Killhope North of England Lead Mining Museum, children's archaeological dig. Picture courtesy Killhope North of England Lead Mining Museum
A trip to a museum, gallery, heritage site or garden, can elicit moans and groans from your kids but there are ways to overcome any opposition.
Here's a win-win list of ideas and strategies from Culture24 Learners and Teachers editor Rachael Hayward, to help you have a cultural day out that all the family can enjoy:
1. Kids in charge
Let your kids choose from a selection of what's on near you. Then they feel they have some autonomy. See Culture24's Places to Go section for details of venues near you.
2. Take advantage of what's already on offer
Many venues have planned activities for kids and families, especially in the school holidays. They're usually free, or failing that subsidised and cheap. Most are just drop-in events but it's worth checking in advance on the website, just in case you need to book.
3. Kids as experts
Tie in a visit to somewhere that links to a project the kids have done at school. Kids are always in the position of being the learner, so do a bit of role-reversal for a change.
For example, there are so many re-enactments and costumed interpretations going on around the country during the summertime, your young history buffs may even get to 'meet' a squire, a monarch, a warrior or even a medieval peasant.
4. Lights, camera, action!
Some venues have been part of films or television shows. For example, the British Museum featured in an episode of Primeval. So, if you say you’re going to take them to see where they filmed Primeval rather than mention the word, museum, this may go down better than mentioning the 'm' word (ie museum).
5. Go somewhere different
It's all too easy to get stuck in a cultural rut and go back to the same place by default. Take a chance. Shake things up for both you and the kids and pick somewhere new to go to and you might be pleasantly surprised.
6. Let off steam in the garden
Don't forget that an historic house can have a fantastic garden. Most venues don't mind little ones racing round in the grounds - perfect after a short visit to the house.
There are also loads of museums, such as the Horniman Museum in London, that are surrounded by beautiful gardens. There's even a children's playground in the Horniman Park opposite the Museum.
Why not visit the new smuggler-themed play area at Dunwich Heath? Picture courtesy National Trust
7. The pull of the playground
Historic houses, such as Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, not only have huge gardens for having adventures in but also purpose-built, fabulous playgrounds.
8. Sport anyone?
If the venue does indeed have a huge garden or park attached and they're sport-friendly, take a ball, cricket or rounders set.
9. Make mine a 99
Museums and other heritage sites are often free - that means you can tell the kids there's more money to spend on ice-creams after a quick visit around the collection...
(Above) Robert Therrien's No Title (Table and Four Chairs) 2003, which was part of the ARTIST ROOMS collection at Tate Modern. Picture courtesy Tate
10. Food, glorious food
While we're on the subject of food, remember that old advertisement for the V&A Museum - 'an ace caff with a rather nice museum attached'?
Well this applies to so many venues. And you don't have to have lunch - you could make the café stop just for a drink or ice-cream.
11. Take a picnic
Going out doesn't need to break the bank. If you're really organised, let the kids decide what to take on a picnic. Taking your own food means that you can relax and neither worry about your kids getting bored in the café queue, panic about their expensive food options, nor stress out over their subsequent table manners.
12. Allow a friend or two
When kids are together with their friends, they often enjoy visits much more than just with siblings. If they're younger, they'll role-play their way around a site (even if you forget the toy swords, they'll find replacements with branches).
Or if they’re teenagers, they'll gossip their way round - and you’ll get a few minutes of peace.
Another upside is that you may get the favour returned by grateful parents and have your kids taken off your hands for the day at a later point.
13. Keep it short, do less and enjoy more
An hour's visit around a gallery can be more than enough time for the younger members of the family. Stick to a few objects to look at, have a drawing pad and pencils to hand so they can copy something they like the look of and emphasise the fact that it's sketching ie it's not meant to be perfect and that takes the pressure off.
Or why not time drawings to two minutes and join in to compare your efforts afterwards…
14. Go with the flow
Let your kids lead you round the house or gallery - they're happy because they feel in charge and you get to look at things from their perspective.
15. No tours!
Unless you've got perfectly behaved kids, avoid tours. See previous suggestions about keeping it short and flexible. Better to let the kids lead.
16. Take up the challenge
If your kids like to get one over on you, challenge them to come up with a question or two based on the collection to quiz you about and offer pocket money prizes in the gift shop for the winners (No, not you - them of course).
17. Quiz the wardens
Dare the kids to ask the warden a question about the collection to test their knowledge. Staff are often hugely knowledgeable about the collections the work with and absolutely love telling kids the funny and quirky things about the objects.
Not only can staff tell your youngsters collection secrets but sometimes kids get offered peeks behind the scenes or at parts of the house, for example, that don't often get shown to the general public.
18. Click away
Take a camera but let the kids be in charge. This can always provide inspiration for more fun stuff at home. 'What I did in the holidays' anyone?
19. Split upSometimes in the interest of family harmony, it's better to sub-divide. If you've got older kids, let them do their own thing and arrange a convenient meet-up time and place. If there are two adults, take it in turns to spend time in the gallery and look after the kids.
Want to start searching now? Our Places to Go section will help you locate venues near you.
