Most Kid-friendly Art Museum?

As a Walker Art Center member, I say shame on anyone who glared at you. Walker has made a great effort to include young people in their programming decisions. They have a youth board that selects certain events and exhibits for the museum. As an institution they realize how important it is to expose the next generation to the arts. I would encourage you to take your children back anytime you feel like it. There are usually more children there if you go over the weekend or on Free Thursdays. We take our active 14 month old son to any museum we feel like visiting.

I love the MIA, but it might be better for a slightly shorter visit with little kids. My son loves the sculpture, so that's what we focused on. Your older kids might think the Asian wing is really cool. They have reproduced buildings, horse statues, kimonos, etc. Also, admission is free every day. www.artsmia.org

The Weisman Art Museum on the University of MN campus would be another great option. It's not too big, and I seriously doubt the students would be that uptight about the kids. FYI, they don't have a cafe to stop at for a snack. http://www.weisman.umn.edu/

One more thing -- you can go to the public library and check out a pass that will give you free admission for 4 people to all sorts of museums. I believe it is sponsored by Macy's.

I forgot this when I wrote earlier, but the museum in Minnetonka that you've heard about is probably the Minnetonka Center for the Arts in Orono. http://www.minnetonkaarts.org/ It is more of a place to take affordable classes, but they do have a gallery. It's a cool building, and might be a nice place to visit in the summer on your way to a beach on Lake Minnetonka.

I take my kindergarten class to the MIA every year. They love having kids there. We do a lot of prep work before going...we look at pieces of art and talk about what we see - to learn to really 'look' at the art. It is one of my favorite things to do all year! I think a 3 year old and a 5 year old would love it!

You might feel more comfortable going to the museums during their special family events. I believe Walker has something on the first Saturdays of the month - MIA has (at least used to have) these Ford Free Sundays on select Sundays. They have activities just for kids - art projects, etc. Those are definately family friendly days, so no glares from visitors.
Have fun,
M.

Try www.ShareMyKidsArt.com - I love this website! It's free and lets you store and organize your children's art. The thing I like it about the most is it has these little buttons so that you can email or upload to your facebook wall pieces of art; this is really nice for us because we live in California and my parents live in Hawaii and my wife's parents live in NY. If one of our children create something we want to share with the grandparents, we simple press a button.

The only thing is you need to scan or photograph the art, which seems like a hassle but it's actually fairly easy. Good luck!

I just read in the paper...maybe last Sunday? about a Art museum having a special time for Moms and Kids. I read it at my Moms house and I don't get the paper. I meant to write down the info but I forgot (you just reminded me). It seemed pretty cool. The women interveiwed were just like yourself educated and wanting something more from the stay at home experience. So it could also be a really great way to meet like minded SAHMs.

Maybe search the Star trib archives?

Good luck!
~A.