Art museums are typically quiet places with stark white walls and "no touch" signs. Babies and toddlers are the complete opposite, with loud, stomping feet, and sticky fingers. But art museums allow kids to experience things outside of their own lives, to see colors, shapes, and creativity. Discuss high contrast images, portraits of the human face, animals, the sun and moon, and challenge your kids with new vocabulary based on what they see. Bring something for your kids to hold to keep their hands busy, and scope out a place for them to create their own art in a sketchbook. Here's some of our favorite art museums around Hampton Roads. The best part is, with these museums all being free, you can go for an hour at a time and return whenever you'd like!
- Chrysler Museum: It's no surprise that Chrysler is at the top of our list. I love that they mix in exhibits that kids love like one on Eric Carle and another on video games. Precovid they had a monthly story time with crafts. The Wonder Studio is closed currently, but it is a hands-on changing art room for kids.
- Barry Art Museum: On O.D.U.'s campus, the Barry Art Museum has free designated spaces in the garage behind it. Show kids the doll exhibit and compare to dolls today. We like taking a stroll through the museum before getting a cookie at Insomnia Cookies.
- Museum Of Contemporary Art: The Oceanfront's M.O.C.A. has regular family days as well as classes and camps for kids. Be sure to check out the room where kids can draw.
- Hermitage Museum: We absolutely love the Hermitage Museum. The outside of the museum is something dreamed up from a story book. The water overlooks the Norfolk Terminal, and kids can look out and watch the cranes taking the containers off the ships. Inside, the museum has a section of rotating exhibits (we loved the gingerbread houses in December), as well as permanent exhibits. Ask for a scavenger hunt at the desk.
