If you have a friend that is hosting a gallery show and you really want to support him or her, you might need to take your kids to the gallery with you if you cannot find a babysitter in time. You might worry that your children are going to spoil the mood of the gallery and not act appropriately. You can help resolve this fear by simply keeping them as busy as possible. Here are some tips for keeping your kids busy in an art gallery (such as Editions Gallery Art Gallery).  

1. Put Them on "Look, Don't Touch" Inspection Duty

This is a great game if you are going to an art gallery that is going to be comprised of mostly adults that know how to handle themselves properly. Talk to your kids about how important it is to not touch the artwork. Describe what happens when the oils from a person's hands get on the artwork and how it can ruin the art over time. This should be sufficient to convince your kids that it is important that no one touches the artwork. Then, give your children the very special mission of watching everyone else who might not know the rule of "look, don't touch."

Tell your children to stay on the watch for people touching the artwork and if they see anyone, to come and tell you immediately. Keep a small notebook in your file and write a detailed description of any person they tell you touched the artwork. This will help your children feel important and keep them occupied.

2. Give Them Crayons and a Sketchbook

Give your children crayons and sketchbooks. Make sure that they know that they absolutely cannot put any crayons on the paintings or other pieces of art themselves. Then, ask them to find their favorite piece of artwork and copy it. Tell your children that you are going to hang their pictures up at home to create your own art gallery. If your children don't feel like making copies of any of the artwork that they see, it is entirely acceptable to draw their own pictures. This should keep them sufficiently motivated to keep drawing and coloring on their own so that they are not running around.   

For more information, talk to your friend who is having the art show. He or she will have an idea of what amenities the gallery provides to help deal with the situation of kids loose in an art gallery.

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