Several museums and galleries across London and the UK are introducing designated child-friendly hours this summer to make parents feel more comfortable bringing

young children. This initiative, called "Kids Aloud," aims to let children express themselves freely without concerns about disturbing others.

According to new research from the Art Fund, which surveyed 1,000 parents, over half (52%) were worried their children might run around or break something in museums and galleries. The Kids Aloud initiative addresses these concerns by allowing children to be as loud and expressive as they like during specific hours.

Rachel Bull, a mother of a three-year-old and a newborn, shared with BBC London her previous apprehension about visiting certain public spaces with her children. "There are certain spaces where you might feel a bit apprehensive about taking small ones, so it’s really nice to feel welcome," she said.

Carolyn Young, director of audiences and engagement at Art Fund, emphasized that museums and galleries can be great places for children. "There’s lots of activities, lots of free spaces—some are outdoors, some are indoors—and they can have a really joyful time," she said.

Participating venues in London include the Barbican Art Gallery, the Horniman Museum and Gardens, and the National Portrait Gallery. Jennifer Scott, director of the Dulwich Picture Gallery in southeast London, expressed her desire for children to feel inspired by the artwork. "It’s not about being hushed and quiet and reverent," she said. "It’s actually about letting your personality shine and being inspired by creativity from the past."

One child, Otti, described the Kids Aloud hours at the gallery as "relaxing and nice." The initiative, supported by Art Fund, aims to demonstrate that museums and galleries are welcoming and enjoyable places for families to visit, with a variety of activities and spaces for children to explore and enjoy. Photo by Daniel Case, Wikimedia commons.