Family outings are great not only for bonding, but also learning. Learning, as advocated by the influential educational reformer John Dewey, is a social and interactive process.

How do you get the most out of such learning opportunities as a family?

Before, during and after an outing, you can apply strategies that help maximise learning, retention and the social experience. In this first post of a two-part series, I’ll share what you can do during your family excursions to make them productive learning experiences for everyone.

Prepare your children psychologically.

Your young children may be over-simulated especially if this is their first visit to the venue, where the sights and sounds offer significant novelty. Before your family begins exploring, do allow your children five to ten minutes to take the environment in. Also let them know that your family can always return to the place if they don’t get to finish what they have planned to see. This will set their minds at ease and make them less anxious and ready to explore what’s in front of them.

Make a stop at the visitors’ services counter.

First stop, the visitors’ services counter. Ask if the venue has a DIY family kit for rental. These kits may come in the form of themed backpacks filled with materials, activities and information to guide families around the venue. Ask if there are any family-oriented tours you can join. Check also for family-friendly areas or activities. These offerings are specially designed for families and children, and you can make use of them to enrich your visit.

Make it an adventure.

Ask for a visitors’ guide to get a picture of the venue’s highlights. If the venue doesn’t offer any guide, try the gift shop for postcards, which often feature the collection highlights. Then, turn your visit into a treasure hunt for the whole family by racing to spot these highlights within the venue.

If you’re at an art gallery, get your family members to pick out their favourite paintings and share with everyone why. And if your family is up for the challenge, you can all mimic the poses found in the artworks and model for photographs. These photographs will make for great family memories in time to come.

Share your personal stories.

If you’re unable to get any information onsite, no worries. You can look out for familiar objects and share your personal stories with your children. For example, if you’re at a history museum, you may find objects that you used during your childhood. You can share your experiences with your children. Such sharing is precious, and these stories may stay with your children for a long time, or even become your family’s oral history that can be passed down to the next generation.

Let your children take the lead.

You can also let your children’s natural curiosity take over. They may spend a long time or all the time at just one exhibit or ride. That’s how they show that they’re learning and enjoying themselves. Just join in the fun and look out for teachable moments – but don’t be stressed out if you can’t find any. Your children will learn something and enjoy themselves if you, the parent, does the same.

Be ready to call it a day.

Take a break if you notice that your family members are tired. If time permits and the weather is good, getting some snacks and having a picnic within the venue’s grounds is a good idea. Share what you have seen and found interesting. Remember, learning is also a social process. If fatigue is affecting your children’s interest and concentration, call it quits and plan to visit again.

Try out these strategies during your next day out with your family. You’ll find it a more meaningful and enriching experience for your children. In part two of this series, I’ll share what you can do pre- and post-visit to maximise these family learning opportunities. Stay tuned!

Angeline Tong is an architect of narratives and Chief Curator at HOL, an experience strategy and curation consultancy. Angeline has a Master of Education (Human Development & Psychology) from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies from Harvard University. She currently resides in Singapore.

To contact Angeline, email atong@hol.sg