Summary
MoMA might not be the first museum you think of visiting with your children but think again—MoMA staff have put together an amazing array of resources to make visiting the museum with your kids a pleasant and rewarding experience.
Practical Advice
- The MoMA is open daily, except on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
- Admission is always free for visitors 16 and under—however, it’s best to avoid the free admission times at MoMA with kids, as it tends to be crowded, making it difficult to keep track of little ones or truly enjoy the art. It is ideal to visit the museum when it first opens, when galleries are at their quietest.
- Strollers are allowed in the galleries, which makes navigating easier.
- Sketching is allowed in the galleries, but only with pencils—parents are asked to help hold pencils for children while moving through the galleries.
- Before your visit, find out if there are particular artists or works of art that your kids have been studying in school or would like to see.
- A visit to the sculpture garden is a great way to break up your time at the MoMA. Kids can enjoy ice cream or cookies and expend some energy. You might even find other kids playing hide and seek, which adds to the fun. Parents can relax with a wine or beer and recharge before returning to the galleries.
- An audio tour is an excellent tool for exploring the museum—MoMA offers an engaging, exciting audio tour particularly appealing to kids. It also serves as a treasure hunt for young visitors to find pieces that correspond with the children’s audio tour content.
- Looking At Art With Your Kids—Valuable advice and suggestions for engaging your children with art are available.
At The Museum
- Stop by the 2nd Floor Education and Family Information Desk for helpful advice, and pick up the free Family Activity Guides, Family Visit brochures, and the Family Programs schedule. On a recent visit, we received a Passport that the kids could get stamped on each floor of the museum, which they loved.
- The MoMA Art Lab, located in the educational building, offers hands-on, interactive activities for all visitors and is open whenever the museum is.
- The museum’s gift shop is filled with great souvenirs—it’s an ideal spot for buying gifts.
- Get the MoMA App—it helps you locate specific pieces of art and includes access to the audio tour.
Audio Tours
- Modern Kids—This audio tour is both fun and engaging, guiding kids (and adults!) through many highlights of MoMA’s collection.
- MoMA Teen Audio—This dynamic audio guide was created for teens, by teens, and is designed to keep young visitors engaged.
Family Programs
- MoMA offers a variety of programs for kids as young as four and their families. Admission is free for up to two adults and three children per group.
- The “A Closer Look For Kids” program is a free and easy way to explore the museum with your kids without the stress of engaging them or worrying they might disrupt other visitors.
