What to do with kids before school starts

Okay, parents. Depending on how you look at it, this next week or so is either dreadful or golden. It’s that lull between the end of camps and the start of school. That summer packed with promise is pretty much behind you, and the week or so before you is a wide-open, yawning black hole on your calendar. But let’s be positive. This is your chance to really dig in and enjoy our diverse area full of free museums, beautiful parks, nice waterfront and endless possibilities.

So don’t dread, delight.

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To help you along, we asked local parents with a particular interest in children (not that we all aren’t so interested) to outline their favorite activities to do with kids during the quiet summer weeks and beyond.

No camp, no school, no problem.

— Amy Joyce

Teens and art do mix

Who: Tracy Grant, mother to 16-year-old twins Andrew and Christopher, KidsPost editor and author of The Post’s MomSpeak column.

What she recommends: Visit the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum . First off, let me confess that what prompted our most recent trip to this magnificent complex was Andrew’s summer assignment for his art history course. He needed to take notes on 10 works of art. So notecards and twin brother in tow, Andrew headed off to look at art, dutifully. Duty gave way to wonder fairly quickly, however, as he discovered the wild-eyed portrait of abolitionist John Brown by Ole Peter Hansen Balling. Next came the enormous scene of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his generals (also by Balling) hanging in a vast stairwell. “I want to do this one because it shows Uncle Ulysses,” Andrew said with a grin. This was starting to be real fun. (For the record, no, we’re not related.)

As we wandered through gallery after gallery, the boys discovered that they liked realism more than impressionism. (That’s a very cool conversation to have with teenage sons.) David Beck’s “MVSEVM” engaged us for a good 10 minutes (make sure you check out how the magnifying glasses are aligned in this painstakingly created museum miniature.) Now, let’s be fair, I was at the Smithsonian Art Museum with 16-year-old boys, so of course we headed up to the museum’s light-filled third floor to check out the “Art of Video Games” exhibition, which is open through Sept. 30. But before we got there, Nam June Paik’s mesmerizing neon map of the United States caught our attention. We sat in front of “Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii” watching the TV screens change, capturing moments from history and popular culture. “I’m not sure it’s art, but it sure is interesting,” Christopher opined. In a word, priceless.

Know before you go:

Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum, Eighth and F streets NW. 202-633-8300. 202-633-7970. www.npg.si.edu. americanart.si.edu.

Don’t stop moving

Who: Meshelle and Cathal Armstrong, parents of Eve and Eamonn, 13 and 10, respectively, and owner and chef of Restaurant Eve and Eamonn’s, among others.

What they recommend: We take full advantage of free time in August. Here a few options that vary in price that we do as a family. They make great memories and keep everyone busy (so we can turn off “SpongeBob” for the day).