Before Grandpa and I went to Easter Island, we took our grandchildren to the one place to see an Easter Island exhibit, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. We marveled at the replicas of the moai, the human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island around 1300 AD.
Before Grandpa and I went to Egypt, we took our grandchildren to see an actual Egyptian temple and sphinx at the one place to see an actual Egyptian temple in the United States, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, “the MET”, is located in Manhattan in New York City, at 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028 (corner of 82d Street), and is the largest art museum in the United States, and among the most visited art museums in the world. It is open seven days a week, and Friday and Saturday night until 9 pm. You can buy tickets on line here. Children under age 12, accompanied by an adult, are free. f you buy tickets at a museum ticket counter, the amount you pay is up to you.
It is a hidden treasure destination for grandchildren. Because of its size, it is not a one time stop. It is best savored in segments and pieces, based upon the ages and interests of grandchildren. . . .and travels of grandparents.
The museum makes it easy to plan your trip. There is an easy to use web page which gives much information and itineraries and more.
Look under the headings “Things to Do When Visiting” and “For Kids to Try Right Now!”
FAMILY GUIDES
The best are the Family Guides. Pick What you want to see. There are many to choose from and download.
HERE IS EGYPT. As you can see, there are many different family guides for Egypt and Egypt alone is a visit in and of itself.
ANCIENT EGYPT: PHAROAHS, SPHINX AND HIPPOS
ANCIENT EGYPT: THINK SPHINX
A favorite of this Grandma is
YOUNG IN AMERICA–if you have the time!
FAMILY AUDIO GUIDE TOURS
In addition, there will be a Family Audio Guide for the special exhibition Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh, which will be on view March 28-July 9, 2016. Hatsheput is a special Pharoah, a woman who made a deal with the Royal Priests to masquerade as a man at a time when the population of Egypt would not accept a female Pharoah. She is the only female Pharoah. All depictions of Hatshepsut are as a man. The name is complicated, but note for the grandchildren that “she” is in the middle of the name!
The Museum’s Family Audio Guide is targeted for children ages six through 12. Now, it includes commentary for younger visitors about more than 140 works of art. Here is their description:
“Families can proceed at their own pace, listen to the commentaries in any order they choose, and keep the guides for the duration of their visit. Featured works are in the galleries of The American Wing, arms and armor, ancient Near Eastern art, Islamic art, arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas, Asian art (including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and South and Southeast Asian), Egyptian art, European Old Masters, European sculpture and decorative arts, medieval and Byzantine art, 19th-century art, modern art, and musical instruments. The Audio Guide is priced at $6.00 for the general public, $5.00 for Metropolitan Museum members, and $4.00 for children under 12. Family Audio Guide maps are available free of charge at the Audio Guide desk in the Great Hall.
FAMILY TOURS AGES 7-11 ON SATURDAYS: ART TREK
For those who are in Manhattan on a Saturday, sign up for Art Trek, which includes stories, sketching, singing, and other gallery activities that bring works of art to life. Take a look here.
FAMILY TOURS AGES 5-11 SUNDAYS: HELLO MET
For those who are in Manhattan on Sundays, there is a special program, Hello, Met! , that meets from 2:00-3:00 p.m., includes an introduction to the MET and what it contains for new and first-time visitors, ages five through 12. There may be a short film, discussions and art projects, sketching of some of the MET’s masterpieces.
FAMILY FRIENDLY DINING AT THE MET
Children are welcome at every restaurant at the MET. The cafeteria has five special meals for children under age 12: chicken fingers, pasta, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, plus whole fruit and milk or juice. Presently the children’s meal is priced at $4.95 and served in tray, designed to look like a New York City taxi that is three dimensional.
SPECIAL CHILDREN’S SHOP AND CHILDREN’S MET CATALOG
There is a Children’s Shop on the second floor of the MET. It is a perfect place to buy the grandchildren something to remember their special time at The Metropolitan Museum of Art: art activity kits, art supplies, stuffed toys, kids’ jewelry, puppets, puzzles, games, play figures, books, CDs, and videos.
A special “MetKids catalogue also offers an exciting array of products designed to help children of all ages learn, develop skills, and grow. Many of the items are based on works in the Museum’s collections, opening a door to the world of art, ancient cultures, history, music, and even the Museum itself; others expand on the Museum’s educational and outreach programs; and all are intended to help children discover their own creativity, individuality, and power of imagination.”
Yes, definitely take your grandchildren on a special trip to New York City, and think about the MET, a hidden treasure destination for children, in conjunction to introducing your grandchildren to places around the world you intend to see or that will expand their horizons.
See previous posts on taking grandchildren to New York City to plan the best of the best:
Joy,
Mema
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