国产探花

What is too much for a child at a museum?

Smithsonian museums in the nation鈥檚 capital have seen steady increases in attendance since the Covid-19 pandemic. 

That means a new set of parents are trying to engage their children in important and sometimes challenging topics. Navigating issues from the Holocaust to U.S. slavery requires special attention 鈥� and visitors over the Memorial Day weekend gave it their all.

For some parents, the solution is letting children take the lead, whether through museum-created or by children choosing exhibits based on their own interests rather than the parents鈥�.

Other families are unpacking traumatic historical topics, finding interactive pieces for children to grasp without exposing them to age-inappropriate content. 

London resident Will Ellis visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture with his 10-year-old son. Compared to European institutions, he said American museums tend to center heavily around narratives. 

His son sat in the museum鈥檚 section devoted to Civil Rights activism. His eyes were glued to an explanatory video.

鈥淕oing through topics like the slave trade is almost too difficult for him because it鈥檚 almost too abstract,鈥� Ellis said. 鈥淭he TVs and the touch screens help keep him engaged.鈥�

Sections of the NMAAHC included content warnings about difficult and graphic images, which were outlined in red.

For museums outside of the Smithsonian facilities, parents also decide when their children won鈥檛 understand portions of the work.

At the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Virginia resident Nancy Goltsman and her family gazed at the Children鈥檚 Tile Wall, a 1990 exhibit made of over 3,300 tiles hand-painted by children with their impressions of the Holocaust.

Goltsman went to the museum when she was younger, and remembered feeling a connection to the museum鈥檚 ID card exhibit, where visitors receive ID cards of individuals who lived through the Holocaust, and what they faced.

鈥淚 remember how heavy it is,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e remember so it [the Holocaust] doesn鈥檛 repeat, and the only way it doesn鈥檛 repeat is if we carry this information generation to generation.鈥�

This time, she brought her 10-year-old daughter Shaynah and her 5-year-old son, Ari. She hopes to introduce them to more museums as they age to give the children some foundation before they鈥檙e taught more in the public school system. 

鈥淭his way, when more details of the story come to light in schooling, they are prepared for it,鈥� she said. 

Ari was only allowed to visit the Children鈥檚 Tile Wall, but Goltsman said she thought it connected with him. They will explore the rest of the museum when he鈥檚 older.

鈥淔rankly, from a respect standpoint, he would not be respectful enough for those exhibits,鈥� she said as Ari sprinted laps around the museum hallways.

Young museum-goers in charge.

For those a little closer to the District of Columbia, visiting every museum 鈥� regardless of intended age 鈥� can become a regular family activity.

Steven Santomauro鈥檚 Maryland family makes near-weekly trips to the area鈥檚 larger museums. His 6-year-old son, Grayson, leads the family鈥檚 choice of museum, as well as choice in what exhibits they visit.

The frequent museum visits have made Grayson a critic 鈥� he dislikes sculptures, hates modern art, and disliked 鈥渁ll the art鈥� in the National Museum of Asian Art, though he said he liked some works there on the Buddha.His parents attributed Grayson鈥檚 strong opinions to his current mood rather than his overall view of the museums.

鈥淗e鈥檚 in a grumpy mood today,鈥� Steven Santomauro said.