Encouraging creativity in children is easy, and creativity itself is a trait that can translate into a lot of great emotional bonuses as well.

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Yes, you read that right.  Museums. 

Think about it.  Every city has museums, and almost every town has access to a city.   And, museums exist not to make a profit, but to preserve the heritage of the culture, so admission is free, cheap, or donation-based.

And you may reflexively think, “Boring!” when you hear the word “museum,” but don’t underestimate the great stuff out there…or how well your kids will do.  We have a small art museum in our closest city, and the girls used to enjoy it a lot, even when they were small.  And two years ago we went to the Titanic museum, which started my middle child on an obsession (which included research, reading, and building her own website) that still hasn’t faded.

Here are some tips for taking kids to museums:

• Let them know what to expect.  If you’re excited, they’ll be excited. 
• Be prepared to take it in small doses.  You don’t have to get to absolutely everything in one day. 
• Follow the kids’ lead; if they are fascinated by fish skeletons or Native tapestries, then let them linger. 
• Ask them leading questions.  “What do you like about this picture?”  “I wonder how the painter was feeling when he made this one?”  “What do you see in the background?”  Get them really to look.
• Share your thoughts.  Kids forget that we have feelings and opinions that have nothing to do with them…let them know.  “All that blue makes me feel kind of sad…” “This shape looks like it’s dancing…” “I remember when everyone had one of those in their house…”
• Promise to buy them something from the gift shop.  It can be small, a pencil or a post card, but it makes the whole thing a positive experience.  And hey, bribery works!

Remember, there are a ton of interesting museums that families might enjoy.  Natural history museums have dinosaurs, skeletons, and all sorts of animals.  Technology museums often have hands-on displays.  Art museums can help the express ideas and feelings they may hold so deeply they don’t know they’re there.

Here are a few museums that might be fun places for kids and families.  I got these from the story featured on msnbc last fall.

• American Museum of Natural History
• The Art Institute of Chicago
• Charles M. Schultz Museum
• Children’s Museum of Indiana
• Experience Music Project
• Exploratorium
• Franklin Institute Science Museum
• John F. Kennedy Space Center
• National Air and Space Museum
• National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum