Children in Paris
 

We have been to Paris and are considering taking our grandchildren next summer. They will be 4 and 5 1/2. Any suggestions on activities they would enjoy would be very welcome.

Honestly, the very best parts of Paris for my son (who, granted, was a bit younger when he visited Paris) were the wonderful sandboxes in every park, as well as the gravel at the Rodin Museum, which actually worked out pretty well: we could appreciate the art while he happily moved rocks from place to place.

There's a super travel book, Take the Kids, Paris and Disneyland, that has suggestions for dining and activities for each quartier. There's a Science-Exploratorium museum, a jardin de plantes, floating a boat in any of the parks. Berthillon, on Ile St Louis, bateaux mouches-- We were there with our kids (8 and 11) during the terrible heat wave in an unairconditioned apartment. The French allowed picnicing on the grass, so we did a lot of that, at Parc Monceau. Give them lots of down time, some cafe time, pain au chocolat and ice cream, and I think everyone will be happy ;)

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Take them to any tower or monument that they can climb to the top of - Notre Dame, Arche de Triomphe, etc.

The Tuilleries, right outside the Louvre has great playground equipment, a carousel and trampolines.

It's been a long tradition in Paris for parents to take small kids to the Tuileries Gardens or Luxembourg Gardens and in large pools there rent a sail boat for kids to play with. My young son loved it i know.

Paris has many charming small parks, often referred to as pocket parks. Many of them have children's playgrounds. I suggest that you give them a run at one of these each day: see how they get on with the local kids, and give yourselves an opportunity to people-watch.

I agree...it is so fun to watch them "make friends" with the other kids at the playground.

That is one of our best memories from Italy. Our flat in Florence was near a little park. Our 10 year old was playing there and these younger Italian boys took her by the hand and "made" her play with them. It was so cute!