Kids and Family Programs
Special events and in-gallery activities are a great way to enjoy the MFA with your family. Extend your experience with at-home art activities inspired by the MFA’s collection and special exhibitions.
Boston Family Days
Thanks to a partnership between the MFA and the City of Boston, Boston Family Days provide students who live in Boston and their families free access to the Museum on the first and second Sundays of each month.
See Boston Family Days for more information.
At the Museum
Visiting with Kids and Family
The MFA is a great place to bring children. Learn how to make the most of your Museum visit.
Discovery Guides
Explore the MFA with in-gallery guides that are fun for all ages! Search for imagery, learn about the art, and get creative with drawing and writing prompts. Each activity focuses on a specific theme, linking objects across many time periods and cultures. Pick them up at Sharf Visitor Center on your next visit!
Activities for Kids and Families
Drop-In Art Making
10:00 am–4:00 pm
Chinese Patchwork: Design and build a geometric patch inspired by “The Beauty of Patchwork from Rural China.” Then use it to repair or add color to a...
In Person
Discovery Cart
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Theme: Arthur Dove’s paintings
Drop-In Art Making
10:00 am–4:00 pm
Mini Garden Totes: Get inspired by “Framing Nature: Gardens and Imagination,” then design the garden of your dreams on a mini tote bag. Each bag comes...
In Person
Art Cart
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Discovery Cart
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Theme: Arthur Dove’s paintings
Art Cart
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Drawing in the Galleries
6:00 pm–8:00 pm
Theme: Nowruz
Drop-In Art Making
10:00 am–4:00 pm
Chinese Patchwork: Design and build a geometric patch inspired by “The Beauty of Patchwork from Rural China.” Then use it to repair or add color to a...
In PersonDiscovery Cart
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Theme: Arthur Dove’s paintings
Drop-In Art Making
10:00 am–4:00 pm
Mini Garden Totes: Get inspired by “Framing Nature: Gardens and Imagination,” then design the garden of your dreams on a mini tote bag. Each bag comes...
In PersonArt Cart
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Art Cart
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Drop-In Art Making
5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Mini Modernist Sculptures: Get inspired by our new Modern Art galleries then twist, bend, and manipulate wire to create a miniature sculpture!
In PersonDrop-In Art Making
10:00 am–4:00 pm
Mosaic Bookmarks: Get inspired by the bright, bold patterns found in mosaics in the Museum’s collection. Then mix, match, and assemble colorful pieces...
In PersonDrop-In Art Making
10:00 am–4:00 pm
Mini Garden Totes: Get inspired by “Framing Nature: Gardens and Imagination,” then design the garden of your dreams on a mini tote bag. Each bag comes...
In PersonArt Cart
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Drawing in the Galleries
6:00 pm–8:00 pm
Theme: Portraiture
In PersonDrop-In Art Making
10:00 am–4:00 pm
Mosaic Bookmarks: Get inspired by the bright, bold patterns found in mosaics in the Museum’s collection. Then mix, match, and assemble colorful pieces...
In PersonDrop-In Art Making
10:00 am–4:00 pm
Mini Garden Totes: Get inspired by “Framing Nature: Gardens and Imagination,” then design the garden of your dreams on a mini tote bag. Each bag comes...
In PersonStudio Art Classes and Workshops
The MFA offers studio art classes and workshops for families, children, teens, and adults, taught by experienced educators who are also professional artists. Students are invited to question, explore, experiment, and solve problems as they create and interact with art.
Artful Adventures at the MFA
A customized introduction to the MFA and its collections for groups of children from early childhood, after school, nontraditional school settings, special needs programs, and summer camps. Participatory and interactive, programs at the MFA last an hour and a half and include a tour and an art-making activity.
Home School Programs
Specially designed home school programs for children between the ages of 6-18 years that meet on Friday mornings September through June.
At Home
Art Making at Home
Learn something new! Enjoy free step-by-step instructions for a variety of art-making techniques related to the Museum’s collections.
MFA Playdates at Home
Listen to a story and make art while watching free 15-minute videos appropriate for children ages 4 and under.
Junior Artists at Home
Enjoy Junior Artists with free videos online! Kids can see exactly how to create their own art project inspired by a work of art in the Museum’s collection. Recommended for children ages 5 to 8.