! A museum visit is also a fantastic way to get your child’s creative juices flowing.

How to participate in International Museum Day 2023
There are many fun educational activities parents and teachers can do with their children and students to celebrate International Museum Day. Of course, we’d recommend supporting your local museums year-round, to ensure their survival. However, as this special day comes around just once a year, pay close attention to your local or favorite museum’s schedule of events on May 18th to see if they have any unique celebrations taking place.

Aside from this, we’ve put together our own list of tips for visiting museums with kids, which are sure to help you get the most out of the day. Let’s dive in!

1. Go to a local museum
This may seem like an obvious way to get involved, but have you thought about checking out that museum in town that you’ve been meaning to go to for a while and just… never have? Well, maybe 2023 is the year to change that! Some smaller, lesser-known museums have wonderful collections that are kid-friendly and may be less hectic than their larger, more popular counterparts. Museums come in all shapes and sizes, and you never know – you may discover your new favorite museum in the world during your International Museum Day 2023 visit!

2. Ask questions
If there’s a particular exhibit your child is passionate about, encourage them to get curious and ask questions – either to a nearby staff member or to you directly. To go one step further, why not ask your child to make a list of all their in-depth questions and you can do some research together online after your visit? This can help tie in their natural interest and inquisitive nature with some practical research skills, and who knows – you may have a budding archaeologist or historian on your hands!

3. Take time in each exhibit
Put aside some quality time on May 18th for you and your child to make the most of your museum visit, so that you aren’t rushing around from place to place. Soak in the information available at each stop along the way, and focus on really enjoying the exhibits, instead of taking in the whole museum at a shallow level. Your child is likely to feel overwhelmed if they’re exposed to too much fresh information, especially at a fast pace, so take it easy and allow them to really get involved in the displays that speak to them the most.

4. Do a virtual visit
Many museums have online options where you can take a quick look at their exhibits from the comfort of your own home. This is a really great alternative to an in-person visit, especially if your closest museum is miles away and/or you’re pressed for time. This also has the added benefit of avoiding the hassle of traveling to and from the building itself, and you can stop the visit whenever you or your child are ready! The only downside may be that your child misses out on some of the hands-on exhibits found at many museums, but this is still a great and convenient International Museum Day option.

5. Create art
Get creative at home this year! Why not replicate some of your favorite pieces of art from museums worldwide, like the Mona Lisa or a Van Gogh, and ask your child to find something they like for inspiration too? By encouraging your child to paint, draw, or sculpt, you can get them thinking about the value of art in our museums too – another reason why International Museum Day should be celebrated.

6. Read and research
In the absence of a local museum, or if you simply can’t make the trip, why not do some research with your child? You could focus on the case of a famous museum, talking about its exhibits, how many visitors it gets each year, etc. Alternatively, you could choose a period of history that your child really enjoys learning about and read a book together on this topic. Make sure you explain that museums are important for their role in telling the tale of various periods in history, preserving artifacts, and housing artworks created by the greats. Visiting a museum doesn’t need to be the only way to celebrate International Museum Day 2023!

Featured image by Simon Infanger at Unsplash