Metropolitan Museum of Art551

Just to the right of the Main Entrance: sure-fire kid pleaser The Egyptian Wing. Is there any child, anywhere, not fascinated by mummies and tombs? The Met is the perfect place to while away a rainy morning or afternoon, gaping at the sphinx, dropping coins in the pools around the Temple of Dendur, eying the suits of armor and the Greek and Roman sculpture, and snacking in the museum's lovely cafeteria.

Astor Court, upstairs and to the right (above the Egyptian collection), is modeled on a scholar's court in a Chinese city, and the garden was designed to exemplify the principles of Yin and Yang.

Look for the museum's family greeters - easily spotted in their bright red aprons - who are sometimes on hand to recommend programs that the whole family can enjoy.

Before a visit, it's smart to check out the MuseumKids website. The easy-to-navigate web page features an array of information and activities for kids.

Family Programs include:
Start with Art, offered Tue, Thu, Sun 2:30pm-3:30pm; Fri 4:30pm-5:30pm; and Sat 10am-11am; kids ages three to seven (with adult companions) enjoy storytelling, sketching, and other ways of exploring art at the Museum.

The Charles H. Tally Lecture Series for Families, on select Saturday evenings from 6pm to 7pm; visitors ages six to 12 (and their adult friends) encounter the Museum's collection through gallery discussions and sketching.

Look Again!, on Saturdays at 11am and 2pm, and Sundays at 11am; visitors ages five to 12 (and accompanying adults) engage in sketching and conversation that unlock the history, meaning, and cross-cultural connections of works of art in the Museum.

Hello, Met!, at 2pm on most Sundays; families new to the Museum (children ages five to 12 and accompanying adults) receive a warm and stimulating introduction to its masterpieces through an hour of discussions and sketching.

El Premier Contacto con el Arte, at 11:30am on Saturdays, is a Spanish language program for kids ages six to 12. Two hours of discussions and sketching focus on a particular theme and a different area of the museum each week.

All of the Museum's weekend family programs are open to adults and children with disabilities. In addition, thematic gallery tours and art workshops for individuals with developmental disabilities are held on scheduled Sundays. These programs are free with Museum admission, but advance reservations are necessary. For more information or to make a reservation, please call 212.650.2304 (TTY: 212.570.3828).

Back carriers for infants are available for borrowing at coat-check areas at 81st Street and 82nd Street entrances. Strollers are permitted during regular Museum hours, except Sundays, unless otherwise noted at Museum entrances; many exhibitions cannot accommodate strollers.

Members of the Museum at the Family/Dual level ($175/year) or higher may enroll with their children ages three to 14 in special series of exclusive gallery adventures, parent-child workshops, drawing classes, and other studio activities. There is also a semester-long workshop in which parents, grandparents, and other adults learn how to apply the Museum's techniques to enhance their children's visual appreciation and creative experimentation. All programs require a fee and advance reservations. In addition, The Met Family Circle ($3,500/year), a special membership group, offers a number of special events and privileges for families with children ages six to 12.

The Gift Shop offers great presents for kids in the upstairs section; fun but instructive books and toys that will please parents as well as kids.

Dining options include the public cafeteria, which features a special children's menu, booster seats, and high chairs. The Petrie Court Café, American Wing Café, Roof Garden, and Great Hall Balcony Bar also welcome families.

Parking: The Museum has its own parking lot, located at 80th Street and Fifth Avenue, just to the left as you face the Main Entrance. Be sure to bring your ticket in for validation, as it cuts a few dollars off the price. Like all NYC garages, it's not cheap ($15 for one hour, with validation; $17 without validation), but it sure is convenient.

The Museum is closed Mondays (except for special holiday openings), and on January 1, December 25, and Thanksgiving Day.