Or…hints on visiting the Met Museum with granddaughters 10, 9 and 7 guided by 2 grandmothers.
I’m pretty sure that most of you already know much of what is in this post, but I’m going to tell you anyway just in case. These hints have worked for me over the years when going with young children. Older kids are a whole other story to be saved for another time.
FOR A FUN VISIT
Suggestion 1: Really helps to have a partner with you – my co-grandmother was the best! Keep your sense of humor (lol)
Suggestion 2: Go early. In fact, if you can get there when the museum opens all the better. It gets very crowded as the day progresses especially on weekends or holidays. We went on President’s Day and met at 10.
Suggestion 3: Although it’s fun going up those big steps to enter the Met, if you can manage them (kids fine, but grandmothers…not so much), an alternative is to use the entrance on 81st street, which is left of the steps facing the museum. The lines are less, there’s a bathroom, coat check, not as crazy as main floor and no steps!
Suggestion 4: Have a plan. Take plenty of photos. Be sure everyone has a map of the museum and check out any special events.
Suggestion 5: Start with something they have seen before and liked or never saw, but you think they would like. We headed to the Temple of Dendur walking through the Egyptian wing with all those hieroglyphics and mummies and jewels… a big hit!
Suggestion 6: Definitely see the knights and armor right off the American Wing. One granddaughter, after looking at them with their lances. weapons and shields ready to battle said, “And I’m afraid of the basketball?”
Suggestion 7: See the classics and watch out for boredom. It can happen quickly. Impressionists are good as is the contemporary wing. We only made it to the impressionists, which they liked as they recognized some of the works.
Suggestion 8: Any special exhibits? We saw JEWELRY: THE BODY TRANSFORMED with unique pieces, such as these sandals. It was our unanimous opinion that they would be very uncomfortable especially with one toe missing.
We took our photos under the glass enclosed gold jeweled encrusted crown pretending we were wearing it atop our heads. The other wasn’t bad — but we went for the bling
Suggestion 9: Eat before they are starving. Go early! Cafeteria downstairs is great and has all the food they like. During lunch we talked about our favorite artists. One of our granddaughters couldn’t remember an artist’s name, but said he was her favorite. He drew pictures without faces she said and sketched a rough drawing on her paper cup. We all knew at once who the artist was, just couldn’t remember the name either. So we googled it and discovered, of course, Keith Haring!
Suggestion 10: Before you leave stop at the gift shop for a souvenir. Price limit is a good idea. We set under $10…lots of choices, they were happy. We had stayed about four hours, which is just about the right amount of time for this age group. I think! We all had a really great time.
CLOSING WITH MY USUAL ‘LOVE THIS CITY’ WITH THE ADDITION OF “AND LOVE SHARING IT WITH GRANDCHILDREN”!
KAY’S NOTES:
It was really fun and they want to do it again. In fact, our next trip will be to The Whitney. A whole other vibe as suggested by my good friend and co-grandmother! Of course, we’ll return to the Met we only touched the tip of this cultural masterpiece.
Photos courtesy of Met Museum, Keith Haring Foundation, The Whitney and my smart phone.
Disclaimer: I try for correct info on my posts, but no guarantees people.
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