Seen from afar, museums can give the impression of being inaccessible and dusty places, especially for children. However, visits of this kind are beneficial to them in more ways than one, according to Sylvie Dedryver, head of public service at Museum L. “It’s really important to raise awareness among children, to invite them to go beyond their preconceptions and discover works from different eras and cultures, because that’s how we open ourselves to the world and learn to discover the other, the human behind these objects,” she says.
A feeling of inadequacy
However, she notes that in many cases, it’s not the children who are the most reluctant when faced with art. “Often, the little ones are very curious, they have lots of questions about works of art. It’s as they grow older that adults are afraid to approach. They feel like they need to be specialists to walk through the door of a museum,” she says.
An outdated idea that, according to Sylvie Dedryver, is unnecessary. For her, art is for everyone and requires no prior knowledge. “We all have eyes, so we should open them, let ourselves be carried away, and observe,” she advises.
A children’s guide that encourages reflection and creativity
It is in this spirit that Museum L has developed a specific educational tool for children and the adults who accompany them. The aim, through this guide, is to move beyond the subjective view we initially have of a work, in order to push reflection one step further. “We start by observing the shapes, colors, the material […]. And then, we try to go deeper, to interpret the object, and ask ourselves who made it, when, how, and why,” explains Sylvie Dedryver.
It will then be about encouraging children to draw inspiration from the works they have observed to develop their creativity, curiosity, and imagination.
Furthermore, this exercise also aims to develop our children’s critical thinking skills by encouraging them to question the images that surround them, both in the museum and beyond. Social networks, advertising, television… This analytical framework is intended to be reused far beyond the museum walls. More than just objects, the works thus allow children to learn to “nuance”, “put into context”, and “grasp the world”.
