Anonymous wrote:Weird. My chidren and I have NEVER had such a problem at the art museums here.

They do not run when entering, though, which might be what sets some guards off.

This. We have NEVER had problems at any art museum either.

You are aware that the Building Museum and the National Gallery of Art (if that's what you mean by "art museum") are not part of the Smithsonian?

Control your child, then you won't have to worry about it.

What's the big deal? Did they strike her? If not then how is she harmed? She learned she can't run in every setting. Not a bad lesson.

Why can't a staff member restrain your child? I'm sincerely curious. You went to their 'house,' as it were. Or store, or preschool, or museum, or hair salon, or pediatrician, or or or.

It's not as if some guy walked in off the street and into your private property and touched your child. You brought to the child onto their property, I think, yes? So even if I might agree that physical restraint is unnecessary, it's highly unlikely it's illegal, which is what you're implying.

Anonymous wrote:Yes the museum staff should allow a child to come in to the paid exhibit without an adult or without paying (where were you exactly?) and to the second poster - yes your child should never be warned not to touch art. How dare those smithsonian guards do their job?!

We were playing in the great hall with a few other parents and toddlers kicking a running (if you ever been there you know toddlers running and playing in the great hall). I was maybe two arms lengths behind her when she entered and admittedly she was excited after playing in the GH.

Still don't think anyone has a right to restrain my child when the staff member was clearly looking and talking to me.

I do think it was definitely inappropriate for them to touch your child. But at the same time you as a parent should have told her to walk with you, and wait to pay and listen to the rules. We were there last week (first time) and I made sure they walked with me and waited to go in together.

And for the Smithsonian issue - the rules should be discussed with the parents and then the parents should be responsible for discussing it with the kids and making sure that the kids follow the rules. If a breach in rules is made, I think they should address both the parent and child (depending on the circumstance).

One morning at the Building Museum, we experienced an employee who was VERY concerned with following the rules, even when hardly anyone was around. For example, she insisted we stand in the exact spot she directed before she would really deal with us/consider us "in line," even though we were the only ones there. She did nothing inappropriate or wrong, but she was not very friendly and was very "strict."

Weird. My chidren and I have NEVER had such a problem at the art museums here.

They do not run when entering, though, which might be what sets some guards off.

The Smithsonian staff has ruined many a trip for my (homeschooling) family. My kids have grown accustomed to being treated in a dehumanizing manner, no matter how well-behaved they are. The art museum is the worst.

OP, I would politely, but formally, complain.

Yes, I think we should do 123 discipline when a kid starts touching the Manet. Pb&j is pretty easy to remove from an oil painting. Better that than she learn to handle instructions.

Yes the museum staff should allow a child to come in to the paid exhibit without an adult or without paying (where were you exactly?) and to the second poster - yes your child should never be warned not to touch art. How dare those smithsonian guards do their job?!

Touchy touchy both of you.

I do think that is inappropriate. It doesn't surprise me, however. The Smithsonian staff reduced my art-loving child to tears lecturing her "We are not going to touch the art, are we? We are not going to put our fingers on it or touch it in any way, are we?" This child was nowhere near "the art" at the time -- she had barely penetrated the lobby. She burst into tears and refused to enter the rest of the building. Way to go, Smithsonian staff.

I know it's July 4 and they have a small staff, but I was really upset by something that happened at the building zone. When my daughter went to go in today (very excited, running in) the staff member grabbed her and held her restraining her from coming in (there were only two other families at the time).

I wanted to yell "get your hands off my child" but was so shocked. My daughter got scared and started to cry and didn't want to play.

Does this seem weird? The staff member also said "no balls allowed" (she was carrying a stuffed ball).

Very different than the staff who are so friendly on the weekends.