MoMA's Free Family Programs Are Great for Parents, Too

6/14/07 - By Anna Fader
The Museum of Modern Art hosts many incredible free family programs that introduce children and adults to the richly varied world of modern art through guided walks, art workshops, artist talks, film screenings, special events, activity guides and Web sites. Programs provide an approach to looking at and talking about art that enable people of all ages and all levels of experience to enjoy art together. Moms and dads will truly get as much from these fantastic art classes as children will. These are no "let's glue tissue paper to construction paper" workshops. Added bonus: these free classes include free admission to MoMA for kids and adults.

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In the Galleries Lively interactive discussions in the Museum's galleries offer families with children ages four to fourteen the opportunity to explore the artwork of the Museum's collection and special exhibitions. Current gallery talks include:

Tours for Fours, a morning drop-in program specifically designed for four-year-olds and their parents. Families are introduced to painting, sculpture, photography, works on paper, and more through interactive gallery activities and discussions. Upcoming events

A Closer Look for Kids, a morning drop-in program for children ages five to ten and their parents. Families explore the artwork of the Museum's permanent collection and special exhibitions through theme-based discussion and gallery activities. A new topic is explored each month. Upcoming events

Story Time in the Sculpture Garden During warm weather, families spend the morning in the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. Listen to stories read by well-known authors and illustrators and discuss where writers and illustrators get their ideas, how books are made, and what materials illustrators use to create their work. All readings are followed by a book signing in MoMA Books. For children ages four to seven. See upcoming events.

Family Films One Saturday a month from fall to spring, MoMA screens an hour of kid-friendly shorts based around a specific theme. Afterward, families discuss the films with an educator, and are then free to explore the rest of the museum at no cost. Tickets are FREE and given out on a first-come, first-served basis the morning of the program, and they almost always sell out. See upcoming screenings.

Find more great activities like this in our Indoor Activity Guide and our Museum Guide.

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About the Author

Anna Fader

Founder & CEO of Mommy Poppins
Anna was born in Park Slope, spent her early years in the West Village. By the time she graduated high school, she had lived in 4 of the 5 boroughs. Growing up in NYC in the '70s meant the streets were her playgrounds. Museums and avant garde music venues were the kid-friendly activities. And living downtown taught her the importance of creating community for families in NYC.

Now, raising her own two children in the city, she tries to create the same sense of magic and community she felt growing up, despite today's more commercialized version of kid-friendly New York.

She started Mommy Poppins in 2007 to share a more artsy, educational, uncommercial, community-oriented vision of raising kids in New York City. Today Mommy Poppins is relied on by millions of families as the authority on the best things to do with kids beyond New York City: from Boston to Philly, Los Angeles, Houston and travel guides for dozens more cities and destinations.