Making the most of your trip with the help of the Smithsonian Institute

One of the wonderful things about living close to Washington, DC is having the Smithsonian Institutes so close by. They are wonderful museums and are free to the public. Every now and then, I look around their site to see if there is anything good going on that Maya would like and I came across this excellent list of how to make the most of your trip to the Smithsonian. The best part is that this list can really be adapted to any trip you are taking and it really focuses on ways to involve your child in the process.

One of the biggest things I have always told parents who ask me for travel advice is to get your child involved. Make them feel like they are having an influence on what you do or, even better, DO give them influence on what you do. A lot of times, trips that aren't kid centered get nothing but grumbles and groans from the little ones, until you find a way to excite them. Things like The Postcard Game, I Spy, and Where is It? as mentioned in the Smithsonian article are all excellent games that will work anywhere you go. They also have great tips on how to prepare for a trip to the museums (which again is true for anywhere you visit), as well as ways you can keep your child excited after the trip is over.

While you're at the Smithsonian site be sure to check out the rest of it because it's a wonderful teaching resource for children. It's loaded with games and information about all of their exhibits and links to exciting exhibits around the country.

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