The Met for Kids
Ideas for kids of all ages
It’s been a few weeks since my last post. Every time I wanted to write over the holidays, I needed to rest instead. I figured if I didn’t have time to write, my audience probably didn’t have much time to read either :).
While I haven’t been writing, I’ve been thinking about Saturday Morning Fever a lot. It’s been so rewarding to find my voice. The feeling of receiving positive feedback on something you created is incomparable. I spent the last four years working for managers who did not appreciate me. To have discovered something that both brings me joy and benefits families around me is unparalleled. THANK YOU for that!
Throughout these ponderings, I reviewed my most successful posts, asked friends what makes me unique, and focused on evolving my content and brand.
I’ve decided to focus on what my original intent was- how to fill up those Saturday Mornings! My Substack will all be first-hand reviews and insights for particular activities. My Instagram will have banter, topical content, and 5 activities for families for any weekend.
Now, onto the Met!
It was a frigid Saturday during our Met visit, but I wanted to venture uptown for 2 reasons.
I’d heard interesting things about the new indoor kid’s space- 81st Street Studio- at The Met (opened 09/2023).
My first-grade daughters started learning about Ancient Egypt and really enjoyed it. (I heard this week about how no kids wore clothes until 12 years old in Ancient Egypt, lol.)
81st Street Studio
The Facts
81st Street Studio is open seven days a week from 10 am-5 pm.
Entry is free and does not require admission.
The space is geared towards discovery for kids ages 3-11 years old.
Families are only admitted in 30-minute increments.
No online reservations.
My Take
This is a phenomenal space for all ages, I’m surprised they say 3-11 years old. My 6-year-old was one of the oldest ones there, and I saw plenty of babies because it’s a cozy space with lots of soft surfaces (video above).
They were really accommodating about reservations. We showed up around 2 pm and put our name down for 4 pm. They also let us reserve for our friends and didn’t question a group of eight for the later time when it was pretty busy.
If you have a child who can read, ask the staff for a free field guide. This was super cute, and my daughter loved using it while we were exploring.
The host also had free tickets for the museum! We had already purchased some ahead of time, but our friends were able to use them. I wouldn’t count on this everytime, but it’s so lovely how accommodating they were.
If this space was in the Brooklyn Museum, we’d always go. It’s not worth a trip from Prospect Heights alone, but it’s a great compliment to a museum visit.
Helpful Tips
The 81st Street Studio is near the smaller entrance at 81st Street & 5th Avenue, which is far less crowded than the one at 82nd Street. While I always want a Blair Waldorf moment up the steps, I’m going to use the 81st street one every time now. There was a coat check and store, everyting you need with a fraction of the crowds.
Also near the 81st Street Studio is the “Carson Family Hall.” This space had ample benches and areas for families to relax. If I had a sleeping baby and needed a warm space to listen to podcasts, this is it! You also don’t need a ticket to access this space. For those of us in Brooklyn, it’s a hike just for that, but it’s good to know about the space if you find yourself in the area.
Tackling the Art/History
As soon as we hit the main floor, my daughter was in awe of the statues (far more than I expected). It was a wonderful parenting moment to see my daughter's curiosity sparked by the physical art and historical exhibits we visited.
My 3-year-old son was unimpressed. We took advantage of the free wifi to allow us to focus on engaging with his sister.
This museum is huge, and even as an adult, you can’t attempt the whole thing in a day. We focused mostly on physical artifacts that seemed easier for her to engage with. She loved the arms and armor. We saved Ancient Egypt for last because I knew it would be a hit and we were also meeting up with friends.
Note: just to the right of my daughter we saw Vivek Ramaswamy at the museum. It was so funny and random. I kept hearing couples say, “Is that…” and then we confirmed their suspicions.
Ancient Egypt was a hit with all the kids. My daughter and her friend were able to connect with what they learned in class and even taught the parents a few things. I always said hieroglyphics, and evidently, hieroglyphs are more accurate!
I brought cameras for both of my kids to use, and it turned out to be a great idea. Even my son was engaged when we took pictures of the Sarcophagus. I realized that using a camera is a really fun way for them to capture their attention during museum trips. I am definitely going to remember this for our future visits.
At our meal later, she was also copying into her field guide the pictures. It was adorable.
For my family, a 6-year-old was the right age to start at the Met and expect to have a conversation about it. We absolutely want to take her back. I am intrigued to visit the costume exhibits and try some form of scavenger hunt. The next time I may try for a babysitter for younger one.
If you’re curious about taking a child to the museum, I’d ask them some questions about the exhibits there and what you want to see. Do they respond like you’re asking about a Disney movie or a haircut? There’s a wide range in between, but my daughter was pretty close to the Disney side.
Have you taken your children to The Met? What did they think?
-Katie