Poster House is the first museum in the United States dedicated to the history and preservation of posters. This family guide was created by Poster House’s educators to help families engage with and learn from posters, their history, and their design.

What is a Poster?

A poster is a public-facing sign that quickly communicates a specific message. Though most posters combine words and images, they come in a huge range of styles. Posters can have just a few colors or many colors, can use photographs and symbols, and can use a lot of text or very little.

Family Guides for PG-13 Exhibitions

The content of Poster House’s exhibitions is rated for its suitability for different age groups: 

• G-rated exhibitions are family-friendly and intended for all visitors.  

• PG-13-rated exhibitions include imagery, language, and/or topics that may be distressing for young viewers.

• R-rated exhibitions contain explicit imagery or language, and are recommended for mature individuals only.

Poster House encourages parents and guardians to make informed choices about whether or not the museum’s exhibitions align with their family’s comfort level and values. Poster House’s educators believe that through age-appropriate language, the content of the museum’s exhibitions can prompt important conversations between adults and mature young learners. The family guides for PG-13 exhibitions include three recommended artworks from each exhibition and suggestions for how to navigate complex topics with children. 

Remember:

• Stay safe and use walking feet in the museum. 

• Look, but don’t touch. Posters are not as delicate as paintings and statues but they can still be damaged. 

• Everyone can participate! While these discussion questions are designed for children ages five to ten, posters are a great way to teach letters, shapes, and colors to younger children. Use these posters as a learning tool to practice important visual and literacy skills. 

Family Guides

Explore available family guides below.

Other Family-Friendly Highlights

• Poster Kids and Poster Tots are Poster House’s monthly family programs. Every program includes a tour and an art-making experience, free of charge. Drop in to learn about the museum’s exhibitions in depth, and get artsy with a related craft! Sign up for the education newsletter for more information.

• Kids’ Activity Cards are located at the Info Desk and in the Kids’ Area. Explore the museum by playing Poster Bingo!
  
• The Kids’ Area is located on the lower level of the museum. Color in a dry-erase mural, read a book, and play with interactive CMYK sliding boards.