Getting kids excited about art doesn’t require bribes or promises of ice cream afterward. We’ve spent years watching parents navigate our galleries with toddlers in tow and teenagers who’d rather be anywhere else, and we’ve learned what creates those magical moments when everyone gets engaged.
The secret to engaging kids in art and culture is creating genuine experiences, real stories, and the chance to touch, create, and discover. Orlando family activities centered on culture work best when they respect both adult interests and children’s natural curiosity. Whether you’re planning art activities for kids or looking for broader family activities, Central Florida has plenty of cultural institutions that have figured out how to make fine art accessible without making it childish.
Art activities for families in Orlando succeed when they balance structure with freedom. Your three-year-old doesn’t need to understand Impressionism, but they can notice how an artist’s brushstrokes look different from photographs. Your ten-year-old might roll their eyes at “boring paintings,” but watch them get fascinated when they learn how artists made their own paints from crushed beetles and gold leaf.
Starting at Orlando Museum of Art
We’ve been working with families for decades, and we’ve learned that the best art experiences happen when everyone finds something to engage with. Our Art Adventures sessions combine gallery exploration with hands-on creating, so kids can see professional artwork up close and then try techniques themselves.
The magic happens in those moments when a five-year-old notices something in a painting that adults missed, or when a shy eight-year-old suddenly starts asking questions about how sculptures are made. We’ve designed our family programming around these natural discoveries rather than forcing predetermined lessons.
Our stroller tours happen because we realized parents with babies and toddlers deserved museum experiences too. These Wednesday morning sessions welcome chatty and crying babies in a relaxed environment where parents don’t have to worry about keeping kids silent. Our museum educators create engaging experiences for both toddlers and adults at a comfortable pace with an understanding group of fellow parents.
For families with older kids, our monthly Family Highlights Tours focus on pieces that tend to spark great conversations. We’ve found certain artworks consistently capture children’s imagination, and these tours build on that natural engagement.
Hands-On Creation That Teaches Art
CityArts runs family workshops that go beyond typical craft projects. Their instructors teach real art techniques while keeping activities accessible for different ages. You’ll leave with artwork you’re genuinely proud of, not just something cute for the refrigerator.
Crealdé School of Art (Winter Park)
Their family workshops and summer camps let parents and children create art side-by-side. Working with professional artists in well-equipped studios gives families access to techniques and materials they couldn’t explore at home.
Local pottery studios throughout Winter Park and Mills 50 welcome families for wheel throwing and hand-building sessions. Working with clay gives kids that tactile experience they crave while teaching patience, planning, and problem-solving. Most studios can accommodate ages four and up, with simpler projects for younger children.
Glass studios offering family programs provide unforgettable experiences watching molten glass transform into art. While young children typically observe demonstrations, older kids can try basic techniques under close supervision. The process fascinates everyone and shows how art requires both creativity and technical skill.
Performance Arts That Work for Mixed Ages
Orlando Family Stage creates productions specifically for family audiences without talking down to children. Their shows respect kids’ intelligence while providing entertainment that keeps adults engaged. The intimate theater means even young children can see and hear everything clearly.
Orlando Philharmonic family concerts introduce classical music through presentations that include visual elements and audience participation. These performances show children that concerts can be interactive experiences rather than sitting quietly for hours.
Orlando Ballet Family Performances
Ballet tells stories through movement that transcend language barriers. The Orlando Ballet performs at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and other venues throughout Central Florida. Their family-friendly productions often feature fairy tales and familiar stories, helping children understand how bodies can express complex emotions and ideas.
Literary and Storytelling Arts
Orange County Library System – Author Events and Literary Programs
The library system regularly hosts children’s book authors, storytellers, and poetry workshops. These events show kids that real people create the books they love, and many include hands-on writing or illustration activities.
Kerouac House Readings and Literary Events
While primarily focused on adult literature, they occasionally host family-friendly poetry readings and literary events that expose children to the rhythm and power of spoken word and creative writing.
Winter Park Library – Special Collections and Programs
Their children’s programming goes beyond typical story time to include book-making workshops, illustration classes, and visits from working artists and writers who create children’s literature.
Music and Sound Arts
Timucua Arts Foundation
This intimate venue hosts acoustic concerts in a historic church setting. Their diverse programming exposes families to jazz, classical, world music, and experimental sounds in an atmosphere that encourages deep listening and appreciation.
Bach Festival Society (Winter Park)
Their educational outreach and family concerts introduce children to choral and orchestral traditions while maintaining high artistic standards. The historic venues add cultural context to musical experiences.
Central Florida Community Arts (CFCArts)
This organization brings professional chamber music performances to intimate venues throughout Central Florida. Their family concerts and educational outreach programs introduce children to classical and contemporary chamber music in settings that encourage active listening and musical appreciation.
Neighborhood Art District Adventures
Mills 50 offers families a walking scavenger hunt experience exploring colorful murals and decorated utility box artwork throughout the district. The area’s walkability means you can discover street art while accommodating stroller navigation, with plenty of family-friendly restaurants for food breaks between art discoveries.
Winter Park’s gallery scene provides sophisticated cultural experiences in a downtown area designed for walking with children. The concentration of venues lets you create full cultural days, with parks and family-friendly restaurants nearby for necessary breaks.
Thornton Park galleries often feature local artists willing to discuss their work with curious children. These authentic encounters demystify the creative process and show kids that artists are accessible community members rather than distant celebrities.
Special Events and Seasonal Programming
Family Day events at our museum transform regular exhibition spaces into interactive learning environments. These special occasions often include artist demonstrations, hands-on activities, and opportunities for children to engage with symphony story times.
Festival of Trees annually transforms our galleries into wonderlands that capture children’s imagination while maintaining artistic sophistication. The event combines visual spectacle with interactive elements designed specifically for families, creating holiday traditions that families return to year after year.
Birthday parties at OMA offer alternatives to typical party venues. Children celebrate while learning about art through guided activities and gallery exploration, creating memorable experiences that combine fun with cultural enrichment.
Regular events at the museum often include family components, from artist talks designed for mixed ages to special exhibition programming that welcomes children alongside adult participants.
Budget-Friendly Cultural Experiences
Free admission policies at many venues make cultural exploration accessible. Children under three enter most Orlando museums free, while many institutions offer reduced family rates or special community days with discounted admission.
Family membership at OMA transforms how you approach museum visits with children. Our membership benefits include NARM reciprocity at over 1,000 museums nationwide, making cultural exploration affordable wherever your family travels. More importantly, membership removes the pressure to make every visit count. When your toddler has a meltdown and you only spend 20 minutes in the galleries, it’s not a financial loss – it’s just one of many visits you can make throughout the year. During Orlando’s hot summers, membership provides families with a reliable air-conditioned cultural destination that welcomes repeat visits without additional cost.
Public art exploration costs nothing beyond transportation and time. Orlando’s downtown area, Mills 50 district, and Winter Park all feature substantial public art collections that provide educational opportunities about artistic styles, community values, and creative processes.
Library partnerships often provide free museum passes for cardholders, making high-quality cultural experiences accessible regardless of economic circumstances. Many libraries also host family-friendly cultural programming in their own spaces.
Age-Appropriate Activity Selection
Ages 2-5 need sensory experiences, shorter attention spans accommodated, and opportunities for movement. Focus on museums with stroller-friendly layouts and quiet spaces for necessary breaks. Programs incorporating music, bright colors, and tactile elements work best.
Ages 6-9 benefit from hands-on activities with immediate results, storytelling elements, and structured opportunities to ask questions. This age group responds well to art-making combined with gallery exploration, especially when they can create something inspired by what they’ve seen.
Ages 10-13 appreciate more complex technical instruction, behind-the-scenes access, and connections between art and their other interests. This group often enjoys meeting working artists and learning about artistic careers and processes.
Mixed age families need activities offering multiple complexity levels within single experiences, allowing each member to engage appropriately while participating together.
Creating Lasting Cultural Connections
Pre-visit preparation enhances museum experiences without overwhelming children. Simple research about current exhibitions or featured artists helps kids feel more confident engaging with unfamiliar content. Looking up one or two interesting facts often provides enough context for meaningful discussions.
Documentation approaches that work include letting children photograph favorite pieces, sketch interesting details, or collect exhibition brochures. These activities help process experiences while creating lasting records of cultural adventures.
Follow-up conversations extend learning naturally by encouraging children to research artists they’ve discovered, try techniques they’ve learned, or discuss what surprised them most during cultural explorations.
Regular cultural habits develop when families make museum visits routine rather than special occasion events. Monthly gallery explorations or seasonal museum visits help children develop comfort with cultural institutions while building appreciation for changing exhibitions.
The goal isn’t creating future artists or art historians, but helping children develop comfort with cultural experiences and appreciation for human creativity in all its forms. Orlando’s cultural community provides ideal environments for these discoveries, creating shared family memories while building lifelong connections with arts and culture.
Remember that successful family cultural experiences happen when everyone finds something engaging, whether that’s a toddler fascinated by sculpture textures, a school-age child learning printmaking techniques, or teenagers discovering that contemporary art can address issues they care about.
Orlando’s arts venues cater to these different needs and have developed programming that welcomes authentic family participation rather than requiring children to act like miniature adults. Enjoy these experiences with your family!
