Sketch from the Original
Take a seat in front of your children's favorite artwork and let them practice their drawing skills by sketching from a master.

Write a Story
Find a realistic painting or sculpture with recognizable subjects and write a story together that answers the following questions: Who are the people? Where are they located? What are they doing?

Become an Art Detective
Turn your children into detectives. Buy some postcards at the Museum Shop and then ask your children to find the pictured items. Later at home, the cards can be arranged for a home exhibition.

Play "I Spy"
Have children choose an object in a gallery and describe it to other family members so that each one can take a turn guessing what the object is. For example, "I spy a work of art that is red and brown with sharp edges."

Seek and Find
Ask your child to find paintings that have his or her favorite colors, shapes, or objects in them. This game teaches children to look closely at objects.

For more ideas, check out Faces, Places, and Inner Spaces and Looking at Art Together: A Parent Guide to The Art Institute of Chicago. These family guidebooks are packed with games, suggestions of works of art to visit, and tips to help families have fun at the museum. Both guides are available in the Museum Shop.