The sober idea that existed until a few years ago about a museum has changed, we must also take into account the efforts of some professionals to make museums fun for children, to fascinate, teach, arouse curiosity, etc.
Philip Yenawine, education advisor at the Picasso Museum in Malaga, has created a very suitable method for children to start in the art world. It is quite obvious that a child is not interested in the same thing as an adult, nor do they perceive the same concept of works.
Based on this basis, this expert decided that visits to museums for children should be shorter and should select works that could attract attention and arouse the curiosity of children.
It is not only necessary to listen to the explanation provided by the museum guide, it is important that children explore the work with their mind or eyes, since in every work there is always a communicative desire made by the artist. Although there are some that are quite difficult to understand, such as Pablo Picasso's entire work, it seems that Philip Yenawine's method is paying off even with this type of art. The children are asked to look directly and that they draw their own conclusions, it is not necessary to instill in them what the meaning is, that they must think when they see the work. It is a way of facilitating their intellectual development and that they become restless, fascinated and introduced into that wonderful world that is art.
The idea, according to this expert, would be for parents to visit the museum in advance and choose the works that could be more fun for children, be it colorful, everyday scenes, animals, etc. Then, when the visit to the museum is carried out in the company of the child, before the selected works they can be asked what they see, what they think or what they believe.
It is important to listen to the child whether or not it is a satisfactory answer, the importance of listening to them and valuing their explanations makes them realize that we are interested in their opinion and that it is not just an adult game. Given the interest we can arouse, new feelings and desire to learn will be overflowing in the child.
To all this, we must combine the visit we make to the museum with some place to relax and let the children expand, such as a park, a playground or even the stores of some museums that offer pieces or games suitable for the children.
According to Philip Yenawine, it is necessary that museums have more interest in communicating with children, since in the future it will be they who will value the works and have the appropriate training for it. There are still many museums that are sober and lack communication with children, if both parents and museums do their part, the intellectual formation of a child will be full and rewarding.
