Forget your 6^th-grade field trip, with those stern curators and dusty artifacts – times have changed. A visit to an art museum can be a total blast for kids!

Even world-class venues have spread out the welcome mat with smiling docents, kid-friendly activities, treasure hunts, art classes – even mac’ and cheese in the museum café. Here are a few tips from Los Angeles County Museum of Art and New York’s Museum of Modern Art for making the most of your visit.

• Let your kid lead the way, inspired by a hobby, special interest or school project.

• Ask your kid what she sees. Have her describe the colors and textures. What techniques or materials did the artist use?

• Imagine standing inside the work of art – what would you see, smell or hear?

• Stand up close and then take a look from across the room. Does the artwork look different?

• Step up to the label on the wall and read the title. Is that what your kid would have called the piece? Does she have any other ideas?

• With younger kids, strike up a game of “I Spy,” poring through the exhibits for shapes, colors, objects or people.

• Older kids might like to sit on a bench and sketch what they see, write an art-inspired story or poem, or create a play about the characters in a painting.

• Don’t forget to talk about the museum’s architecture, including window views, bridges you’ve crossed, or the fountains and gardens outside (a great place to burn off energy, by the way).

• Remember museum etiquette. Everyone should keep their hands to themselves, talk with inside voices, walk (not run!), save snacks for outside, and check first before using flash photography.

You have plenty of places to put these techniques to work. Find our full list of museums here.