Denver Art Museum: Fun for the Kids

The museum has provided several ammenities that make art accessible and fun for kids: family backpacks, art projects, and an entire floor filled with hands-on exhibits and games.

Family Backpacks

Families can check out exhibit-specific backpacks full of games and projects to help them explore the museum. Our family checked out the Japanese backpack and took the elevator up to the Japanese exhibit. Once there, we spread the backpack's contents out on the floor and found puzzles, games, and even an art project to complete. Everything the kids needed for the project was neatly organized in the backpack. They each created a Japanese fan to take home and learned about a culture from halfway around the world.

Art Projects

On the main floor near the elevator, the museum provides an area where children can work on an art project and even display it while they explore the rest of the museum. Last time we were there, the kids made Egyptian collars to wear. They used crayons, markers, paper and glue to personalize their collars. Then they cut them out and attached them with yarn. Such projects help children to realize that, like the artists who created the masterpieces in the museum, they have their own creativity and abilities.

Kids' Floor

If you take the elevator down from the entry level, you'll find an entire floor for the kids. Here they can let loose and be a little louder as they build large foam towers, color spinning tops, decorate chalkboard chairs and dress up in animal fanciful animal costumes. As a mother who knows, take it from me and save this part for the end of your visit. It's hard for kids to adjust to a quieter level after having experienced the fun and atmosphere change of downstairs.

And the best part of all this is that the Denver Art Museum is free to Colorado residents every Saturday all year long. If you're not a Colorado resident, I feel for you, but take heart: you could always move here. Or if that's not feasible, just pay the admission. It's worth it.