Non-virtual education
Parents hunting non-virtual educational experiences don’t need to look too far for options. After many pandemic-prompted closures, museums and other enjoyable and educational venues are open with safety precautions like masking, social distancing and timed tickets.
The Frick Pittsburgh reopened Jan. 30. The Westmoreland Museum of American Art and the Mattress Factory on Pittsburgh’s North Side will reopen early this month. The Carnegie Museum of Art, the Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Science Center, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Heinz History Center and the National Aviary are open to the public, as well.
Though many schools are closed for in-person instruction, learning need not happen only online. A family visit to one of the region’s many cultural, historical, artistic and scientific venues are an excellent option for engaging extracurricular education.
While many of the region’s museums pivoted to digital activities and “tours” during the height of the pandemic, they’re now open for in -person visits. Aficionados and families with the time and means should take advantage and make a visit.
Such an outing represents a shake-up to the now familiar stay-athome routines of COVID-19, an opportunity to safely explore some of the artistic and historical offerings of Western Pennsylvania.
A child’s first visit to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History can spark a lifelong enthusiasm for dinosaurs, paleontology or archaeology. A trip to the Mattress Factory this month, with its site-specific installation by artist Jennifer Angus can instill a sense of wonder and creativity. The Carnegie Science Center offers a window into numerous subjects with age-appropriate science-based offerings tailored to appeal to kids. A trip to Phipps is a fullon sensory experience.
Getting out of the house isn’t just a reprieve from routine for a student. It’s relief from the toll of extended screen-staring.
Museums may not be at the top of every child’s want-to-do list, but that’s just because they don’t know what they’re missing — fun, education and a good family memory.