About Heather Camlot
A freelance writer, crafts junkie and mom of two, Heather Camlot is constantly on the lookout for that elusive work-life balance she hears so much about. Read about Heather's never ending search for five minutes to herself while trying to meet deadlines, make the school bus and raise two fantastic children.
Did you catch the article a few weeks ago about the woman who accidentally tore a hole in Picasso’s “The Actor” while taking an art class at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York? Can you imagine how awful she must have felt? And, the writer went on to point out, how that same dread must fill the hearts of parents who dare take their children to adult museums.
I've taken my kids to big-people museums. I’m always careful to hold their hands and stand far enough away from the exhibit so they can’t reach out and touch, but I can't be 100 per cent sure such "security" measures will work. (Distracted for only a minute, one mom interviewed for the aforementioned article admitted she found her 18-month-old on top of Elvis Presley’s grave while the rest of the family waited in line at the gravesite. Yikes.)
It's natural to want to touch and explore. That's how kids learn -- and that’s why some major museums have hands-on sections, not to mention all the museums created exclusively for little hands.
The next time you decide to thrill your children with a real-world education, check your local directory first for do-touch galleries and museums. Here’s but a start:
If your kids want to explore even more, pull out the paper and crayons when you get home and let your budding artists unleash their creativity -- in a safe and washable environment.
Thought that was sweet? You'll enjoy:
Image: CIBC Discovery Gallery. © Royal Ontario Museum, 2009. All rights reserved.
