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.

BPS Sundays

Thanks to a partnership between the MFA and the City of Boston, Boston Public Schools students and up to three family members can visit the MFA for free every first and second Sunday of the month!

See BPS Sundays 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

Gallery Activities and Tours

Drop-In Art Making: Nature Journals

Sunday, December 8, 2024
10:00 am–4:00 pm
In Person
Artist Toolbox Cart

Artist Toolbox Cart: Painting

Sunday, December 8, 2024
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Gallery Activities and Tours

Drop-In Art Making: Gelli Prints

Saturday, December 14, 2024
10:00 am–4:00 pm
In Person
Gallery Activities and Tours

Drop-In Art Making: Nature Journals

Sunday, December 15, 2024
10:00 am–4:00 pm
In Person
Artist Toolbox Cart

Artist Toolbox Cart: Painting

Sunday, December 15, 2024
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Gallery Activities and Tours

Drop-In Art Making: Self-Reflection

Thursday, December 19, 2024
5:00 pm–9:00 pm
In Person
Gallery Activities and Tours

Drop-In Art Making: Gelli Prints

Saturday, December 21, 2024
10:00 am–4:00 pm
In Person
Gallery Activities and Tours

Drop-In Art Making: Nature Journals

Sunday, January 5, 2025
10:00 am–4:00 pm
In Person
Gallery Activities and Tours

Drop-In Art Making: Self-Reflection

Thursday, January 9, 2025
5:00 pm–9:00 pm
In Person
Gallery Activities and Tours

Drop-In Art Making: Nature Journals

Sunday, January 12, 2025
10:00 am–4:00 pm
In Person
Gallery Activities and Tours

Drop-In Art Making: Self-Reflection

Thursday, January 16, 2025
5:00 pm–9:00 pm
In Person
Open House

MLK Day

Monday, January 20, 2025
10:00 am–5:00 pm

Tickets available in person on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is free with a valid Massachusetts zip code.

In Person

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.