No Wolves in These Woods! - Aunts, Uncles, Museums

Last week I spirited my two-and-a-half-year-old niece Allison to her first visit to the Chattahoochee Nature Center.  We saw some animals, played in a fairy house, and took a short walk in the woods (where I continually assured her that no, no wolf lived in these woods; I suspect she has been reading some Little Red Riding Hood). 

My niece is incredibly even-tempered, and it was a joy to take her to the nature center.  I won’t hesitate, next time I see her, to take her off on another adventure, perhaps to a historic site, or art museum, because I want her to grow up curious and loving to learn at museums.

Now I am the first to admit that I come at this from a position with inherent biases based on all of the research we have been conducting on museum audiences.  I know that exposing Allison to a wide variety of museums at a young age will increase the odds that she grows up to be an omnivorous, and curious, museum visitor who enjoys a wide variety of museums.  I am not even remotely representative of the typical museum visitors.

But this visit did make me curious.  What is the impact of aunts and uncles on young children and museum visitation and perceptions?  So I took a look.

In our latest study of museum-goers, we asked respondents to think back to their earliest or strongest childhood museum memories.  They were asked who they were with in those memories, and then to share their memory.

Turns out, respondents who said they remembered visiting museums with an aunt or uncle do, indeed, behave a bit differently than the overall results.  As adults today, they enjoy a wider variety of museums, and are significantly more likely to enjoy history museums, historic sites, art museums, natural history museums, and botanical gardens and arboretums.  When they visit museums, they also enjoy a wider variety of interpretation methods, including guided tours, talking with staff, programs and events, and object-based experiences. 

I took a look at their memories as well, and found that memories of visits with aunts and uncles were twice as likely to take place at art museums, and slightly more likely to take place at history museums or historic sites.  As I reviewed the memories, some additional themes popped up:

• Visit as special treat.  It was perceived to be a special treat to visit a museum with an aunt or uncle.  Out of the ordinary, making it more memorable.  Additionally, cousins were rarely mentioned.

“I remember going to this same museum at McArthur Park....  I was with my Aunt and my sister.  We dressed up and went to the museum, had lunch and a great time!”

• Aunts and uncles as patient explainers.  Memories mentioned how patient aunts and uncles were as children focused on exhibits, and how children loved hearing them explain why things were a certain way.  I suspect this may be closely related to the visit as a special treat, with different expectations than a mere visit with a parent.

“Began visiting the Chicago Art Institute with an uncle at a young age. he would use program guides to encourage me to interpret the art for myself”

“Chicago's Art Institute to see the miniature rooms - my aunt had infinite patience so I could linger at each room as long as I wanted. I loved it.”

• Aunts and uncles are suckers.  There were numerous mentions of what the aunt or uncle had purchased in the store for the child.

“the Museum of Natural History in New York.  My aunt bought me a small brontasaurus and a book.  it was great.”

“I think it was at Mt. Vernon.  I really liked all the old pretty things, especially the dollhouse!  My uncle bought me a tea set.”

But ultimately it appears that aunts and uncles take nieces and nephews to a wider variety of museums than parents do.  Why?  For those aunts and uncles who do not have children themselves, it may simply be a case of not thinking one way or the other whether a museum is age appropriate for a child, but simply that museums are age appropriate for children.  Similar to the perceptions of our Ultra-Curious Moms and Dads. 

I have no expectation that in 20 years Allison will remember our visit to the Chattahoochee Nature Center.  That’s OK.  Next time I see her, however, I’ll be spiriting her off somewhere else, and eventually I hope that some museum visit will make an impression that will last for decades.  Even if it is likely to include what I bought her in the shop.

- Susie

Comments

[Lindsey Baker]

I have a nephew that is a year and 1/2 old. Although I haven't been allowed to take him on any adventures on our own, I bought him a membership to Port Discovery for his birthday.

For the past 6 mths, my sister has been using that museum membership at sites across the country--where ever she is, it seems that most children's museums honor the membership for Port Discovery. She loves having the opportunity to do something free and fun (and enriching) with him, he loves to run around like a little crazy man, and I love that I'm potentially creating a new museum dork. I meet them about once a month or every other month at Port Discovery for an adventure together.

Once he gets a little older he will definitely be going on some adventures with Aunt Lindsey.

[Linda Wilson]

I'm a grandmotherly-aged aunt - my nephews nieces and godchildren are all older teens or young adults now. All of our "adventures", whether museums, trips, craft activities or other leisure activities, are now part of family lore. I've attended the funerals of two dear elderly relatives of these children in the past two weeks, and in each these children whom I have loved and been with over the years told stories of these adventures (in great detail and with great gusto). I'm fascinated by the thought that these trips are equally memorable to parent/family trips and perhaps in some cases even more so. I'd love to see more research in this area.

[Adrianne Russell]

You are totally onto something here! My favorite aunt who cared for us when our parents travelled took me and my siblings to museums whenever we wanted, no questions asked. I do the same thing with my nieces and nephews as often as possible, and yes, I am a complete "sucker." I hope that they come to treasure those museum memories as much as I do.

[CNC]

Thanks for mentioning us at the Chattahoochee Nature Center! I'm glad I stumbled on your blog, this is great reading. We'd be really interested to find out more about your thoughts on your visit here if you have some time to answer a few questions.

[Laura]

This is a fun article! I love that museums and historical sites can be such a positive family experience, and not only taken advantage of by teachers and educators.

I think a lot of the above points can also apply to grandparents. While I do have some great memories of museum visits with my Aunts, I think my love of history and fascination with museums developed mainly from my grandparents. Both sets made sure to take me out whenever the opportunity arose, and made sure that I was instilled with an appreciation for culture and education. They were also suckers in the gift shop! I definitely hope that I can be the same good influence for my future kids, nieces and nephews and grandchildren.