Children test how a steel ball calculus work at the China Science and Technology Museum. [Photo by Wang Jing/China Daily]

Museums are now commonly acknowledged as being a part of a child's education. Beijing has more than 160 of them. And this summer, many parents took their children to museums.

It is believed that if a child visits museums regularly, his learning ability can be boosted. In the United States, educationists try to make children as "lifelong learners", so that a child learns with enthusiasm. So, before visiting a museum, the parents and children should do their homework to improve the visitor experience.

It would be good if parents could visit the museum earlier in order to be able to clearly understand which exhibitions are suitable for their children, and make suitable choices. Museums featuring interactive participation and experiences are good choices for starters as they help children, get accustomed to visiting museums. And this is far more important than just the transmission of knowledge.