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The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53 Street
New York, NY 10019-5497
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There are many ways to look at modern and contemporary art with children. Below are tips for planning your visit to MoMA, practical information for once you arrive at the Museum, suggestions for looking at art with children, and ideas for follow-up activities.
Discuss with your children what they think they might see at a museum of modern and contemporary art.
Talk about Museum rules with your child. Explain that they are not allowed to touch the art. This is to protect the objects from the natural oils on our fingers that can leave harmful prints.
Find out about exhibitions on view during your visit that might interest you and your family.
Look into attending a free Family Program. You may also schedule a paid private tour for your family through Group Services.
Visit one of our websites for kids Destination: Modern Art.
Try not to see too much in one visit—depending on your child's age, aim for thirty to ninety minutes—and remember to take breaks.
Visit the Education and Family Information Desk on the second floor of the Museum (near Cafe 2). Pick up Family Activity Guides, information on Family Programs , and suggestions from volunteers.
Listen to MoMA Audio: Modern Kids, a free audio program for kids ages 5-12. Available at the Audio Program desks on the first and sixth floors.
Stop by the Reading Room in the Cullman Education Building. Find books for kids and adults, MoMA.guide, and check out scheduled interactive spaces.
Baby strollers are allowed in the Museum galleries or can be stored in the checkroom, located in the main lobby. Backpacks and large bags are not allowed in the galleries and must be left in the checkroom.
Baby changing stations are located in the women's and men's restrooms, near the escalators on each floor. A private restroom on the fifth floor is available for breastfeeding.
Outside food and drinks are not permitted in the Museum. A children's menu and highchairs are available in Cafe 2, on the second floor. The café in the garden is open seasonally.
Pens and other coloring utensils are not allowed in Museum galleries. Pencils are allowed, but we ask that adults carry them while traveling in the galleries.
Start your own collection at home! Create a collection from objects around your house, such as buttons, dolls, toy cars, leaves, or rocks. How will you arrange and display your collection?
Create your own art inspired by what you saw during your visit to MoMA.
Visit your local library or MoMA Store for books about an artist or artwork your child especially liked.
Explore the Web! Kids ages five through eight can check out Destination: Modern Art for a virtual visit to MoMA and MoMA PS1.
Learn more. Explore the collection and research some of your favorite works at MoMA.org/collection.
Ten ideas for looking at art with kids
1. Ask your kids questions while looking at works of art, such as: What do you see? What do you see in the art that makes you say that?
2. Look closely! Ask your kids to name the colors, describe the texture, or list the materials that the artist used.
3. Explore the architecture of the Museum building. What do you see from the windows? How many bridges do you cross?
4. Play "I Spy" to identify shapes, colors, and objects in works of art.
5. Bring paper and a pencil to sketch in the galleries. Write a story or poem. Create a conversation between the characters in a work of art.
6. Design your visit around a topic or theme, such as people, places, or things.
7. Use your imaginations! Ask your kids what they would see, smell, or hear if they were inside a work of art.
8. Look at the wall label and read the title of the artwork. Does the title match what you think the work is about? What would you name it? Why?
9. View a work of art from different distances. Does it look different up close than it did from far away?
10. Be creative! Invent your own game.
Take a moment to look at the architecture of the Museum building. Consider: how is the Museum different from other spaces you have been in?
Design your visit around a topic or theme, such as people, places, or things. Look together for works of art within that theme.
Ask your children questions while you are looking at the artworks. Consider: what do you see? What do you see in the art that makes you say that?
Look closely! You can ask your children to name the colors, describe the texture, or list the materials that the artist used. You might play "I Spy" to identify shapes, colors, and objects. Another idea: bring a few squares of different colors or shapes with you, and try to match them with those in different works of art.
Encourage your children to use their imaginations. Consider: what would you see, smell, or hear if you were inside the work of art?
Bring paper and a pencil and allow your children to sketch in the galleries. You might also encourage them to write a story, poem, description, or dialogue inspired by the work of art.
Look at the wall label and read the title of the artwork. Consider: does the title match what you think the work is about? What would you name it? Why?
Try viewing a work of art from different distances. Consider: does it look different up close than it did from far away?
