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.
Art Connections Cards Family Activity
Explore the MFA with your children! Search for objects and images—from cats and flowers to mythical creatures to arms and armor—to learn interesting facts and get ideas for art-making activities. Each activity focuses on a specific theme, linking intriguing objects from many cultures.
Activities for Kids and Families
Discovery Cart: Japanese Prints
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Drop-In Art Making: Summer Saturdays
10:00 am–4:00 pm
Miniature Paintings: use acrylic paint markers to create miniature works of art inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s paintings.
In PersonDiscovery Cart: Japanese Prints
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Discovery Cart: Japanese Prints
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Drop-In Art Making: Summer Saturdays
10:00 am–4:00 pm
Collage Pendants: create a glass pendant or key chain using collaged images from magazines.
In PersonDiscovery Cart: Japanese Prints
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Discovery Cart: Japanese Prints
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Drop-In Art Making: Summer Saturdays
10:00 am–4:00 pm
Bubble Printing: create your own layered prints using bubbles!
In PersonDiscovery Cart: Japanese Prints
11:00 am–4:00 pm
UNIQLO Story Hour
11:00 am–12:00 pm
Gallery Explorations
11:30 am–12:00 pm
Gallery Explorations
1:30 pm–2:00 pm
UNIQLO Story Hour
1:30 pm–2:30 pm
Discovery Cart: Japanese Prints
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Drop-In Art Making: Summer Saturdays
10:00 am–4:00 pm
Scrimshaw (ages 12 and up): Carve your own design on a synthetic material. For visitors age 12 and up (younger visitors need assistance from an adult)...
In PersonDiscovery Cart: Japanese Prints
11:00 am–4:00 pm
UNIQLO Story Hour
11:00 am–12:00 pm
Gallery Explorations
11:30 am–12:00 pm
Gallery Explorations
1:30 pm–2:00 pm
UNIQLO Story Hour
1:30 pm–2:30 pm
Discovery Cart: Japanese Prints
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Drop-In Art Making: Summer Saturdays
10:00 am–4:00 pm
Canvas Pencil Cases: Get inspired by abstract paintings in the collection, then use colorful fabric paint to create a zippered canvas pouch.
In PersonDiscovery Cart: Japanese Prints
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Discovery Cart: Japanese Prints
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Discovery Cart: Japanese Prints
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Studio 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.