Lizzie Lambson at the Denver Art Museum

How to Enjoy an Art Museum with Grandchildren

Note: Kids 18 and younger receive free general admission to the DAM.


I’ve been going to museums for most of my life. I like going with my grandparents because I love spending time with them. We go to zoos, the aquarium, science museums, and art museums. We get to see art and other interesting things, do activities, and shop. I like to hear their perspectives about the artworks and how it might compare to stories from their lives. We moved to Denver a year and a half ago, so now I get to go to the Denver Art Museum with my family.

Here are some things I love about the Denver Art Museum:

  • The Studio is one of my favorites out of everything because it is fun and interactive. I like to design on my own while my grandparents sit in the comfy chairs. Then I usually show them what I made and ask them to take a picture.
  • The art! The artworks are unique and each piece has its own style. Some of my favorite artworks are from the Japanese art collection. Some examples of things I like from the collection are the ink drawings, fashion, and samurai display. One time we came with my school and did the Japan tour. We had a tea ceremony, got to feel different paintbrushes, and hold a katana, or Japanese sword. It was a little heavier than I expected. That was cool!

Tips for grandparents when taking kids to art museums:

  • Read labels and give funny views of the art so that kids understand more of what they're seeing.
  • Make sure to do some interactive stuff so you are not just looking all the time. The activities help you get a better feel for how the artist goes through the design process.
  • The right amount of time to stay is around an hour and a half because younger kids can get tired and cranky. You can always go back.
  • Always go to the gift shop!