Anonymous wrote:AA kids, as soon as you want to take them
White kids- middle school at the earliest. Have never seen white kids younger than that behaving or showing any interest or treating the museum with respect.

Harsh but fair imo (although I know a few-- VERY few-- for whom this is or would not be true). But agree-- don't take your kids if they aren't willing to be pretty reverent and you don't discuss race or black history with them otherwise.

Anonymous wrote:I first took dd at the age of six. She liked it, and continues to get more out of it each time we go.

At that age, patience for reading is short, but the exposure is still worthwhile.

We haven't done the Holocaust museum yet, though.

PS we are white. I don't think we were disrespectful.

I first took dd at the age of six. She liked it, and continues to get more out of it each time we go.

At that age, patience for reading is short, but the exposure is still worthwhile.

We haven't done the Holocaust museum yet, though.

AA kids, as soon as you want to take them
White kids- middle school at the earliest. Have never seen white kids younger than that behaving or showing any interest or treating the museum with respect.

I have a 10 year old and she has been many many times. Little kids can go to the upper two floors at any age. I would say 10 for the bottom levels.

Anonymous wrote:Also, if there are any other local sites that might be good for younger elementary students to learn about African American history, please share.

Frederick Douglass House

https://www.nps.gov/frdo/index.htm

Do you still need to reserve tickets/passes in advance? Is it hard to get tickets?

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for the replies. You are getting at what I was wondering - whether a 5-7 year old could develop some appreciation of the history and see something positive (people’s strength and determination) without being overwhelmed by the brutality in so much of that history.

Yes OP I think you can do this. Obviously you'll go faster through the exhibit than you would with a middle schooler. The museum uses a system to flag the most violent images (a red border around the photo) so you can plan as you enter each room, and manage the experience with children.

Also, if there are any other local sites that might be good for younger elementary students to learn about African American history, please share.

OP here. Thank you for the replies. You are getting at what I was wondering - whether a 5-7 year old could develop some appreciation of the history and see something positive (people’s strength and determination) without being overwhelmed by the brutality in so much of that history.

I would say at least middle school because there is a lot to read.

I took my daughter (non-Black POC) when she was maybe 4, then closer to 6. We talk about history and race a lot so she seemed to get a fair bit out of it. We did not go into the Emmett Till room. Maybe when she is a little older— 8 or 9 at least?

I took my daughter opening weekend. She was six at the time. Not sure if it matters, but because we're black I feel like it was important to take her as soon as possible. She'd already been to the Air and Space as well as the "American" History Museum on school field trips, so it was nice to supplement that with "And here are people who look like you who also contributed to American history." We didn't spend too much time on slavery, Tulsa, and Emmett Till, (I didn't want to traumatize and depress her) but we went through it first before finishing on a high note with the stuff upstairs.

I have been a bunch of time. I’m sure that they have child interfaces but I didn’t look for them because I wasn’t with my daughter. However, I would say 10-12 because there is so much great history focused on great areas of interest - the military, economics and wealth, emmitt TIL, and pop culture. The museum also takes longer that a day to view so I would try to break it up and have a plan if you want to keep your kids focused and see specific exhibits

Spend time in the basement. The museum is curated to be viewed from the lowest to highest levels.

If you’ve taken your kids there, what age would you recommend taking? Are some parts more appropriate/meaningful for younger elementary age kids?